It is important that you face any suspicions that your loved one is being abused head-on, contacting law enforcement and then calling a lawyer who can formulate a case in your loved one’s defense. Call our team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free discussion that will kick off your case.
Verbal and Emotional Abuse May Indicate Other Forms of Abuse
If you discovered that your loved one is the victim of verbal or emotional abuse while living in a nursing home, then the revelation may only be the tip of the iceberg in terms of mistreatment that your loved one endured. It is important that you can talk to your loved one about any other abuse they suffered, and recognize the signs that any abuse occurred.
Signs of Verbal and Emotional Abuse
Being demeaned and otherwise mistreated in a verbal manner can take a serious toll on one’s mood, whether they are young or older. Some indications that your loved one may be the victim of verbal and emotional abuse, according to the National Center On Elder Abuse, include:
- Seeming emotionally unstable, especially if they are upset.
- Being in an agitated mood for no apparent reason.
- Withdrawing into a depressed state, especially if this is not something you saw previously in their personality.
- Signs of possible trauma that are out of character, such as rocking back and forth, biting, or other behaviors that seem strange to you.
- If they tell you that they suffered mistreatment in any way that constitutes verbal or emotional abuse.
It is likely that you do not spend the most time with your loved one — their caretakers do. Even if a caretaker seems nice and competent during the hours you see them, they may be abusive in times when you are not there, and you must be attentive to possible indicators of verbal and emotional abuse. A Cicero verbal or emotional abuse lawyer can help you with your case, so you should make sure to contact their office as soon as possible.
Other Possible Signs of Abuse
There are many other forms of abuse besides verbal and emotional mistreatment that are too common among the elderly. They include:
- Physical abuse.
- Neglect.
- Sexual abuse.
- Financial exploitation.
Each of these forms of abuse has their own markers. You will have to monitor your loved one’s financial accounts to see if they are being swindled. Neglect, sexual abuse, and physical abuse may be more obvious. Some possible signs of these three forms of abuse include:
- The appearance of bruises, cuts, burns, and other signs of physical trauma, especially around the breasts or genitals (this could indicate sexual abuse)
- Your loved one takes on a disheveled appearance, such as being unshaven, having their hair uncombed, or wearing dirty clothes, as this could mean they are being neglected.
- The presence of bedsores and poor hygiene.
- A depressed mood or other abnormal, negative changes in mood.
- Acting out violently.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Your loved one withdrawing from activities that they generally enjoy.
There is nobody who cares for your loved one like you do, and you are the person responsible for protecting them from harm. If you see any of the above signs of abuse, or any other signs that trouble you, contact law enforcement and then call a lawyer. Speak with a member of our team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to talk about your Cicero verbal or emotional abuse lawyer needs today.
A Lawyer Will Help You Process Your Loved One’s Mistreatment
Many lawyers tried elder abuse cases in the past, and they can help you make sense of any suspicions you have. A lawyer will help you affirm any suspicions you have about abuse, but they will do much more than that too, including:
- Creating an official record of you and your loved one’s accounts of abuse, and submit that record as a legal document.
- Filling out and submitting all the paperwork necessary to get your case into the right court.
- Conducting any investigations necessary to collect evidence of wrongdoing by any employee who has participated in mistreatment of your loved one.
- Figuring out what liability the nursing home in question has for your loved one’s mistreatment.
- Interviewing any available witnesses to the mistreatment of your loved one.
- Formulating a case for compensation and presenting that case to the court.
- Completing every step required to bring your case to completion, whether the result is a judgment or settlement.
- Defending you and your loved one’s rights.
Your lawyer will, above all else, aim to prove that the defendant or defendants in your case abused, neglected, or exploited your loved one, causing harm as a result. The nature of the damage these actions have will dictate the possible compensation that you or your loved one may be entitled to.
Possible Compensation in Elder Abuse and Neglect Cases
Each case of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation is unique, and there is, therefore, no fixed set of awards that one can guarantee you. With that said, there are possibilities of the sort of awards your loved one could be eligible for, and they include coverage for:
- The time they have spent in the home or facility where the mistreatment occurred.
- Any medical procedures or care that were possibly caused by mistreatment.
- Pain and suffering inflicted on your loved one by their abuser(s).
- Punitive damages against individuals that perpetrated the abuse, as well as upper management that failed to prevent the mistreatment from happening.
For a free legal consultation with a Verbal or Emotional Abuse Lawyer serving Cicero, call (800) 794-0444
Call Our Team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today
We do not shy away from tough cases. Our clients pay nothing out of pocket, as we work on a contingency basis and only get paid if you win. Call our team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free consultation.
Do not wait to call us, as time may be a factor in your ability to bring legal action with a Cicero verbal or emotional abuse lawyer.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
