Those who enter nursing homes rely on the staff to look after them. Yet, some staff abuse their position to abuse one or more people under their care.
Elder abuse can take three basic forms:
1. Financial
Many nursing home residents have seen their savings dwindle due to financial abuse by a staff member. Others have lost a bit of money here and there. Either way, if a staff member helps themselves to a resident’s money, it is theft and abuse. They might do this by getting the resident to give them their credit card’s PIN so they can use it for purchases or take money out of an ATM. Or they might manipulate the resident into signing cash or other assets over, often by playing on their sympathies.
2. Physical
Physical abuse is often (but not always) the easiest form of abuse to spot. However, some perpetrators are very clever about it and only target areas that won’t be obvious to others. Others just blame the visible signs on something like the resident being clumsy or unsteady on their feet. They may keep their victims quiet by threatening them with more violence if they tell anyone. Others sexually abuse a resident, knowing the resident will feel too ashamed to ever tell anyone.
3. Emotional
Emotional abuse can also occur. Let’s say an elderly resident starts to suffer from incontinence. A kind and caring staff member would brush it off as something that many people will go through and do their best to handle it in a way that preserves the resident’s dignity. An abusive staff member might tell the resident they are pathetic or disgusting or say other things that make the resident feel awful. Residents are already vulnerable, and an abusive person can soon chip away at their self-esteem and dignity, leaving them feeling like a disgrace, a nuisance or any other thing they are not.
If you entrust your loved one to the care of nursing home staff, it’s important that they and the management honor that trust. If they abuse it by abusing your loved one, you may need to explore your legal options.