Wheaton MD nursing home lawyer
There is much discussion about the physical abuse that elderly patients are often subjected to in nursing home abuse cases in Maryland and unfortunately, there continues to be a need for an experienced and reliable Wheaton, MD nursing home lawyer that nursing home residents and their families can rely on.
At Cohen & Cohen, we have handled many cases of emotional and psychological abuse and while these have been heartwrenching, we are glad to know that we were able to seek justice for people who could not defend themselves.
It is often very difficult for an elderly person to have leave their home and go live at a nursing home, to give up all of their independence, to allow other people to make all of their decisions for them, such as what time they will have their meals, what those meals will be, and what their daily schedule will be like, etc.
The hope of families is that they have found a good and safe place for their elderly loved one, but we know at Cohen & Cohen, how often that is sadly not the case. Many family members of victims we represent ask us what signs they should have seen that would have indicated the abuse.
Physical abuse is easier to identify because of the evidence this type of abuse often leaves, but emotional abuse symptoms can be much harder to notice. The following are some of the signs that should alert family members that something is definitely wrong and that an investigation into what is going on should be conducted. A Wheaton, MD nursing home lawyer can help you to understand what signs to look for and what to do when they are present.
It is important to point out however, some of these symptoms can also mean your loved one is suffering from a mental illness or other condition such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease:
- Agitated
- Avoids eye contact
- Depressed
- Excessively anxious and afraid
- Exhibit strange behavior such as biting, rocking, or sucking
- Exhibits low energy
- Feeling helpless or hopeless
- Frustrated
- Inability to make decisions
- Insomnia or trouble sleeping
- Loss of enthusiasm or interest
- Refuses to eat or drink
- Refuses to see or talk to visitors or others
- Refuses to take medication
- Visible weight loss
- Withdrawn
If someone you care about is displaying any of these signs or other ones that are not typical for them, a Wheaton, MD nursing home lawyer can help you to make a plan to get your loved one out of the dangerous situation that is causing these symptoms.
When emotional abuse is suspected, there are certain behaviors that the victim and the abuser may exhibit when they are in the same room in front of others, that can help determine what is going on. When the victim is in the presence of the person who is emotionally abusing them, they are often physically nervous and may even cower. There is often a change in the victim’s mood when the abuser enters the room and you will likely be able to feel the tension.
The abuser will often do all they can to avoid letting family visit with the victim alone and even tries to isolate the victim from family and other patients. When questioned, the abuser may give statements that appear to be contradictory regarding the victim’s behavior. They also often treat the victim as if they were a child.
Whether you simply suspect or know that your loved one is being a abused, the help of a Wheaton, MD nursing home lawyer may allow you to stop the abuse sooner than if you were to try to do this on your own.
Contact a Compassionate Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today
Tragically, this scenario of neglect plays out time and time again in nursing homes throughout Maryland. Our nursing home lawyers have represented countless Wheaton, MD victims and their families who suffered extreme pain and other medical problems because of neglect on the part of nursing home staff.
If you suspect your family member has suffered mistreatment at the nursing home they reside at, contact Cohen & Cohen for help. Our skilled nursing home abuse attorney can discuss the details of your case, as well as what the legal options are that your family may have. Call our office today.
For a Wheaton, MD nursing home lawyer who has a track record of successfully defending the rights of nursing home patients and residents, Cohen & Cohen can give you a free case evaluation with no obligation to you.
