Nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other similar establishments were originally designed to help families provide care for their senior loved ones. Although the decision to put them in a nursing home can be tough, you hold on to this hope and belief that this place will treat them with the genuine care and dignity they deserve. Sadly, the trust people put in nursing homes is often abused.
The World Health Organization reports that 1 in 6 older adults (60+ years old) experienced abuse in community settings in 2023. So, if you’re a family member or a business leader overseeing employee wellness programs or taking care of aging parents, it’s really important to know how to recognize the signs of elder abuse. Catching these problems early can help stop their ongoing suffering and save their lives. (1)
This guide will help you recognize the warning signs of abuse and offer some tips on how to prevent it before it begins.
Look Out for Physical Warning Signs
Physical abuse is often the most obvious type of mistreatment in nursing homes. Yet, even how upfront it can be, the signs can still go unnoticed or misinterpreted as just part of aging or health issues. So, when you visit, make sure to always check your loved one’s physical condition and their surroundings.
If you see any suspicious and unexplained bruises, welts, and burns, these should definitely be considered red flags, especially if they appear in clusters or regular patterns. Broken bones, sprains, or dislocations could also suggest rough handling by the staff or even intentional harm.
Physical abuse can also be in the form of neglect. If you notice your loved one suffering from sudden weight loss, dehydration, or poor hygiene, these could indicate that the staff isn’t providing the necessary care as expected. The moment you spot these warning signs, you must document them thoroughly.
This evidence will be helpful once you need to consult an attorney for elder abuse, as they can guide you through the complicated legal issues that often arise in these sensitive cases.
Monitor Behavioral and Emotional Changes
Emotional abuse can also be alarming in nursing homes. If your loved one starts to withdraw, becomes unusually quiet, or seems fearful, particularly around certain staff members, there’s a huge risk that they’ve been abused emotionally. Unfortunately, the effects of emotional abuse often happen gradually, which makes them hard to spot unless you’re a frequent visitor.
Another telltale sign that they’ve been emotionally abused is when you notice them reverting to childlike behaviors like rocking, sucking, or mumbling. According to studies, older adults who have undergone a certain trauma or psychological distress can experience age regression. They may act out in ways that are out of character, like biting, scratching, or hitting, as defensive responses to mistreatment and emotional abuse. (2)
More importantly, if you notice that the staff won’t let you be alone with your loved one during visits, it could be a tactic to keep them from voicing concerns about their care. At this point, you need to trust your gut. It’s worth investigating what’s really going on.
Assess Financial Irregularities
Financial exploitation (FE) is another common form of elder abuse that often goes undetected. As per the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), financial exploitation is defined as the ‘illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds or assets belonging to a vulnerable elder.’ Disturbingly, 26% of older adults lose approximately USD$36 billion annually to this type of abuse. (3)
What makes financial abuse particularly insidious is that perpetrators are often individuals close to the victim, such as family members, caregivers, friends, or neighbors, who exploit their access to financial accounts or legal authority. This trusted relationship dynamic is what deters victims from reporting abuse, leaving many cases undetected and unaddressed.
So, to safeguard your loved one from this kind of abuse, you need to be very vigilant. If you’re the only person that your loved one has trusted to manage their finances, then don’t disclose any of their sensitive information to anyone, even to the other family members. Regularly check their financial statements for any suspicious activity, like unexpected withdrawals, sudden shifts in spending habits, or missing valuables.
Lastly, be cautious of staff or acquaintances who seem overly interested in the senior’s financial health or possessions. Keep in mind that their concern for your loved one should only be about their health and well-being, not about their finances or assets.
Observe Facility Conditions and Practices
It’s only right that nursing homes uphold their reputation of being a safe, comfortable, and clean environment for the vulnerable ones. But, if you notice something’s off about a nursing home’s overall environment and facility conditions, that could also say something about the quality of care they provide.
For instance, if you catch strong smells of urine or feces lingering in the air, that’s a clear sign of poor cleaning and hygiene. It could also signify that one or more patients in that nursing home are at risk of abuse and haven’t been properly taken care of.
Seeing nursing home residents left alone in hallways or common areas for too long might also suggest there aren’t enough staff members on duty. And if their residents look unwashed or are wearing dirty clothes, that’s definitely a red flag for neglect.
You should also monitor the staff’s behavior and overall attitude. Do they seem rushed, frustrated, or indifferent? Are there many turnovers? Are call buttons answered in a timely manner? The way staff interact with residents when they think no one is watching can tell you a lot about the facility’s culture.
Communicate Effectively With Your Loved One
Ultimately, having regular, meaningful conversations is the best way to spot potential abuse. Even if you’re not always around, having open and meaningful conversations with your senior loved one gives them a safe space to be honest about what they’re really going through.
Thus, make it a point to visit at different times and on various days to get a well-rounded view of the care your loved one is receiving. During these visits, try to carve out some time for private chats without the presence of staff so they can express themselves freely.
Instead of simply asking, ‘Is everything okay?’, try open-ended questions like, ‘What did you do today?’ or ‘How was your breakfast this morning?’ These kinds of questions can lead to more detailed answers, especially from someone who might be reluctant to voice complaints.
For residents who may have cognitive challenges, you need to be more attentive to their nonverbal cues. Watch their facial expressions, body language, and emotional responses when certain topics come up or when specific staff members walk into the room.
Key Takeaway
Keeping vulnerable older adults safe from nursing home abuse takes a lot of awareness, knowledge, and advocacy. By learning to recognize the signs of abuse and setting up open lines of communication, you’re building an essential safety net for your loved one.
Always remember that your involvement can greatly impact the quality of care they receive. So, always trust your instincts, and if something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to act.
References
- “Abuse of older people”, Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abuse-of-older-people
- “Age regression signs, causes, and treatment”, Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/age-regression
- “Factors associated with financial exploitation in older adults: A systematic review”, Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197457224003495
