There are many forms of nursing home abuse. While some, such as physical abuse, can be easily detected, others like emotional abuse are difficult to determine. In fact, psychological abuse and emotional abuse in Florida nursing homes is the most difficult type of abuse to identify. In order to be on the lookout for signs of emotional abuse, you need to fully understand what this type of nursing home abuse looks like.
Identifying Emotional or Psychological Nursing Home Abuse
This type of nursing home abuse in Florida occurs when someone at the nursing facility inflicts mental pain on an elderly patient through verbal and nonverbal attacks. Some other examples of emotional nursing home abuse can include:
- Yelling, name-calling, and verbal intimidation
- Threatening punishment in order to obtain compliance
- Terrorizing and harassing an elderly patient
- Depriving a nursing home resident of his or her water or food
- Humiliating an elderly patient in front of other residents with insults and put-downs
- Socially isolating a nursing home patient from other residents and friends
When a caregiver or staff member is threatening, yelling, belittling or bullying elderly patients, it can cause psychological and emotional abuse that manifest in signs. This is why it is important for loved ones of elderly nursing home patients to be on the lookout for the following signs:
- Mumbling to oneself
- Rocking back and forth
- Sucking on fingers/hands
- Depressed
- Withdrawn
- Fearful behavior
- Changes in behavior and attitude
- Unwarranted crying
Not every patient who is being emotionally abused will be able to tell their loved ones what is happening to them. This is why it is important to identify the signs and know what to look for so that you can be your loved one’s voice. It is also important to visit your family member often so you are aware of personality changes or if anything else seems off.
While you may feel good about the nursing home because you did your research before placing your senior mother or father in the home, all it takes is one bad worker to come along and make your parent suffer the effects of emotional abuse.
After making your own observations, if you feel your love one’s safety or mental health is in jeopardy, call a Sarasota nursing home abuse lawyer. By talking with an experienced attorney, you will learn what you should do next in order to protect your elderly family member and hold the nursing home accountable.
Call Mallard Perez at (888) 409-3805. Our law firm knows how important the health and safety of your loved one is to you, and we will help you seek justice. Call today for a complimentary consultation.
