Abuse of elderly individuals is a lot more common in Texas and across the country than most people would like to believe. In fact, the National Elder Mistreatment Study explains that 10 percent of elderly Americans endure some form of abuse or mistreatment. This fact is especially concerning for those with loved ones living in nursing homes.
Many people think only of striking or hitting another person when the subject of physical abuse arises. However, other possible types of nursing home abuse that are of a physical nature include forced restraint, improper drug administration, forced feeding, or starvation. A few signs that could indicate a resident of a nursing home is suffering abuse include bruising, unexplained injuries, and sudden changes in the behavior of an elderly loved one.
Sexual abuse is not as common in nursing homes as physical abuse but it does happen often enough to be a cause for concern. Sexual abuse can include touching, forced nudity, or any other inappropriate activities of a sexual nature. It is also important to note that senior individuals who suffer from cognitive impairment are not able to consent to sex.
Emotional abuse is another occurrence that is all too common in our nation’s nursing homes. This abuse can manifest itself through insults, threats, harassment, forced isolation, and manipulation. Other types of abuse a senior loved one can suffer in a nursing home include financial exploitation and neglect.
Families in Texas with loved ones living in nursing homes are not able to supervise the treatment their loved ones receive on a daily basis. For this reason, the state has taken a number of legal measures to protect the rights and safety of seniors living in nursing homes. When the rights of a nursing home resident are threatened, a nursing home abuse attorney may prove helpful at protecting the rights of the resident and ensuring the offending party is held accountable for their actions.
