Nursing home abuse can take many forms, including physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.

If you suspect that your loved one has been mistreated in any way by the staff at their nursing home, it’s important to talk to an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible.

With the help of our legal team & nursing home lawyer Jacksonville, you can protect your loved one’s rights and get them the compensation they deserve if they have indeed been mistreated by nursing home staff members or another facility resident.

Nursing home abuse can be difficult to identify as it can come in many forms, such as mental, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.

Your loved one should feel safe and comfortable at the nursing home and if they are not, there could be something wrong.

Learn about five signs your loved one might be a victim of nursing home abuse so you can take steps to protect them from further harm.

1) Decreased appetite

Nursing homes are responsible for providing a nutritious and balanced diet to their residents.

If you notice that your loved one isn’t eating as much or has lost a lot of weight, speak with his or her physician.

Although medications can cause appetite loss, it could also be an indication that something else isn’t right in his or her environment.

Remember: Healthy people don’t just lose weight randomly—there’s always a reason for their actions.

If you suspect something else might be causing your loved one to eat less, speak with his or her doctor and inform him or her of any changes you have noticed.

2) Weight loss

A healthy weight loss is around 1-2 pounds per week.

If you’re losing more than that, it could be an indication that something’s wrong.

Are you exercising more? Less? Are you skipping meals? Eating less frequently? Not getting enough sleep? Are you drinking too much caffeine and alcohol?

All of these can cause rapid weight loss, but also indicate something’s wrong.

Rapid or extreme weight loss can be a sign that someone in your care isn’t being properly cared for, which could result in complications or injuries to their health.

Whatever the case may be, it’s important to report any concerns immediately to prevent further harm.

3) Delusions

If your loved one displays any unexplained injuries, such as bruises, lacerations or fractures, you may want to get in touch with their physician to rule out medical causes.

In extreme cases, family members can call local law enforcement for assistance.

And if you still feel something isn’t right, contact an attorney to discuss possible legal remedies.

Nursing homes must follow all rules and regulations set forth by state law and provide a safe environment for residents.

When that environment becomes unsafe due to neglect or outright abuse, it’s time to take action.

4) Injuries That Don’t Heal

One sure sign that you should be concerned about your loved one’s care at a nursing home is if they suffer from injuries and those injuries don’t heal.

If there are numerous unexplained bruises, you should seek medical attention for your family member as soon as possible.

Injuries can signal physical, emotional or sexual abuse by staff members and other residents in assisted living facilities.

The physical pain caused by these types of injuries may cause anxiety for aging adults, which could prevent them from telling someone about what happened or reporting it to staff members at their facility.

5) Unexplained injuries

A sudden and unexplained injury may be the result of physical abuse, neglect or mistreatment.

If you notice bruises or other injuries on your loved one that can’t be explained, it could be evidence that he or she is being abused by caregivers in their facility.

Never ignore these types of symptoms.

The sooner you talk to someone about them, the better chance you have at preventing further abuse or harm to him or her.

You should also report all unexplained injuries to staff at your loved ones’ care facility immediately, as they are legally obligated to report any such incidents.

When reporting an injury that may be linked to physical abuse, there are certain things you should know and keep in mind so that you can make sure nothing gets missed along the way.