The Nursing Home Abuse Resources defines nursing home abuse, or elder abuse, as a willful act or a failure to act that result in physical or mental injury or death to a resident of a nursing home. Legal definitions of what constitutes nursing home abuse vary from state to state, but the actions involved such as assault and battery or rape are criminal acts in and of themselves.
Types
The National Center on Elder Abuse, or NCEA, describes several ways in which nursing home abuse can occur. Physical abuse involves an act of violence against the patient such as hitting, improper use of restraints, giving unnecessary medications and force-feeding. Sexual abuse involves non-consensual sexual contact with a patient. Verbal threats, insults, humiliation and degrading treatment are types of emotional or psychological abuse. Neglect and abandonment by those contractually obligated to care for the patient are also considered forms of nursing home abuse.
Signs of Abuse
Signs of physical abuse include bruising, broken bones, welts, wounds, laboratory reports of an overdose of medication and the elder's own reports of abuse, according to the NCEA. Signs of sexual abuse include bleeding or bruising of the genitals, torn or bloody undergarments and unexplained sexually transmitted disease. Emotional abuse can manifest as unusual or non-communicative behavior. Dehydration or malnourishment, health problems left untreated and poor living conditions may indicate neglect.
Prevalence
It is difficult to determine the exact number of nursing home abuse cases because there is no uniform national reporting system. In 2005, the NCEA compiled information from many sources and presented the Elder Abuse Prevalence and Incidence Report. According to this report, state ombudsman programs for long-term care facilities investigated over 20,000 cases of nursing home abuse in 2003, the most recent year in which statistics are available. The NCEA estimates that for every one case reported, five more go unreported
Prevention
Be alert and vigilant when choosing a nursing home. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services suggests choosing a well-staffed, licensed facility that performs background checks on all staff. Ask about special training programs for staff that teach them how to deal with the stress of caring for many patients at once, how to deal with aggressive patients and how to recognize abuse. If possible, choose a home close enough for family and friends to visit. Take allegations of abuse made by the patient seriously
Reporting Abuse
If you suspect nursing home abuse, report your suspicions immediately. Make your report in writing. Date the report and keep a copy. Include pertinent information about the patient, such as his name, age and address of the facility. Write details about the signs that prompted your suspicions and the date and time you noticed these signs. Give this report to the nursing home director, local law enforcement or an advocacy group that specializes in nursing home abuse.
