The idea that your elderly loved one may be suffering nursing home abuse or neglect is heartbreaking. It’s also one you shouldn’t ignore. If you suspect your family member is a victim, here are some things you can ask them (and yourself) to assess the situation.
Instructions
Check the box next to questions that have a “yes” answer. Then, score yourself below.
15 Questions to Ask Your Loved One
- Do you feel lonely here or are you being made to spend too much time in your room?
- Have you ever been yelled at or treated badly by a staff member?
- Are there any patients or staff members that make you feel nervous or who you don’t want to be around?
- Has anyone ever pushed, grabbed, pinched, or otherwise been physically rough towards you?
- Do you feel uncomfortable or afraid when staff is helping you bathe or get dressed?
- Has anyone here ever touched you intimately without your consent?
- Have you been restrained or given medicine against your will?
- Have you been denied access to food and water?
- Does staff refuse or neglect to help you with hygiene tasks?
- Has anyone ever threatened you or asked you not to talk about something?
- Has anyone asked you to keep a secret for them?
- Has anyone asked you for money or tried to get you to sign any documents?
- Have there been any sudden or unexpected withdrawals from your bank accounts?
- Have any of the patients or staff members offered to help you with your finances? Is this something you want them to do?
- Has anyone ever taken anything from your wallet or purse?
5 Questions to Ask Yourself
- Have there been recent changes to your family member’s mood?
- Have you noticed that your loved one’s behavior has changed or that they are doing things that are out of character for them?
- Do they struggle to make eye contact when you’re talking to them?
- Has your family member developed problems with eating or have they lost weight unexpectedly?
- Do you see any injuries or bruises on your loved one’s body that shouldn’t be there?
- Do they have poor hygiene?
- Are they sleeping too much or too little without any explanation?
- Is your loved one’s room dirty or cluttered?
- Are they being given too much or not enough medication?
- Are staff reluctant to speak with you or are they overly attentive when you are there?
Scoring Your Answers
Count the number of boxes that you have checked in each category. The more “yes” answers you have, the greater the likelihood is that your family member is suffering from nursing home neglect or abuse.
For example, answering “yes” to questions about poor hygiene can indicate that either your loved one is neglecting their own hygiene in response to sexual abuse or that the facility is not providing them with enough assistance to stay comfortably clean.
Answering “yes” to seeing bruises on their body or to staff members being standoffish towards you when you visit could be an indicator that they are being physically harmed. If you also checked the box next to the question about your loved one being afraid of staff, this is even more suggestive that abuse is occurring when you’re not there.
You may want to complete this questionnaire multiple times over the course of a week or more to get a better assessment of what could be happening. That said, acting quickly when there are obvious signs of a problem is crucial not only for the safety of your loved one, but also the safety of others who also reside in the facility.
When to Contact a Qualified Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Don’t wait to get your elderly loved one help after learning they may be a victim of neglect or abuse in a nursing home or other long-term care facility. You don’t want to risk your family member getting hurt again or possibly losing access to important evidence like video footage or witness testimony.
Our skilled personal injury attorneys have extensive experience working with elderly patients and their families and we can provide you with the comprehensive legal support your family needs. Contact us today at (855) 693-9084 or (978) 744-8000 to schedule a consultation.
Robert E. Mazow, Partner
Rob Mazow is a founding partner of Mazow | McCullough, PC, where he represents injured victims and their families. As a former Assistant District Attorney in Essex County, Rob has tried over 100 jury cases. Unhappy with representing “big business,” he left a large Boston firm in 2003 and dedicated his new practice to holding wrongdoers accountable. Rob has recovered millions for families and has led impactful class actions protecting Massachusetts consumers. He tells his clients, “I can’t guarantee you a result. But what I can promise is that nobody will fight harder to get you the best result possible.”
Kevin J. McCullough, Partner
Kevin McCullough is a founding partner of Mazow | McCullough, PC, where he focuses on serious personal injury, wrongful death, and consumer class action litigation. Kevin’s background includes working inside the insurance industry as both an adjuster and defense attorney, giving him deep insight into insurance claims and bad-faith practices. He also served as a prosecutor in the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, where he gained extensive trial experience. Kevin lives in Danvers, Massachusetts, with his wife and five children. Kevin enjoys all outdoor activities and spending time with his family.
