Nursing homes are designed to provide residents with the level of care that they would not otherwise receive.
To be sure, most nursing homes are tasked with caring for residents who suffer from neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, are physically disabled or incapacitated, or/and who cannot perform self-care otherwise.
While there is an expectation that a nursing home will provide a high-level of care to a resident–if not treat them with respect, compassion, and even love–nursing homes and their staff do not always live up to this standard.
Indeed, nursing home and elderly abuse is a tragic problem.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse
When nursing home abuse occurs and a resident suffers harm as a result, filing a lawsuit may be appropriate.
Nursing home abuse usually takes one of four forms:
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse involves the use of physical force to control, intimidate, bully, or cause harm to a resident.
Examples of physical abuse might include improperly restraining the resident, using medication to sedate the resident without just cause, and hitting, biting, kicking, pinching, slapping, shoving, etc. the resident.
Sexual Abuse
Any sexual contact between a nursing home resident and a staff member that is non-consensual is sexual abuse.
In addition to resulting in civil consequences, sexual abuse may have criminal repercussions, too.
Emotional Abuse
Abuse may be emotional or psychological as opposed to physical.
Bully, taunting, and teasing residents are common examples of emotional abuse.
Refusing to allow residents to participate in social activities or spend time with loved ones are also types of psychological abuse.
Financial Exploitation
Sadly, some nursing home staff members may take advantage of a nursing home resident by exploiting them financially.
Examples might include stealing directly from the resident, convincing them to change their will, asking the resident to make large cash withdrawals, or using the resident to take out a loan or make a large financial purchase.
In addition to the four types of intentional abuse listed above, nursing home neglect–where a resident does not receive the level of care to which they are entitled–may also be cause for a malpractice suit.
Remedies for Nursing Home Abuse
When abuse occurs, a resident may be at risk of physical and psychological harm, the latter of which is often closely related to physical deterioration.
If your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, it’s important that you act quickly.
A nursing home can be held liable for the abusive actions of its staff and may be required to pay an elderly person or their representative/estate damages for the harm that results from the abuse.
In some cases, the facility or a particular staff member may face criminal penalties as well.
Call Our Iowa Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Today
To learn more about how to bring forth an abuse claim for damages, please reach out to our lawyers at the office of VanDerGinst Law today for your free consultation.
We are passionate about helping the vulnerable seek justice.
The information contained on this website is presented by VanDerGinst Law P.C. It is not intended nor should it be construed as professional legal advice. The information is general in nature about the Firm, the scope of services we offer, and our community outreach, it is not legal advice. Please contact us by phone, email, mail, or via this website for inquiries. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please contact a personal injury attorney for a consultation regarding your situation. This website is not intended to solicit clients outside the State of Iowa and/or the State of Illinois.