How To Report a Nursing Home in PA: 5 Types of Elder Abuse
Nursing homes are supposed to be places where our older loved ones can live out their lives with care and comfort. Their needs should be met, and they should be able to trust those people providing that care. As our parents, grandparents, and friends age, they become more reliant on those around them to handle basic tasks. Unfortunately, that also means that they might become more susceptible to being taken advantage of, and can suffer if their needs are actively ignored.
Elder abuse is shockingly rampant in the United States. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, an estimated 1 in 10 adults 60 years old and above experience elder abuse. This form of abuse takes many forms, each devastating in its own way.
Two out of three nursing home staff members admitted to committing some form of abuse in 2023, according to the World Health Organization. The rates of abuse have increased following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Understanding the different ways that this type of abuse can present itself can be tricky. One thing we can do is stay close to our family members or loved ones living in a nursing home.
It can be an isolating experience, and that isolation is a key aspect that abusers tend to take advantage of. Regular visits and communication can help people identify changes in behavior from their loved ones and can help identify questionable behavior from caregivers.
If You Suspect Nursing Home or Elder Abuse
If you suspect that your loved one is being abused by a caregiver in their nursing home, it may be in your best interest to seek legal representation. Our experienced nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo have more than five decades of combined experience handling these types of cases.
We understand the pain and suffering this type of situation can cause both you and your loved one, and we’re ready and waiting to help. In order to help you get a better understanding of what to look out for, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common forms of elder abuse that take place in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
Read on to learn more about various types of elder abuse and information on reporting elder abuse.
What Are the Five Types of Elder Abuse?
1. Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is one of the most readily apparent forms of elder abuse that can occur at a nursing home or long-term care facility. This type of abuse is often caused by someone hitting, shoving, physically restraining, or striking the victim. It can also occur when the victim is denied medical care, or if that medical care is intentionally delayed.
If your family member or loved one is showing signs of bruising, burns, broken bones, dislocated joints, broken personal effects, and more, check in with them and with the facility. Any incident that leads to physical trauma should be well-documented, and failure to do so can be a tell-tale sign of physical abuse.
Repeated similar injuries can also be a sign. While it isn’t necessarily a guarantee that abuse is occurring if someone suffers the same injury time and time again, there is a high chance that something needs to be investigated or accounted for.
Repeated injuries could also indicate a staffing issue or physical abuse. For example, if your loved one falls in a nursing home and no one sees it, it could indicate staffing shortages, inadequate training, or careless employees. It may also suggest physical violence on a caregiver. Keeping track of dates and injuries can help when reporting elder abuse.
Abused older adults face a 300-fold increase in mortality risk; these wrongful deaths can and should be prevented.
2. Mental Abuse
Mental, emotional, and psychological abuse is one of the more common forms of abuse that can occur in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Since there is not typically any physical evidence of this type of abuse, stay in regular contact with your loved one or family member to better identify the warning signs. Some signs to note when reporting elder abuse here can include emotional withdrawal, increased agitation, and anxiety.
Elder mental abuse in long-term care facilities or nursing homes can include:
- Repeated berating of the victim
- Public shaming
- Intentionally degrading them in public
- Repeated threats of physical violence
- Mocking physical disabilities or hardships
- And more
Elder mental abuse is also associated with:
- Forced isolation and restriction from outside contact
- Ignoring them when they ask for help
- Confiscating personal items
- Confiscating or denying assistive devices like glasses or a wheelchair
3. Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is any form of non-consensual or forced sexual contact. It’s especially common with residents who have some sort of cognitive disability, like dementia or Alzheimer’s (some reports estimate 60%). These types of disability both prevent them from giving consent and can also mean that they have difficulty remembering the events later on.
However, sexual abuse can happen regardless of disability and can be perpetrated by staff, caretakers, other residents, friends, and family members. Some signs to look out for include bleeding from genitals or breasts, bruising in the same areas, new sexually transmitted diseases or infections, and emotional withdrawal or fear, especially around specific individuals.
If you suspect that your loved one was the victim of sexual abuse in the nursing home, act quickly to provide them with the protection and safety that they deserve.
4. Financial Abuse
Financial abuse occurs far too often to elderly people, regardless of their living situation, and involves the improper or unauthorized use of the victim’s resources. This can include bank accounts, assets, investments, personal property, and more.
