When you leave an elderly loved one with a care facility, you expect them to get the best possible treatment. While this often goes without a hitch, many abusers gravitate toward locations with vulnerable people. This means nursing homes and retirement facilities, too.
Accordingly, you should know how abuse may manifest and what signs to keep an eye out for. This can allow you to act quickly if your loved one suffers.
Potential physical abuse signs
The National Institute on Aging looks into potential signs that might indicate abuse of an elder. Some signs may seem obvious but are actually easy to overlook due to the age of the victim in question. For example, elderly individuals suffer from a higher rate of falls and slips than younger people. Because of that, the families of abuse victims may mistake bruises, scrapes and scratches for damage from falls. This can even happen with broken bones. But if your loved one suffers from a disproportionate amount of injuries, you may want to look into it.
Behavioral shifts in victims
Keep an eye out for behavioral changes, too. Many victims display notable changes to behavior when going through an abusive situation. Some may begin to lash out. They could act coldly or rudely toward loved ones. They may develop a temper or display agitation. They might withdraw, instead. They could refuse to contact loved ones. They might not want to reach out to peers or staff members anymore. They could seem depressed and gloomy.
Do not write these signs off if you see them. It is better to err on the side of caution with such matters, so you may want to look into them quickly.
