How Common is Nursing Home Abuse in Indiana?

Thousands upon thousands of Indiana residents live in nursing homes. While some people are well cared for, others are not. Abuse is far more common than people realize, making it extremely important to always check on your loved ones living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. Exactly how often abuse occurs is difficult to say, but there are ways in which you can protect your loved ones and seek justice if abuse does indeed occur.

You should thoroughly research a nursing home before checking a family member into the facility. Sometimes, a simple Google search is all you need to discover past complaints of abuse against a long-term care facility. If your loved one currently lives in a nursing home, you can try to prevent abuse by being more present. Frequent visits and check-ins with your loved one indicate to staff members that if something happens to this person, their family will notice. If you discover signs of abuse, contact the police and a lawyer right away.

Reach out to our Indiana nursing home abuse lawyers at Wruck Paupore by calling (219) 322-1166 and ask for a free case review.

How Often Are Nursing Home Residents in Indiana Abused?

The frequency of abuse in nursing homes and long-term care facilities can be hard to measure. While cases of abuse are reported every year, many others go unreported. Even when abuse does come to light, nursing homes and their employees sometimes try to cover everything up, or they reach settlements with residents and their families to keep things quiet. As such, we might never know the true extent of abuse. However, our Indiana nursing home abuse attorneys know that abuse is common and should concern anyone with a loved one in a nursing home.

Abuse might be more likely to occur with certain nursing home residents than others. For example, a person living in a nursing home who has very few visitors might be more likely to experience abuse. If someone is abused in a nursing home and their family never visits, their family will likely not discover the abuse, and it is more likely to go unreported.

On top of that, nursing home residents who are in poor health or have memory problems might be more susceptible to abuse. Abusers might target victims who cannot protect themselves and are unlikely to report abuse or be believed if they do report it. A person who has something like dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other memory problems might be more vulnerable to abuse. They are more likely to have trouble reporting the abuse on their own. If they do report it, their story is easier to dismiss because their mental faculties are less reliable.

Different Types of Abuse in Indiana Nursing Homes

Part of what makes abuse so hard to track is that it often looks different to different people. Some victims might experience painful physical abuse, while others endure verbal or emotional abuse. In a nursing home, abuse might also be medical, and an abuser might purposefully interfere with the victim’s medical care to harm them.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse might include acts of bodily harm. For example, if you notice bruising, cuts, bleeding, or other signs of injuries on your loved one, get them to a doctor immediately. Remember, people living in nursing homes are often vulnerable to injuries as it is, and noticing injuries does not always indicate abuse. However, if you cannot get a reasonable explanation for where your loved one’s injuries came from, call the police and contact an attorney.

When you have your loved one evaluated by a doctor, explain your suspicions of abuse. The doctor can also check for signs of older injuries that might never have been reported or properly treated.

Medical Abuse

Nursing home residents often rely on staff members to care for them, including maintaining a medical care plan. This might involve making sure that your loved one receives proper medication prescribed by their doctor and making sure they rest. In some cases, abusers have tampered with medicine or withheld it altogether.

They might do other abusive things that prevent your loved one from recovering from an injury or other medical condition. This kind of medical abuse can take a huge toll on your loved one’s health. Be on the lookout for changes in your loved one’s overall health. A sudden decline might indicate that something is very wrong.

Emotional Abuse

Some victims of abuse in nursing homes are never physically harmed. Instead, abusers emotionally and verbally abuse victims. This might involve threatening, bullying, or intimidating victims. Signs of emotional abuse can be very hard to spot, especially if victims are too frightened to come forward. Check for changes in your loved one’s personality and demeanor. If they seem to be far more sullen, moody, depressed, or angry than normal, you should talk to them about how they are being treated. You might also want to report this information to their doctor.

What is the Likelihood of My Loved One Being Abused in an Indiana Nursing Home?

Abuse in nursing homes is more common than people realize, and it is important to understand what makes a person more likely to be victimized. Exactly what makes abuse more likely varies from case to case, but there are certain factors you should consider.

Remember the factors discussed above. Does your loved one live in a nursing home because they have diminished mental functioning? Do they suffer from something like dementia or other conditions that affect their memory? If so, they might be more likely to experience abuse, as their ability to report it is hindered. You should also consider how often you or others visit your loved one. If visits are sparse, consider checking in with your loved one more often.

The likelihood of abuse might also depend on the nursing home’s history of abuse and complaints. If you are researching different long-term care facilities for your loved one, beware of places with bad reviews or a laundry list of complaints. If a nursing home has repeatedly allowed abuse to occur in the past, it is likely going to happen in the future.

Speak to Our Indiana Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys for Help Now

Contact our Carmel, IN nursing home abuse attorneys at Wruck Paupore by calling (219) 322-1166, and ask for a free case evaluation to get started.