Identifying Abuse Neglect

Abuse is the intentional infliction of pain or injury. Abuse can be physical, mental, sexual, psychological, or verbal, and more than one type of abuse can occur at the same time. Jones Law Group in Columbus, Ohio is committed to protecting the elderly from abuse and financial exploitation. Elder abuse may include harassment, intimidation, hitting, slapping, force-feeding, pinching, and kicking. 

At first, you might not recognize the signs and symptoms of elder abuse because they are easy to mix up with the signs of dementia or frailty. While many of the symptoms of elder abuse overlap with signs of mental deterioration, you should never dismiss them. The following are signs of different types of elder abuse. 

Signs of Physical Abuse 

• Unexplained cuts and bruises
• Broken bones, sprains, or dislocations
• Bloody or torn clothing
• Broken eyeglasses
• Signs of being restrained, such as rope marks on the wrists
• Caregiver refuses to allow you to be alone with the patient 

 

Signs of Emotional Abuse 

• Rocking, sucking, or mumbling to oneself
• Isolating the patient from other residents
• Mocking the patient
• Ignoring the patient
• Threatening, belittling, or controlling behavior exhibited by the caregiver 

 

Signs of Sexual Abuse 

• Venereal disease
• Bloody undergarments
• Bruises around the mouth, genital region, or breasts
• Unexplained bleeding around the genital or anal area
• Unexplained venereal disease
• Sudden onset of urinary tract infections 

 

Signs of Neglect 

• Medications not being administered properly
• Bed sores
• Unsanitary living conditions
• Dehydration
• Malnourishment
• Poor hygiene
• Soiled bed linens and clothing

 

Signs of Exploitation 

• Unpaid bills or lack of medical care, despite the elder’s ability to pay
• Large withdrawals from elder’s accounts
• Forged signatures
• Stolen money 

 

Healthcare Fraud and Abuse 

• Duplicate billings for medical care
• Problems with medical care, such as understaffing and crowding
• Under-medication or overmedication
• Evidence of inadequate care

 

If you have an elderly loved one who you suspect is the victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, it’s important to act quickly. Time is of the essence because the statute of limitations may prevent you from taking the case to court if you don’t file the lawsuit as soon as possible. If your elderly relative doesn’t have the mental capacity to sue, you may be able to file the lawsuit on the elder’s behalf. A nursing home abuse and neglect attorney can stop the abuse, hold the abusers and their employers accountable, and help you receive financial compensation for the pain and suffering caused to your elderly family member.

If you schedule an initial consultation with Jones Law Group, we’ll listen to your concerns and the circumstances of your situation to determine whether your elderly family member has a case. Then, we will evaluate the circumstances and severity of the abuse and calculate related expenses. This will enable us to determine the amount of damages needed to compensate your elderly relative. In order to develop your case, our attorneys may document the abuse by taking photos, researching your medical records, interviewing witnesses, and talking with your elderly family member, if possible.

Call (614) 545-9998 or contact us online  to schedule a free initial consultation with the elder abuse lawyers at Jones Law Group in Columbus, Ohio.  

 

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