Suffering from emotional or verbal abuse in the nursing home can have serious repercussions for your loved one, such as long-term psychological damage. Unfortunately, emotional abuse in nursing homes may be more widespread than we think.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), at least one in 10 elderly adults suffer from abuse every year, with those who have dementia or another mental impairment most vulnerable to mistreatment. The DOJ also says that being abused can lead to depression and suicide.
For the relatives of a nursing home resident, finding out that their loved one is suffering from verbal and emotional abuse can be devastating and frustrating. You may not know where to turn to get justice. An Atlanta verbal or emotional abuse lawyer can be by your side and help your family through this difficult time. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now to find out if you have a case against a negligent nursing home.
Types of Emotional and Verbal Abuse
We tend to think that physical abuse is the most damaging type of nursing home abuse, as it can leave signs on your loved one’s body, such as bruises, fractures, and burns. However, emotional and verbal abuse can also be extremely damaging to the health of an elderly nursing home resident. Some of the types of emotional or verbal abuse in nursing homes can include:
- Humiliating the resident
- Ignoring requests for assistance
- Intimidating the elderly person
- Using aggressive language
- Isolating the elderly person
- Threatening the resident
A resident could be suffering from other types of emotional or verbal abuse. Residents can be verbally and emotionally abused by nursing home staff, other residents of the facility, as well as guests or family members of other residents.
The nursing home has the overall responsibility for ensuring that all residents are free from any abuse that could occur on the premises, including verbal and emotional abuse.
Signs of Abuse
It can be challenging to detect the signs of verbal and emotional abuse, particularly if your loved one is having cognitive difficulties and cannot tell you about their suffering. Sometimes, they may be too ashamed to talk about verbal or emotional abuse.
An abuser can manipulate the victim into thinking that the abuse is somehow their fault. However, even if your loved one does not tell you about the verbal or emotional abuse they are experiencing, there are some signs you might be able to observe, such as changes in personality, mood swings, or depressive episodes. Your loved one may have problems sleeping, or they might have recently become withdrawn and fearful for no apparent reason.
Emotional and verbal abuse can have physical consequences too. Your loved one may be too upset or frightened to eat and could end up suffering from life-threatening malnutrition or dehydration as a result. Being under constant stress and anxiety due to emotional and verbal attacks can be damaging to the immune system and the general well-being of an elderly adult.
Nursing home residents have the right to be free from abuse. Your loved one should be able to feel safe and comfortable in their own home, and the nursing home may be liable if abuse has happened. An Atlanta verbal or emotional abuse lawyer might be able to help you get justice. Contact our team today for advice today.
For a free legal consultation with a Atlanta Verbal or Emotional Abuse Lawyer serving Atlanta, call (800) 794-0444
Nursing Home Liability
If your loved one has suffered damages due to emotional and verbal abuse, you could hold the nursing home to account. According to the Nursing Home Reform Act, 42 U.S. Code § 1395i–3, a nursing home needs to meet various standards of care and is mandated to provide an abuse-free environment for residents.
Nursing homes can be negligent in many ways, including irresponsibly hiring underqualified or unfit staff, and putting residents at risk.
If a nursing home was negligent in caring for your loved one, and your relative was emotionally or verbally abused, you may have the option to file a lawsuit. Filing a personal injury claim could help you recover compensation for medical bills, therapy costs, and rehabilitation expenses for your loved one. You could also potentially receive awards for any emotional pain and anguish suffered by your loved one.
To build a case against a nursing home, you will have to prove the following elements:
- Duty of care: The nursing home had a duty of care towards your loved one.
- Breach of duty: There was a breach in the duty of care.
- Causation: The breach caused injury or death.
- Damages: The damages are a result of the injury or death.
It takes hard evidence to prove nursing home negligence in a court of law. Building a case of negligence against a nursing home, especially in verbal and emotional abuse cases, can be challenging on your own. Hiring an Atlanta verbal or emotional abuse lawyer to help evaluate your specific case and inform you about your next best steps might be beneficial.
We Can Work for You
Verbal and emotional abuse is no less damaging than physical abuse. The mental scars left behind by abuse can last forever and have a detrimental effect on an elderly and vulnerable person. If your loved one suffered injuries from emotional or verbal abuse in their nursing home, you could take action. Once you make sure that your relative is safe from an abuser and report the abuse, you can speak to us and find out what your options are for filing a claim.
We will fight for you and can help you with all aspects of a case, including collecting evidence, consulting with experts, and negotiating with insurances, if needed.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now for your free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your specific case and find out how we can help you get justice and compensation.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
