Care homes are designed as places where our elderly relatives can be taken care of when they become too frail to do so themselves. They’re supposed to be safe spaces where we feel comfortable knowing that our loved one is being taken care of.
Nursing homes have a standard of care that they need to meet, and when they don’t, abuse may occur. A small percentage of elders in Ontario may be suffering some form of abuse.
If you suspect your loved one might be suffering, it is important that you reach out for help. Lawyers and appropriate authorities can be contacted for support in dealing with elder abuse in Ontario.
Below, we’ve summarized common types of nursing home abuse, signs to look out for and who to report this abuse to.
Common Types Of Nursing Home Abuse
There are different types of nursing home abuse that can occur:
- Medication – There have been many cases of overmedication of elderly care home residents, particularly in cases where the resident is being treated for memory problems, stress, or anxiety. It is thought that overmedicating may make the patients easier to handle.
- Neglect – This kind of abuse comes in varying forms but it is characterized by the failure of the care home to meet an appropriate standard of care (i.e. when a care home fails to meet a resident’s basic needs like food and water).
- Physical violence – Although it was thought of as a rare kind of abuse in care homes, physical violence actually accounts for a significant portion of abuse claims. It can include hitting, pinching, shoving, or excessive forms of restraint.
- Sexual abuse – While mostly associated with nursing home personnel, this may also be carried out by other residents, and involves inappropriate touching, penetration, or verbal sexual harassment.
- Financial abuse – This last kind of abuse comes in many forms, including pressure for monetary gifts, theft of bank cards, and overbilling for medication.
Signs Of Abuse In A Nursing Home
If you suspect that your loved one is being abused in their nursing home, you may notice certain signs of abuse. These could include:
- Insomnia and other problems regarding your loved one’s sleeping patterns
- Heightened anxiety
- Loss of appetite
- Withdrawal or refusal to join in social activities
- Unexplained bruises
- Poor hygiene
- Lack of alertness
- Unexplained burns, wounds, cuts
- Unexplained broken or fractured bones
- Tension between a loved one and nursing home personnel
- Hunger or thirst
- Unusual financial activity
- Hair loss
- Fear of other residents or care home staff
- Bedsores
- Infections (including STIs)
How To Report Nursing Home Abuse In Ontario
Reporting nursing home abuse is important if you suspect that a loved one is suffering. Your first port of call is to report the suspected abuse to the management team within your loved one’s nursing home.
You will need to remove your loved one from the care home and move them to a place of safety so that they can be looked after properly.
You should also report the abuse to one or more of the following authorities:
- The police
- Retirement Home Regulatory Authority (RHRA) – head to their ‘Reporting Harm’ page.
- Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT)
- Crimestoppers
After you have gone through these channels, it is time to find suitable nursing home abuse lawyers to support you in your case for the abuse your loved one has suffered.
Looking For A Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer In Hamilton? Reach Out To Virk Lawyers Today!
If your loved one has suffered nursing home abuse, then get in contact with Virk Personal Injury Law today. With our team of experienced lawyers, we want to help your loved one get the compensation they deserve.