Sometimes, the victim of emotional abuse will come right out and confide in you, but that is not always the case. Pay attention to any subtle mood or behavior changes, so you can act, and stop the abuse immediately.
Louisville, Jefferson County, KY – Emotional abuse is a very delicate topic, one that many of us can be oblivious to, without meaning to. Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to emotional and psychological abuse, especially since it’s harder for families to notice signs of it. It may also be harder to prove in court, which makes it a particularly pernicious practice to be wary of.
If you or a loved one have been the victim of any kind of abuse inside the nursing home, you should not hesitate in contacting specialized lawyers. Remember that it’s not just nursing home staff that may initiate or carry out the abuse, but also medical practitioners, other residents, or even visitors.
Louisville nursing home abuse lawyers also warn that if you have reason to believe someone is being abused in a nursing home, or if you have witnessed abuse taking place, it is your duty to report it.
What constitutes emotional abuse?
One of the things that make emotional abuse so difficult to prosecute is that it’s easy for the abuser to guilt their victim into thinking they’re not actually abused. There’s a very fine line between some types of humor, or a misinterpreted phrase, and actual abuse, leading many abuse victims to second-guess themselves.
This is what is considered emotional/psychological abuse in the eyes of the law in Kentucky:
- Yelling or berating the resident;
- Jeering, insults, or name-calling;
- Threatening the resident (even if those threats are not carried out);
- Intimidating the resident (often, an abuser will intimidate their victim into not seeking help);
- Blaming the resident for random occurrences;
- Belittling or patronizing the resident (a particularly sneaky tactic, warn Kentucky nursing home abuse lawyers since it can be hard to prove the difference between exaggerated care and intentional belittling);
- Embarrassing the resident in front of other residents, or other nursing home staff;
- Keeping the resident away from the others, or intentionally isolating them from their family or friends (often, so that they can’t report the abuse, or seek help).
Psychological abuse can be one of the most devastating types of suffering endured inside the nursing home, as it reinforces feelings of isolation and helplessness.
What are the signs?
It’s vital that you, as the family, are quick to spot any warning signs that indicate the presence of emotional or psychological abuse and contact nursing home abuse lawyers.
- Withdrawal – the resident doesn’t show interest in visitors or group activities;
- Depression – they seem out of sorts;
- Low self-esteem;
- More irritable than normal;
- Changes in sleep schedule – either sleeping excessively or showing signs of insomnia.
Know that emotional or psychological abuse may also come from a medical professional, or as part of a resident’s medical care. In that case, seasoned medical malpractice lawyers will be better equipped to handle the situation.
Sometimes, the victim of emotional abuse will come right out and confide in you, but that is not always the case. Pay attention to any subtle mood or behavior changes, so you can act, and stop the abuse immediately.
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