8 Signs Your Senior Loved One Could

Be Abused

Placing your loved one in a nursing home or some other form of senior care involves a sacred trust. That company is being paid to look after a person and is responsible for their safety and care, but sometimes

that trust is betrayed. The following signs are causes for concern, but may not alone prove any wrongdoing. Instead, consider

them warning signs that need to be followed up quickly.

Bedsores

Medically known as pressure ulcers, bedsores are visible damage to the skin and underlying flesh, commonly on the heels, ankles, hips and

tailbone. The injuries come from prolonged time spent lying down and the simple way to prevent

them is to move the patient periodically.

Like many forms of abuse, bedsores come from neglect, not outright malice where the staff in-

tentionally inflicts harm the resident. Even if there was no evil intention, a negligent staff is still

harming a person and the behavior is abusive.

Broken Bones

Patients with limited mobility can be severely hurt trying to move on their own.

One of the most common scenarios we see is when a patient needs to use a bathroom during the night and no one responds to the call button. They venture out on their

own and fall down, possibly breaking a bone.

Verbal complaints about abuse

This one may seem a bit obvious, but it’s usually the case that people in supervised

care are able to tell loved ones what’s going on. The lines of communication have to be open and they may be more willing to talk about things in person than on the

phone. Even if their mental ability has been compromised in any way, look into any

abuse they report.

Malnourishment

Sudden weight loss can come from health issues, but it can also arise from a person

who is not being fed properly, underfed or who is given food that they are unwilling to eat. While some change in weight can

be explained by an ongoing health issue, a doctor or nurse is best qualified to

determine if that’s what is happening.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse can be overt such as threats, constant criticism and intimidation.

It can also involve keeping the person alone away from other people or treating them like a child. Your loved one may become

withdrawn or not respond when spoken to if this abuse persists.

Delayed reporting of Injuries

If your loved one is hurt or becomes ill while being cared for, your family should be

notified as soon as possible. If there is a considerable delay between when a health

emergency occurs and when you are informed, you should be concerned. They

may have not learned about the problem in a timely fashion, they may be careless and inexperienced with these matters or they could even be using the time to come up

with a cover story. None of these are acceptable.

Infections

Many forms of infections are easily preventable, but still present a potentially

lethal or life-altering threat. Ask to speak to the health professionals about how any

infections were able to occur, and double-check what you are told.

ID theft

Unfortunately, caretakers have the perfect opportunity to take advantage of seniors They can be pumped for information that

allows an abuser to open financial accounts or make purchases at their expense, especially if their mental state is at all

weakened. When your loved one is being cared for, make sure to check for any unexpected changes to their finances.

If you think your loved one is being abused please call or

contact Colucci, Colucci, Marcus and Flavin for

a consultation.

Have you been injured? If so give us a call

Phone: 617-379-1797 Toll Free: 866-528-3515

www.coluccilaw.com