Some warning signs of financial abuse to look for include missing personal belongings, unusual financial activity, bank statements sent to third parties, sudden changes in power of attorney, and more. Financial abuse costs victims over the age of 60 $28.3 billion every year, the vast majority of which (72%) is caused by someone the victim knows.
If you’re the person your elderly family member or loved one typically relies on for their financial needs, act promptly to put a stop to this type of abuse. If you are not the person typically in charge of this, consider talking to the elder individual or to another individual to express your concern.
5. Caregiver Neglect
While many forms of elder abuse are more active, failure to act is also considered a form of abuse under Pennsylvania law. In fact, neglect is the most common form of elder abuse.
These types of cases are not when a caregiver forgets to change the sheets every now and then or forgets their patient’s favorite snack — this type of abuse occurs when a caregiver or facility displays repeated careless behavior and shows a consistent lack of regard for those under their care.
Some common signs of caregiver and nursing home neglect include:
- Soiled clothing
- Dehydration and/or malnutrition
- Untreated infections and injuries
- Missing or unprovided medical aids
- Consistently dirty living and common spaces
This type of abuse is increasingly dangerous over time and can lead to serious medical issues. While it’s most prevalent in nursing homes and long-term care facilities with staffing issues, it can still occur in places without these problems. You can find more information about how to prove nursing home negligence here.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse?
The best way to spot possible abuse of your elderly loved one or family member is to stay in contact and regularly check in with them. This is good for their overall well-being, and can also give you a consistent baseline to compare to.
If you suspect that they are being abused in some fashion, check in with them first to see what they have to say. If you believe that there is an immediate emergency, the best course of action is likely to call 911 for immediate assistance and go about reporting elder abuse.
Not all cases of nursing home abuse require immediate intervention from the police. Whether your loved one approaches you with concerns, which should always be taken seriously, or if you notice signs of abuse, there are services and people in place to provide assistance. Adult Protective Services and nursing home ombudsman can help facilitate a conversation and help you come up with a solution in some cases.
Still, in far too many cases, legal intervention may be required. If you believe that you need to take legal action, finding a law firm you can trust to represent you and your loved one is important.
How To Report Nursing Home Abuse
When reporting elder abuse, acting quickly is vital. If your family or loved one was abused in a nursing home or by nursing home staff, there are several official channels you can utilize.
Who To Call When Reporting Elder Abuse
You can call the Elder Abuse Helpline at 1-800-490-8505, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health has a number of reporting options, including email, fax, mail, email, and a phone number. Concerned individuals can find contact forms and relevant numbers here from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania website.
Important Information When Reporting Elder Abuse
Information you may be required to provide when reporting elder abuse includes:
- Your name and contact information
- Your relationship to the patient
- Date of the incident
- Name and address of the facility
- If you discussed your concerns with anyone at the facility
- A detailed report of the incident
How To File an Elder Abuse Report
It is possible to file an elder abuse report anonymously through the Department of Health website. It is also possible to include your information and request confidentiality if you want the government agency to keep in touch regarding the outcome of their investigation without the facility being made aware of who filed the report.
Legal Help With Suspected Elder Abuse
Your attorney can also help you collect information and evidence supporting your claims when filing this report. They can also help you stay anonymous but remain informed by serving as the point of contact with the agency.
Reporting Elder Abuse: Work With a Law Firm You Can Trust
If you have identified the warning signs of elder abuse from the nursing home your loved one is living at, it’s important to work with a law firm you can count on. At Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo, our nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys have years of experience working with families in need of experienced legal representation.
We will provide you with the care and attention to detail you can rely on in your time of need, and help you secure the legal outcome that will help put your family back on track and keep them safe.
With more than 190 years of combined experience and more than $1 billion secured in verdicts and settlements, you can rest easy that your case is in good hands when you work with us. Reach out to us to discuss your situation, and schedule a free consultation with a member of our firm today.
Sources:
What is Elder Abuse? | National Center on Elder Abuse
Elder Abuse | American Bar Association
The disturbing size of elder financial abuse in America | Yahoo Finance
Adult Protective Services | Department of Human Services
Request Assistance from a Long-Term Care Ombudsman | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Report Elder Abuse | Department of Aging | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Nursing Homes | Department of Health | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
How do I report elder abuse or abuse of an older person or senior? | HHS
Elder Abuse & Financial Exploitation | 2023 Report to the Nation | OVC