Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse in Oklahoma
Nursing home abuse can take a variety of forms, including physical, emotional, financial and sexual.
Physical Abuse in Oklahoma
One form of physical abuse commonly seen in nursing homes is the denial or withholding of basic needs such as water, food, proper medication, and hygienic care. This in turn can lead to serious medical problems such as dehydration, malnutrition, pressure sores and, if gone unaddressed, death. Nursing homes can also be held liable for failure to provide adequate safeguards that lead to a resident falling down and suffering severe physical injury. Conditions that can lead to a fall include:
- Wet or cluttered floors
- Inadequately maintained wheelchairs
- Lack of bedrails or assistive rails in hallways or restrooms
- Lack of adequate supervision
- Improperly trained staff
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- Over-medication, under-medication, or inappropriate medication
- Unsecured windows and doors
In addition, outright physical assault is, tragically, not at all uncommon. Numerous nursing home residents fall victim to assault by both nursing home staff and fellow residents every year. Hitting, kicking, shaking, shoving, pinching, beating, and burning are all forms of assault and can result in broken bones, head injuries, lacerations or worse. Injuries are not always obvious, since they can be hidden by clothing; even broken bones may be hard to notice if the victim is bedridden. Staff may also try to explain away injuries by claiming they are the result of a fall.
Emotional Abuse in Oklahoma
Nursing home emotional and verbal abuse can be defined as a staff member saying or doing something that is detrimental to the resident’s self-esteem. This might include cursing at, criticizing and insulting a resident, as well as the use of threats, insults, and humiliation. Emotional abuse may not lead to physical injury, but is one of the cruelest and psychologically damaging forms of abuse.
Financial Abuse in Oklahoma
Financial abuse of a nursing home resident can be defined as a situation in which an individual takes or uses the money and/or property of the resident with the intention of defrauding the victim. It can occur when resident’s personal belongings, assets or financial resources are taken from them without consent, either because the resident was incapacitated and therefore unable to give consent, or because he or she was subjected to threats, intimidation, manipulation, and deception. Typical examples include cashing the resident’s checks without authorization, forging a signature, stealing money or possessions, or fraudulently convincing a resident to sign a contract, will or other document.
Sexual Abuse in Oklahoma
Nursing home sexual abuse involves any inappropriate touching or unwanted sexual activity. Elderly residents are particularly vulnerable and make easy targets for sexual predators. Types of behavior or actions that can be considered sexual assault include forcing a resident to view pornographic material, sexual harassment, threats, unwanted kissing and touching, and genital contact or penetration. Such assaults can be perpetrated by fellow residents who were improperly monitored by the facility; nursing home staff; and even nursing home visitors.
If you or someone you love has been victimized by abuse, contact our Oklahoma nursing home abuse attorneys immediately to put a stop to it and seek compensation for physical injures and/or pain and suffering.
