Minnesota Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

As the population ages, the need for long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, continues to increase. Unfortunately, along with the growing demand for these facilities comes an increase in the number of cases of nursing home abuse. In a World Health Organization study, 64.2% of care staff in hospitals, nursing homes, and other long-term health facilities admitted to committing abuse in the past year. If this has happened to a loved one, call the Minnesota nursing home abuse attorneys at 612-INJURED at (612) 465-8733.

What is Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing home abuse can take many forms. It can include physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse. Some examples of nursing home abuse include:

• Physical abuse: This includes hitting, pushing, slapping, or any other form of physical harm.
• Emotional abuse: This includes verbal abuse, isolation, and any other behavior that causes emotional distress.
• Financial abuse: This includes stealing money, forging signatures, or coercing a resident into signing over property or other assets.
• Sexual abuse: This includes any unwanted sexual contact or activity.
• Neglect: This includes failing to provide adequate food, water, or medical care, as well as failing to provide adequate hygiene and sanitation.
• Abandonment: This occurs when a caregiver leaves a resident alone for an extended period without adequate care.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Abuse in nursing homes can be difficult to detect, especially if the victim is unable or unwilling to speak out. However, there are some clues that may indicate that there is abuse occurring. Some signs for which to look include:

• Unexplained injuries, such as bruises, cuts, or broken bones
• Changes in behavior or mood, such as depression or anxiety
• Withdrawal from activities or social interaction
• Sudden changes in financial status or unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts
• Poor hygiene or unexplained weight loss
• Bedsores or other signs of neglect
• Unexplained sexually transmitted infections or genital injuries
• Loss of personal belongings
• Unexplained changes in finances
• Unexplained changes in will or power of attorney
• Hospitalized while in nursing home care

If you suspect that your loved one is being abused, it’s important to take action immediately.

What to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

If you suspect that your loved one is being abused in a nursing home, there are several steps you can take to protect them.

• Talk to your loved one: It is important to listen to your loved one and believe them if they tell you that abuse is taking place.
• Document the abuse: Keep a detailed record of any injuries or signs of abuse, including photographs, medical records, and witness statements.
• Remove your loved one from the facility: If you suspect abuse is occurring, remove your loved one from the facility immediately and seek medical attention if necessary.
• Report the abuse to the nursing home. The nursing home has a responsibility to investigate and take action to prevent future abuse.
• Contact your Minnesota Adult Protective Services (APS) agency. APS is responsible for investigating reports of elder abuse.
• Contact an attorney: It is crucial to get in touch with a skilled personal injury lawyer who can assist you in your quest for justice and financial recompense for your loved one’s losses and injuries if they were the victims of nursing home abuse.

Preventing Nursing Home Abuse

When it comes to nursing home abuse, prevention is essential. You can take a number of actions to guard against your loved one falling victim.

• Research facilities: Before placing your loved one in a nursing home, research the facility carefully and make sure it has a good reputation for providing quality care.
• Visit frequently: Visit your loved one frequently and at different times of the day to check on their well-being and to observe the behavior of the staff.
• Stay involved: Stay involved in your loved one’s care and communicate regularly with the staff to ensure that their needs are being met.
• Know your loved one’s rights: Make that you are aware of your loved one’s rights as a resident of a nursing home, particularly their right to be shielded from abuse and neglect. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ website has a list of resident rights.

Call a Minnesota Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Abuse in nursing homes is a significant issue that can have terrible repercussions for the victims and their families. It is critical to act quickly to protect your loved one if you suspect they are being mistreated. Contact the Minnesota personal injury attorneys at 612-INJURED, who can assist you in pursuing justice and financial recompense for the harms and losses suffered by your loved one. Call or text us at (612) 465-8733.