Nursing Home Neglect

It is important to be informed about the warning signs of elder abuse so we can work to prevent problems and know when to report cases of abuse. Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many forms including;

• Physical Abuse – Hitting, shoving, inappropriate use of drugs, restraints, or confinement including any type of force used resulting in pain or injury are examples of physical abuse.
• Emotional Abuse – Emotional or psychological abuse such as yelling, humiliating, threatening, isolating, ignoring, and terrorizing an elderly resident causes emotional pain and distress.
• Sexual Abuse – Contact of a sexual nature without consent, forcing a nursing home resident to undress, and other things of a sexual nature forced upon the elderly is considered elder sexual abuse.
• Neglect – About half of the cases of reported elder abuse revolve around neglect. The failure to provide for the daily needs of the elderly either intentionally or unintentionally constitutes neglect.
• Financial Exploitation – Financial exploitation takes place when an unscrupulous caregiver enriches themselves by using a resident’s personal checks, credit cards or accounts, stealing cash or any valuable personal items, or engaging in identity theft.
• Healthcare Fraud & Abuse – This type of abuse is perpetrated by unethical doctors, nurses, and professional healthcare providers. It may involve charging for services not provided, overcharging or double billing, receiving kickbacks for certain referrals or prescribing specific drugs, overmedicating or under medicating, recommending fraudulent remedies, and Medicaid fraud.