Mishawaka, IN Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Most injuries are difficult to deal with, but few are as personally damaging as nursing home abuse. The abuse does not only impact victims but also harms their families and the trust they place in these facilities.

Some nursing homes operate in a way that places residents at a higher risk of abuse. A lack of staff might lead to less oversight, allowing predatory staff to take advantage of your loved one. Some staff might be physically abusive, while others will attempt to exploit residents financially. However, your loved one will usually have some signs of their abuse. If you suspect something is off at the nursing home or have confirmed the abuse, you should consider filing a claim. This can help protect your loved one and recover damages for their losses. It will also expose the nursing home and its practices, which can protect others in the future.

Call Wruck Paupore at (219) 322-1166 to have our nursing home abuse lawyers review your case free of charge.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse in Mishawaka, IN

Nursing home abuse can be so harmful because it can be hard to spot the signs. Nursing home residents rely on the care of staff and family, making them convenient targets for abusers. Many abusers attempt to cover their tracks and will conceal the abuse the best they can if the victim is unable to speak up and defend themselves. Our nursing home abuse attorneys can help you get justice if you notice signs or symptoms of abuse. Some signs of abuse might be physical, while others will be harder to identify, like emotional or financial abuse. The following are common signs that nursing home abuse is occurring in Mishawaka:

Signs of Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is one of the most common forms of harm nursing home residents endure, and fortunately, one that is hard to conceal. You will have questions if you visit your loved one and notice new injuries like bruises or scratches. Many residents live in nursing homes because they need extra help getting around. If their injuries were sustained in the natural course of their day, they could typically explain where they came from. However, you might not get a good answer if the injuries were the result of abuse.

Physical abuse can take an extreme toll on a resident’s health. Even if you do not notice physical evidence of their injuries, there might be other signs of abuse. For instance, you might see an overall decline in your loved one’s health as the abuse goes on. The victim might be eating less, or their personality seems more reserved. In other cases, your loved one might be gaining weight if their appetite increases in response to the abuse. If you notice any signs that do not seem normal, you should consider filing a claim to get to the bottom of what is happening at the nursing home.

Signs of Emotional Abuse

Those living in a nursing home are also susceptible to emotional abuse. This type of abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse. It is also usually much harder to detect. However, victims of emotional abuse will often have signs that make it clear something is wrong.

In many cases, victims’ personalities will noticeably change when they are emotionally abused. Where a loved one was once pleasant, they might be uncharacteristically angry most of the time you visit or are noticeably more irritable than before. If your loved one is acting out of character, be sure to ask how things have been at the nursing home, including how staff and residents have treated them.

Some emotional abuse victims might not want to admit they are being harmed or are even aware they are being emotionally attacked. However, feelings of depression and anxiety will typically get worse the longer the abuse goes on. If your loved one tells you about some of the issues causing them trouble, it might be time to file a complaint against the abusers.

Signs of Financial Abuse

Financial abuse is a serious problem for nursing home residents as they are often seen as easy targets. Some residents might only have limited contact with family members or none at all. These residents are primed to be taken advantage of by outside scammers and those within the nursing home.

In some cases, the nursing home itself is financially exploiting the residents. This typically comes in the form of overcharging for services or charging them for care or services they did not receive. In other cases, nursing home staff and other residents might see an opportunity to make money on a more isolated resident. They might act friendly to get access to the victim’s credit cards or outright pressure them into transferring funds from their bank account.

More often than not, outside scams target residents. These can be phone calls telling a loved one they might be in trouble if they do not pay. For instance, scammers commonly pose as the IRS to scare people into paying. Doing this makes victims believe they might be criminally prosecuted if they do not comply. With the internet, financial abuse of this kind has only worsened. If you notice changes in your loved one's finances that cannot be explained, our team can review your case for signs of abuse.

What to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse in Mishawaka, IN

You will likely be shocked if you discover nursing home abuse. However, you can take many steps to get justice against the abusers. The first thing to do is ensure the victim is safe by removing them from the abusive environment. Once they are safe, the next step is to get medical care to document the damages.

It is also important to get evidence from the scene of the abuse. For instance, photographs of the area where the victim was abused might add context to the victim’s claims. Pictures of the injuries will also help show how bad the abuse was when it happened. If the abuse was financial or emotional, our lawyers can help collect bank records and communications that highlight the abuse.

After identifying the injuries and liable parties, we can help you report the nursing home. We will start by reporting the abuse to the Indiana Department of Health (IDH). The IDH has the power to investigate nursing homes and will consider reports even if made anonymously. We will also file a complaint with the Ombudsman for long-term care. These investigations can help uncover evidence we can use in your claim. This can be a drawn-out process, but it is usually the best way to build a thorough case against an abusive nursing home or staff.

Our Mishawaka, IN Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Are Ready to Help You Get Justice

Call Wruck Paupore at (219) 322-1166 for a free case assessment with our nursing home abuse attorneys today.