Emotional Abuse in Nursing Homes
Abuse is not just physically harming someone else, but abuse can be verbal and have worse mental effects than physical abuse. Verbal abuse among the elderly community living in nursing homes or assisted living housing is common. Employees may find it easier to mistreat an older and fragile person by mentally abusing them through verbal remarks. Too many times Nursing homes do not have enough employees to care for each person with proper care and employees out of frustration take their anger out on a patient. The verbal abuse can greatly stress out a patient and emotionally damage their esteem and state of mind. In 2008 most investigations of Nursing homes and assisted living centers were because of residents complaining of some form of abuse.
Emotional abuse can be both verbal and nonverbal. The quality of life of a patient can be threatened if a patient is under an immense amount of stress because of the abuse-suffered daily in their homes. An Arizona Attorney can help collect damages for their emotional and physical suffering caused by verbal abuse from a person who was suppose to care for your family member.
Emotional Abuse:
Verbal abuse can consist of: name calling, consistent blaming, yelling, and intimidation with threats, continuously lowering ones' self-esteem through name-calling, teasing, and mockery.
Nonverbal Abuse can consist of: ignoring a patient when the individual talks, singling out elderly residents from groups, lack of eye contact with an individual.
Examples of common Forms of Abuse:
Degrading or becoming condescending to a patient is one of the most common forms of verbal abuse done in nursing homes. This is can be commenting on a resident's behavior or physical look. Usually the elderly individual is unable to respond and feels detached and develops low self-esteem with each harsh remark towards them.
Another major form of abuse in nursing homes is threatening a patient by yelling or rude words. This could be if a caretaker threatens a resident in an intense, sarcastic or, aggressive tone. This could be used to make an individual eat, or take medication or walk or even not to wet their beds.
Signs of an Emotionally Abused Resident:
When a nursing home resident is emotionally abused, they tend to not speak up about the abuse. It takes a family member watching for signs to make sure that their family member is not being abused. If you are aware of the symptoms, it could prevent further emotional damage caused by an abuser.
- Irritation
- Stressed
- Withdrawn
- Detached from family
- Emotional
- Unusual behavior
- Erratic behavior
- Continuous crying
- Displaying anger towards loved ones on visits
Contact an Arizona Nursing Home Advocate Attorney
If a nursing home in the Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa or elsewhere in Maricopa County, has contributed to emotional distress of a loved one due to the abusive nature of the caretaker, An Arizona Attorney can help collect damages nursing homes are liable for. If you want more information regarding emotional abuse in nursing homes or others injuries due to negligence see www.nursinghomeadvocates.com.
