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Dealing with the rigors of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia is challenging enough, especially if your loved one’s memory condition has progressed to an advanced stage. If you have had to make the difficult choice to seek nursing home care for this purpose, chances are you have exhausted all other options. The nursing home of your choice should be one you can rely on to care for your loved ones as they contend with their condition. You certainly don’t expect that anyone in this environment will abuse your loved one. Yet, it happens, and when it does, it helps to have an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer by your side to deal with the aftermath.
Dalli & Marino has worked with countless families over the years who have been devastated to find that their loved ones were abused by people trusted to care for them, given their inability to care for themselves. Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia are especially vulnerable to abuse, which is why knowing the signs and what your legal course might be in such a situation is crucial.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse in Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Patients
The challenge in spotting abuse in nursing home patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is their often limited ability to communicate. However, there are still signs that indicate there might be an issue worth investigating further:
- Unexplained cuts and bruises
- Rapid and inexplicable decline in health
- Malnutrition
- Withdrawal or severe depression
- Sudden financial issues
- Abrupt changes in personality and behavior
While memory conditions can cause some of these issues, the abrupt nature by which they begin to occur may indicate something is remiss in the person’s immediate environment. Typically with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, the decline is progressive and marked, which means you can see the onset of shifts due to the person’s condition. When there are multiple warning signs, and they all happen suddenly, something may be very wrong with their level of care.
Common Forms of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse of those with memory conditions can take many forms. In some instances, multiple forms of abuse may be perpetrated against one individual.
Physical Abuse
This might constitute physical punishment like hitting or slapping for even the slightest infraction. Caregivers might use excessive force when helping the resident in and out of bed or may restrain the individual unnecessarily or with too much aggression.
Verbal Abuse
Because those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia sometimes struggle with communication, nursing home abuse might take the form of yelling at the individual, calling them names or mocking them because the person cannot respond. This can still have a significant impact on the patient’s well-being, causing added anxiety or stress.
Sexual Abuse
Because of the challenges with memory, those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are particularly vulnerable to nursing home abuse that involves sexual assault. The individual may not fully understand what is happening to them and may not be able to share with loved ones the trauma they’ve experienced.
Financial Abuse
This might consist of staff members soliciting nursing home residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease for money. They might steal the individual’s financial information or create credit accounts in their name, using the personal information received from their medical chart.
How to Help Your Loved One If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
Suppose you suspect nursing home abuse for your loved one struggling with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. In that case, you may need to call 911, depending on the extent of the abuse and the particulars of the situation. If your loved one is in immediate danger, this is the best course of action. The next step is to find a nursing home abuse lawyer on which you can rely to get to the bottom of what has been going on and quickly.
Their condition already compromises your loved one’s memory, so you need an attorney that understands how to pursue other avenues to get to the truth. Once we determine the facts of the situation, we can then figure out how to bring the nursing home to justice and get your family the compensation they deserve to heal from this harrowing experience. At Dalli & Marino, we have years of experience working with families who have been shaken to the core by abuse allegations regarding their loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. We are compassionate and knowledgeable, advocating for you and your family members so that you don’t have the added burden of doing so.
Seek Assistance from a Reputable Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
If you suspect that a loved one dealing with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia has suffered abuse while in the care of a nursing home, you need the help of an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer. Dalli & Marino is well-versed in this practice area and may be able to help get your loved ones the justice they deserve. Your loved one should be treated with empathy, respect, and kindness when caring for a nursing home’s memory condition.
It is essential to address any harm perpetrated by the nursing home immediately. We can help you determine your options and your next steps. Schedule a free consultation today by calling us at (888) 465-8790 or contact us online to learn more. Se Habla Español.
