Tips on How to Identify Elder Abuse and the Best Way to Report It
You might think that because someone is elderly, people would at least treat them better. However, that is not always the case. Any professional caregiver has the moral duty to ensure that the elderly get the right care without any abuse. You need to know that if elder abuse is discovered and reported, you might lose your job among other charges.
So, what are some of the signs of elder abuse?
If you have someone whom you care for in a nursing home, you always have to watch out for some elder abuse symptoms just to be safe. You should never let your elderly family member go through abuse when there is a chance to help. You can get a personal injury lawyer for nursing home abuse to help with preparing a case against the responsible party. Below are some of the signs that will tell you if the elderly is being abused.
– Financial exploitation
Whenever a caregiver cons an elderly person out of their hard-earned money over the years, you can expect it to have some severe effects on a person. Other signs include when the checks are missing, insufficient funds in the banking accounts, and much more. When the elderly do not have money for treatment, it can lead to other issues.
– Neglect by caregivers
As stated earlier, a caregiver has a duty of ensuring the elderly gets all the right services without neglect. Some caregivers do not care much about the elderly. The neglect can be as simple as not washing the elder’s clothing. If the elderly also suffer from dehydration, bedsores, malnutrition, and other severe medical conditions, it might indicate neglect on the part of the caregiver.
– Physical abuse
It is surprising sometimes that someone might physically abuse an elderly person. Such an abuse leads to bodily injuries and impairment. This can range from cuts, scratches, to broken bones. When the medical history shows that the elderly person has been facing the same injuries, then an investigation is required to determine what is going on.
– Psychological abuse
This type of abuse might be hard to detect, but it can still have some serious impact on a person’s health. When you notice that the elderly person is afraid of a particular caregiver, it will be best if you investigate to learn more. The elderly person might also be disconnected from other people such as family and friends.
Who is Supposed to Report Elder Abuse?
In 2009, the Elder Justice Act was passed as a way of protecting the elderly from abuse. Many see it as a comprehensive bill in recent times to protect the elderly from different types of abuse.
The law states that there should be mandated reporting by the nurses who are involved in providing care for the elderly. Each time a nurse notices instances of abuse, the nurse has a responsibility to report the matter. Those who do not report might be held liable by both the criminal and civil legal systems.
Also, if you are a friend or family member close to the elderly, you have the same responsibility. The moment you notice that your elderly family member shows signs of abuse, take the necessary steps to report the matter.
If you suspect abuse, here is how you do about reporting it.
– Take note of the changes in behavior
– Photograph the injuries
– Write the descriptions of the injuries
– Take written statements from the elderly
– Take written statements from witnesses