A Nursing Home Lawyer, Maryland at Brown Kiely, LLP knows that elderly people are vulnerable to being abused in their own homes, while living with relatives, and when at nursing care facilities. A number of these incidents of neglect go undetected or unreported. If you think your relative could be in the midst of a harmful situation, then there are things you must know to ensure their safety.
The older we get, the more frail we become, meaning we are less inclined to stand up to mistreatment, fight back, or report it. An elderly individual may not be able to see or hear that well anymore, and may have a condition that impairs their physical or mental ability. Elder abuse must always be taken seriously. Famiy members are encouraged to recruit help from law enforcement and a dedicated legal team in order to protect that senior loved one from further harm.
What are signs of abuse?
If there are any changes to an elderly person’s personality, mood, or behavior, then there is enough reason to consider that abuse may be happening. Abuse can be mental, physical, or financial. Caretakers, doctors, and other staff may be the culprits of mistreatment. As your Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer can explain, common signs of elderly abuse include but are not limited to:
- Unexplained injuries
- Scars, welts, or bruising on body
- Not taking medications properly
- Broken glasses
- Restraint marks on wrists or ankles
- Refusing to be alone with a certain caregiver
- Odd or self-sooth behaviors such a rocking or mumbling
- Bruising around breasts or genitals
- Torn, bloody, or stained underwear
- Anal or vaginal bleeding (not related to medical condition)
- Sudden changes in finances or use of money
- ATM withdrawals or purchases the elderly person could not have done
- Missing items or cash from room
- Sudden changes in life insurance, will, titles, power of attorney, etc.
Who is most likely to inflict abuse?
If a senior person is staying at a nursing home, then the doctors, medical staff, caregivers, or other residents may be perpetrators of the abuse. But if the elderly relative lives in someone else’s home, then it may be close friends or family members who are unable to provide the care needed. Elder abuse is more likely to occur if a caregiver has depression, perceives little rewards in caring for the elderly, cannot cope with stress of caring for another, or doesn’t have support from others.
Call Brown Kiely, LLP
Elderly abuse is more rampant than we want to imagine. Just like in any other abusive situation, if you see something, say something. Our team knows how to intervene so that your elderly relative is safe from further mistreatment. Call a Nursing Home Lawyer in MD at Brown Kiely, LLP today for assistance.