Emotional Abuse is a Serious Problem in Nursing Homes

While it doesn't show damage on the surface, emotional abuse suffered in a nursing home can be equally painful. Emotional abuse is when someone intentionally causes mental or emotional pain. Signs of intimidation, belittling, coercion, harassment, treating an adult like a child, isolation from family, friends or regular activity, silent treatment, and yelling or threatening are all examples of emotional abuse.

Signs of Emotional Abuse or Mental Mistreatment.

• If a nursing home resident seems distressed or emotionally upset or agitated it may be a case of emotional abuse.
• Becoming terribly withdrawn or non responsive are signs of emotional abuse.
• Unnatural behavior sometimes mistaken for dementia may be caused by emotional abuse.
• As with any complaint from the elderly, reports of being threatened, mentally mistreated should be treated seriously as signs of emotional abuse.

Financial Exploitation of the Elderly

Seniors are at a high risk for financial exploitation. Often times a vulnerable adult will be misled and lose their retirement funds, resources or income to an unsuspecting person. Sometimes these people are strangers, but often times these people are relatives, friends or caregivers. Financial exploitation can slowly occur over a number of years or happen quickly with a scam or promise of services.

Signs of Financial Exploitation of the Elderly

• Be suspicious of sudden money transfers or changes in financial statements such as large withdrawals made for or by a closely associated individual.
• If a caregiver asks for their name to be added to the bank signature card, it could be a sign of exploitation.
• Check the senior's account for unauthorized withdrawals from ATMs.
• Be wary of abrupt changes in an elderly person's will or financial documents.
• Watch for missing possessions as a sign of exploitation.
• Bills not being paid when funds are readily available is a sign of exploitation.
• Look for forged signatures on receipts and on titles of possessions.
• Payment of services that are not performed is another form of exploitation.
• A nursing home resident's report of being financially exploited should be examined closely.

Commitment to Nursing Home Residents, The Elderly, and their Families

Nursing home lawyer Jeffrey H. Rasansky has one mission: to fight for the rights of nursing home abuse victims. Our elder nursing home residents and loved ones should never suffer emotional abuse or financial exploitation. We are here to make sure that doesn't happen, and to fight for justice when it has. Contact an experienced nursing home lawyer today, and let us help you and your family.

Jeff Rasansky is licensed to practice before all state courts in Texas, the United States District Courts in the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas and the Fifth United States Circuit Court of Appeals.

Click here to contact The Law Offices of Jeff Rasansky.