Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are devastating diseases that result in permanent cognitive decline. Primarily, these diseases affect the elderly. Patients with dementia often require round-the-clock care, resulting in many of them being admitted to nursing homes. While elder abuse can happen to anyone in a nursing home setting, residents with dementia are at higher risk of abuse for many reasons. Dementia nursing home abuse is also not always reported, which means perpetrators are often left to abuse other dementia nursing home patients.
If someone you love is a nursing home dementia patient and you believe they were the victim of abuse, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Our Columbia nursing home abuse lawyer can help you do it.
Are Dementia and Alzheimer’s the Same?
Dementia is an umbrella term that includes a number of different conditions characterized by cognitive impairment, such as confusion, memory loss, and behavioral changes. Of all the different types of dementia in nursing homes and other settings, Alzheimer’s is the most common, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s disease has many different symptoms, including:
- Cognitive decline that is progressive and includes memory loss and confusion
- Difficulty remembering new information
- Changes in mood
- Irrational suspicion of other people
- Behavioral changes
- Disorientation
- Difficulty speaking, walking, and swallowing
Although Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia in nursing homes, there are other types, as well. These include Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease. The older a person becomes, the greater risk they have for developing any form of dementia.
Why are Dementia Nursing Home Residents More at Risk for Abuse?
Residents with dementia are at higher risk of abuse because staff members often believe they will not be caught. Nursing home dementia patients also often require a greater level of care and behavioral changes in residents can make this more difficult. Lastly, nursing home dementia patients are also very frail, which makes them more susceptible to sustaining an injury.
- Staff members think abuse will not be detected: Dementia nursing home residents often experience memory impairment and confusion. This can lead nursing home staff members to believe that they will not report nursing home abuse, and it will go undetected. Even if there is a possibility that nursing home residents will report the abuse, staff members may believe that no one will believe them due to the fact that dementia patients often experience hallucinations and paranoia.
- Nursing home dementia patients require greater care: Dementia patients in nursing homes typically require an increased level of supervision and care. These additional requirements can cause staff members to feel strained, particularly since they are often already overworked due to nursing home staff shortages. Nursing home staff members are also often underpaid and do not receive proper training regarding the care of memory-impaired patients.
- Sundowning: Sundowning is very common in Alzheimer’s patients. This is a term that describes the increased agitation dementia patients experience. It starts at dusk and continues through the night. If dementia nursing home patients are not supervised properly, they may wander into inappropriate places, such as outside, in a janitor’s closet, or in another resident’s room. This causes confusion, and dementia residents often cannot find their way back to their rooms. This situation can be life-threatening, particularly if residents are not found within 24 hours.
- Behavioral issues: Nursing home dementia residents can experience increased agitation because they are fearful of nursing home surroundings or staff members they do not recognize. Once they are suspicious of staff members, they may not cooperate with daily routines, such as changing their clothes or bathing. Residents with dementia may also become verbally or physically combative. Nursing home staff members should always receive proper training to handle these behavioral issues.
- Increased fragility: As residents with dementia become older, they also become more fragile and depend more on caregivers. Facilities that are already understaffed may not be able to properly care for all of a patient’s needs. As the dementia progresses, patients may lose the ability to speak, bladder control, and experience mobility issues.
What Nursing Home Dementia Patients are at Highest Risk?
While any nursing home resident with dementia may experience nursing home abuse, there are some individuals that are at higher risk. The risk factors for nursing home abuse impacting residents with dementia are as follows:
- Mental health issues
- Poor health
- Lower socioeconomic status
- Functional disabilities
- Previous exposure to trauma
- Financial dependence
- Lack of family visiting often
- Limited social support
- African Americans
- Women
Signs of Abuse in Nursing Home Dementia Patients
It is always important for family members to visit loved ones in a nursing home often and to look for common signs of abuse. This is of particular importance when a nursing home patient suffers from dementia because these residents are often not able to advocate for themselves. The most common signs of nursing home abuse include:
- Soft tissue injuries such as bruises and black eyes
- Unexplained cuts
- Broken bones
- Broken glasses
- Dislocations or sprains
- Increased anxiety, depression, or agitation
- Suspicious use of medication
- Social withdrawal
- Personality changes
- Bruises around the genital area or breasts
- Behavioral changes such as biting, sucking, or rocking
- Irregular anal or vaginal bleeding
- Becoming agitated or fearful around certain people
- Unexplained venereal disease
- Bloody linens, clothing, or sheets
- Reports of abuse from the nursing home resident
It is critical to believe any patient who reports abuse, even if they have a history of previous unfounded suspicions. This is the only way to ensure they will not suffer further harm.
Our Columbia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Handle Your Case
At Rikard & Protopapas, our Columbia nursing home abuse lawyer can provide the legal advice you need and help your family by putting a stop to the wrongdoing. We can also help you file a claim to obtain the full and fair damages your loved one deserves.
Contact us today to schedule a free review of your case and to get the legal help you need.