Connecticut has fined six nursing homes for various violations, which jeopardized patient safety, including one case in which a resident was struck by a nursing home employee resulting in broken bones. According to a news report, one nursing home was fined in two instances. In one case, a resident with Parkinson’s disease and dementia fell and suffered a broken collarbone and fractured right hip after falling in the bathroom. A nurse left the resident alone in the bathroom even though he needed help standing.
In another case, a resident with hypertension was hospitalized for dehydration and severe renal failure. Investigators found that the resident, who was at risk for dehydration, wasn’t properly monitored for warning signs. Yet another patient with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder suffered cuts to the mouth and forehead and a broken tooth after a licensed practical nurse struck him several times. Another facility was fined after a nurse aide offered to secure illegal drugs for a resident in exchange for sexual favors. If you believe a loved one has been subjected to this heinous behavior, please do not hesitate to call the RI nursing home abuse lawyers to help you understand your legal rights.
What Types of Abuse Are Common in Nursing Homes?
Elder abuse in nursing homes is shockingly common. This type of mistreatment of the most vulnerable people in our society can come in many forms. Here are a few examples:
- Nursing aides or other staff members inflicting physical pain or injury on an older adult.
- Sexually abusing an elderly person by touching, fondling, having intercourse or engaging in other sexual activity. This type of abuse often occurs when the older adult is unable to understand, unwilling to give consent or is physically threatened or coerced to participate.
- Emotional abuse with verbal assaults, threats of abuse, harassment or intimidation.
- Confinement by restraining or isolating an older adult.
- Neglecting nursing home residents by failing to provide them with life necessities including food, clothing, shelter, and medical care.
- Willfully depriving an older adult of medication, medical care, shelter, food or other physical assistance.
- Financially exploiting an older adult by stealing money or other items from them.
How Can I Tell If a Loved One Has Been Abused or Neglected?
There are a number of warning signs of abuse and neglect. If your loved one is in a nursing home, it is important that you look out for physical signs of abuse such as bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, cuts and burns. Some of the symptoms of emotional abuse include depression, sudden change in behavior, withdrawal from normal activities and strained/tense relationships. Sudden changes in financial situations such as unusual withdrawals from bank accounts or charges on credit cards, could be indicative of financial abuse. When an elderly nursing home resident is neglected, they could display symptoms such as bedsores, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene and unusual weight loss.
Call Us Today!
According to the National Council on Aging, senior citizens who have been abused have a 300 percent higher risk of death when compared to those who have not been mistreated. If you suspect that your loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home or assisted living facility, contact the personal injury law firm of d’Oliveira & Associates. We work with nursing home abuse lawyers who are fighting hard to protect the rights of residents and their families. Call us toll-free at 1-800-992-6878 or fill out a contact form online to schedule a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.
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