Detecting Senior Abuse

27 Jul Detecting Senior Abuse

While it’s common to see signs of depression in people who are the victims of elder abuse, there is a more common emotional sign that you’ll see in such individuals. One of the characteristic signs of someone being abused is when their emotions simply become very erratic. What makes some types of nursing home mistreatment so insidious is the fact that emotional episodes are sometimes the natural results of aging or of illnesses associated with aging.

Getting Older

People oftentimes suffer degenerative disorders when they age that affect their cognitive abilities. Dementia, senility and other symptoms are all too common. These oftentimes camouflage some pretty common symptoms of abuse and, unfortunately, they sometimes provide cover for abusers.

If your loved one is already suffering from a disorder that has diminished their mental and emotional capacity, it’s sometimes hard to notice when they might be suffering at the hands of someone who is abusing them. When they are mentally clear, however, it’s a bit easier.

Erratic Behavior

Emotions that don’t seem to make any sense given the context of a situation are sometimes signs that someone is being abused. For instance, a victim of abuse may suddenly lose their temper for no reason or lapse into profound depressions. It’s not really that their emotions are erratic; it’s that they’re suppressing perfectly natural feelings given that they’re being abused, and those emotions sometimes explode without warning. If someone is showing the signs of this type of stress, you may want to sit down with them to see if you can determine what’s going, on or you may want to have them talk to a professional counselor.

People who are abused will sometimes show fear around the abuser, for obvious reasons. If someone you love suddenly develops an aversion to a particular nursing home worker, it may be that something is going on. Look for other signs of abuse and talk to other residents and families about the person to see if they suspect anything.

If someone you love has been the victim of abuse, nursing home abuse attorneys may be able to help you get compensation for your loved one. This may take the form of a jury award or a settlement, though there is no guarantee that you’ll win. Make sure you speak with an attorney quickly, however, as there are limitations on how long you have to act.