Types of Elder Abuse

Different Types of Nursing Home Abuse

There are a few different types of abuse to be aware of when it comes to the safety and health of the senior in your life.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is any type of abuse that physically harms the individual. This might include:

• Shoving
• Pushing
• Kicking
• Hitting
• Using objects of force

You can usually identify the signs of physical abuse by noticing bruises, cuts, welts, or recurring injuries on the senior.

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse occurs when the senior's finances are used in an unauthorized manner. It can also occur when one person achieves control over the other by controlling their financial resources. Examples of financial abuse might include:

• Taking out unapproved credit cards in the senior's name
• Withdrawing and using cash from the senior's account
• Changing the senior's estate without approval
• Forging the senior's signature

You can usually identify signs of financial abuse by keeping a close eye on your senior's financial records. Always ask if you notice any transactions that seem out of the ordinary.

Neglect

Neglect is also a form of elder abuse. Neglect occurs when the senior's needs are not being met. This might include:

• Failing to provide the senior with food and drink
• Withholding necessary medications and health items
• Lack of cleanliness
• Failing to assist senior in and out of their bedroom

You can identify signs of neglect by looking out for things like bedsores, loss of body weight and malnutrition.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual elder abuse includes any sexual actions that are not consensual. It is important to keep in mind that not all types of sexual abuse require direct contact with the senior. Other types of sexual abuse could include:

• Verbal comments that make the senior uncomfortable
• Photographs or pornography
• Inappropriate hints of sexual activity
• Inappropriate comments about the body

You can identify sexual abuse with unexplained bruises around personal parts of the body, emotional distress, or reports of uncomfortable comments.

Emotional Abuse

Not all abuse is physical in nature. Elder abuse can also be emotional which means that the abusive person is causing emotional or psychological harm to the senior. There are many forms of emotional abuse to be aware of including:

• Harmful threats
• Name-calling or belittling
• Yelling or demanding
• Emotionally manipulating

You can identify emotional abuse by paying attention to the interactions between your senior and their caretakers. Although they may not be emotionally abusive to your senior loved one in front of you, you can often get an idea that something is not right.

What to Do if You Suspect Elder Abuse

If you suspect that a senior in your life is being abused in one of these ways, it is important to take action. Elder abuse will rarely stop on its own and you could be the help that they need. If you believe your senior to be in immediate danger, call 911 and offer to take them to a local protective agencies department. There are also many resources that will allow you to report the offender for further investigation.

A nursing home abuse lawyer can also help you evaluate your legal options. You may need to cover the costs of relocation while also collecting compensation for emotional and physical pain and suffering.

Contact an Old Bridge Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer to Discuss Your Case Today

Seniors in nursing homes and other care facilities deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Additionally, nursing home staff needs to ensure that patients are safe and secure at all times. If your loved one suffered an injury, or worse, due to nursing home negligence or abuse in New Jersey, you need to speak with a qualified attorney. The experienced nursing home neglect attorneys at Lombardi & Lombardi, P.A. represent clients throughout New Jersey, including Woordbridge, Middletown, Lakewood, and Toms River. Call (732) 906-1500 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a free consultation today. We have an office conveniently located at 1862 Oak Tree Road, Edison, NJ, 08820, as well as offices in Brick, Freehold, and Point Pleasant Beach.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.