While the effects of physical abuse may be more apparent, verbal or emotional abuse affect an older adult’s mental state of mind, reducing their quality of life. When you learn about verbal or emotional abuse coming from the nursing home staff responsible for your loved one’s care, you have the right to take action.
If your loved one shows any signs of emotional abuse, a Louisville verbal or emotional abuse lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you to investigate the matter. Based on your case, your family may be entitled to compensation, and our team can help you to pursue justice for your loved one.
Speak to one of our team members at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today by calling (800) 842-6336. Your case review consultation is on us—100% free and confidential.
Types of Verbal or Emotional Abuse in Nursing Homes
Nursing home residents often need support with daily activities, such as grooming, eating, and taking medications. Those who suffer cognitive or other physical impairments may need even more support.
Meanwhile, many nursing homes are understaffed, unable to hire enough caregivers to provide adequate support to residents. This can result in a group of overworked—and possibly under-qualified—caregivers who may commit abuses against the residents in their care.
There is no justification for any abuse of residents in these facilities. Nursing home staff are responsible for maintaining the wellbeing of residents and protecting them from harm. Yet, as the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) presents, 7.6% of nursing homes’ complaints in 2014 pointed to some type of abuse, including emotional and verbal. Many more cases likely go unreported.
While physical, financial, and sexual abuses may be easier to recognize, verbal and emotional abuse are less-so. This can lead victims to remain silent. The following are common instances of verbal abuse:
- Threatening
- Yelling and shouting
- Intimidating
- Criticizing
- Name-calling
The following are some examples of emotional abuse:
- Isolating residents from other residents, friends, and family
- Willfully ignoring or not speaking to residents when the occasion demands it
- Degrading or humiliating residents with actions or words
- Gaslighting—manipulating residents to think they have imagined or deserve the abuse
There are many other examples of verbal and emotional abuse. If your loved one reveals any maltreatment from their caregivers, you should always believe them. Even if they do not say anything, you may notice changes in their behavior that can point toward enduring abuse.
Signs of Nursing Home Verbal or Emotional Abuse
Verbal and emotional abuse may be harder to detect compared to other forms of abuse. Often, the perpetrators will only abuse residents this way when alone, leading this behavior to go unchecked. The most important thing is to listen to what your loved one says about the treatment they receive and watch for signs, such as the following:
- Unexplained behavioral or personality changes
- Withdrawal from others
- Anxiety and depression
- Self-hating remarks
- Fearfulness or anxiety around certain staff members
- Sudden unexplained weight loss or appetite changes
- Emotional agitation or lashing out
Verbal or emotional abuse may not seem serious because it does not physically injure the victim. Over time, however, older adults who are victims of verbal or emotional abuse may suffer anxiety and depression, leading to thoughts of suicide or self-harm. A person with a poor mental state may also display physical symptoms, such as peptic ulcers, slow healing from infections or wounds, or trouble sleeping.
Abuse of this kind may also lead to physical or other abuse types, especially when the perpetrator sees no negative consequences for their actions. It is critical to investigate any signs or unexplainable changes in your loved one to rule out any abuse. If you suspect your loved one is experiencing abuse from the staff, a verbal or emotional abuse lawyer can help you take action.
For a free legal consultation with a Verbal or Emotional Abuse Lawyer serving Louisville, call (800) 842-6336
Statute of Limitations in Verbal and Emotional Abuse Cases
It can be difficult to prove verbal and emotional abuse because such cases often happen in private. In this instance, it may become a case of a caregiver’s word against the resident’s. However, this should not be a reason not to report your concerns to a nursing home abuse lawyer or the facility’s administration. If the administration does not provide a satisfactory response to your allegation, your lawyer can gather evidence and file a lawsuit against the nursing home.
The statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Kentucky, according to Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) §413.140, is only one year. While this may seem like enough time, note that it takes time to gather evidence and build a strong case. Therefore, you should consult with a lawyer as soon as possible after noticing the signs of abuse.
If the nursing home or its insurers offer a settlement, your Louisville verbal or emotional abuse lawyer can determine if the offer is fair and negotiate on your family’s behalf. The nursing home representatives will likely work in their own best interests, and your attorney can help protect yours.
Louisville Verbal or Emotional Abuse Lawyer Near Me (800) 842-6336
Consult Our Louisville Verbal or Emotional Abuse Lawyer for Help with Abuse
If your loved one has suffered emotional or verbal abuse in the nursing home where they stay, you may be able to seek compensation. At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we represent victims of emotional, verbal, and other kinds of abuse in nursing homes. If we take your case, our team will work hard to ensure that you receive fair compensation and that your loved one finds justice.
The responsible parties should be held accountable. By taking action against the abuser, you can prevent further damage to your loved one and ensure that a similar thing does not happen to other innocent residents.
You do not have to waste valuable time negotiating with your loved one’s abusers or the nursing home administration. Reach out to our nursing home abuse lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm by calling (800) 842-6336 today. Your initial case review consultation is free, and we work on a contingency basis—you owe nothing unless we win you an award.
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