Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse in Colorado

Nursing home abuse is a pressing concern that affects many vulnerable people in Colorado. Residents of long-term care facilities, generally frail and dependent on others, may easily become targets of mistreatment, neglect, or exploitation in settings that should provide them with care, respect, and dignity. The nursing home abuse lawyers at Bowman Law recognize the physical, psychological, emotional, and financial effects of nursing home abuse can be utterly devastating. In this article, we aim to outline the signs of nursing home abuse to help you protect your loved ones and ensure they receive the quality care and protection they deserve.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General reported numerous cases of misconduct and unacceptable substandard care in nursing homes across the country. Although nursing home abuse is common, it can still go unnoticed. Residents often experience fear or confusion and are unable to communicate the mistreatment to their families or authorities. As a result, it is crucial to identify the indications of abuse in nursing home settings to prevent further harm to the vulnerable individuals.

Signs of Colorado Nursing Home Abuse

In Colorado, nursing home abuse can take several forms: physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and neglect. The common signs of each type of mistreatment include:

Physical Abuse

The indications result from the use of physical force that causes bodily injury, pain, or impairment to the vulnerable individuals.

• Unexplained injuries: These injuries are unusual in appearance, cannot be explained, or do not have a rational explanation or reason. Unexplained injuries such as bruises, cuts, burns, or fractures may indicate abuse.
• Frequent hospital visits: These are sudden or frequent trips to the emergency room or doctor for injuries or health issues that could have been prevented if nursing homes provided the standard level of care.
• Restraint marks: These are marks that indicate improper use of restraints like ropes. Examples of these are red marks or bruises on the wrists, ankles, or other body parts.
• Damaged personal belongings: Broken items such as eyeglasses or hearing aids can imply physical confrontation or rough handling.

Emotional or Psychological Abuse

The signs are caused by behaviors that inflict anguish, pain, or distress on nursing home residents through verbal or non-verbal acts.

• Withdrawal from social activities: It involves a previously active resident who suddenly becomes withdrawn or emotionally distant.
• Emotional distress: It pertains to an intense level of unpleasant emotions such as feelings of depression, emotional numbness, or aggression.
• Sudden changes in mood or behavior: A nursing home resident may have increased anxiety, fear, or agitation when they are abused. They often experience sudden changes in mood or behavior when family members visit them, or when they are around specific staff members.
• Non-verbal signs: These are emotional signs that residents show in the presence of caregivers who abuse them. In cases of mistreatment, victims may appear afraid, nervous, or unwilling to speak.
• Mood swings: This constitutes extreme or abrupt changes in demeanor, such as becoming enraged or upset.

Sexual Abuse

The indications of this kind of abused arise from any forced or non-consensual sexual contact.

• Development of STIs or other infections: A resident may have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs) if they are sexually abused.
• Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding: This is vaginal or anal bleeding that is unrelated to a medical condition.
• Torn or bloody clothing: Unusual tears or stains on underwear or clothing may hint that inappropriate sexual contact happened.
• Sudden fear of certain individuals: A sexual abuse may cause a resident to show signs of fear, panic, or reluctance to be around particular staff members or residents.
• Bruising in sensitive areas: Victims may have unexplained bruises around the breasts, genitals, or thighs.

Neglect in Nursing Home

The signs of neglect show when nursing home staff members fail to provide the appropriate care the residents require.

• Poor personal hygiene: This includes ungroomed appearance, body odor, dirty clothing, unwashed hair, or untreated skin conditions.
• Bedsores or pressure ulcers: These are damaged skin and tissue due to pressure that decreases blood flow to vulnerable areas of the body. Bedsores are signs of prolonged neglect, as residents are usually left in one position for an extended period of time.
• Weight loss or dehydration: Neglect may cause sudden and unexplained weight loss, malnutrition, or signs of dehydration like dry skin and cracked lips. All these indications can suggest that residents experience inadequate food or water intake.
• Unsanitary living conditions: These include soiled bedding, dirty clothing, or unclean living areas, as well as pest infestations.
• Untreated medical issues: These involve worsening or untreated medical conditions, such as infections, untreated injuries, or missed medications.

Financial Abuse

The indications result from taking or stealing money, property, or personal belongings and misusing or withholding the resources of a nursing home resident.

• Unexplained financial transactions: These constitute uncommon or large withdrawals from bank accounts, changes in financial documents, or sudden adjustments to a will, power of attorney, or estate plan.
• Missing personal items: It refers to items such as valuables, jewelry, or personal belongings of vulnerable individuals disappearing without explanation.
• Forged signatures: This involves the appearance of forged signatures on financial documents, checks, or contracts.
• Unpaid bills: This is a financial exploitation where bills or services that should be covered by the nursing home go unpaid. Outstanding bills or services may cause errors in services or threats of eviction.

Warning Signs by the Nursing Home Staff

• Staff refusal to leave the room: One sign of abuse is when nursing home staff are unwilling to leave the resident alone with family members. Another is when caregivers become defensive whenever they are asked questions.
• Lack of documentation: This refers to missing or incomplete records of care, treatment, or financial transactions of the resident. 
• Overworked or understaffed facility: Inadequate staffing can result in neglect or overburdened employees who may engage in abusive behavior.
• High staff turnover rates: This indicates a problem with the management of the nursing home and dissatisfied employees. High staff turnover rates can also suggest that residents do not receive consistent care. 
• Unresponsive or uncommunicative nursing home staff: Unresponsiveness may be a sign that the facility is understaffed or the employees lack training. Nursing home staff members may be overworked and cannot adequately attend to all residents. As a result, they may fail to address the needs of the vulnerable individuals in a timely manner.

Contact a Colorado Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

At Bowman Law, our Colorado nursing home abuse lawyers understand the sensitive and profound impact abuse can have on vulnerable victims and their families. Our skilled legal team specializes in representing individuals affected by nursing home abuse in Colorado. We bring a commitment to justice to each case we handle and will pursue compensation for damages your loved one has suffered due to mistreatment. If a family member has been a victim of nursing home abuse, we encourage you to contact our office at 720-863-6904 for a confidential, no-cost case evaluation. Our experienced attorneys will guide you throughout the complex legal process and protect your rights to obtain the settlement you deserve. 

Our law firm is based in Denver. We serve the Front Range, including Colorado Springs, Boulder, Fort Collins, Westminster, Lakewood, and Aurora.