It is heartbreaking for a person to find out that his or her loved one is suffering from verbal abuse in a nursing home. A nursing home should be a place where elderly and vulnerable people are treated with care and respect, allowing them to live their lives in dignity.
It is thought that around one in 10 residents of nursing homes has suffered from verbal abuse at one point or another. This is unacceptable, and as a loved one of the nursing home resident, you would want to do everything that you can in order to prevent and put a stop to this terrible, abusive behavior.
What are common examples of verbal abuse in nursing homes?
Verbal abuse is not isolated to just one type of behavior such as swearing, for instance. Verbal abuse could consist of a person quietly criticizing a nursing home resident over a prolonged period of time, wearing down his or her self-esteem. It could, however, mean screaming and shouting at the nursing home resident, scaring and inciting fear in him or her. Verbal intimidation could come in the form of threats, intimidation or treating the person with no respect, as though he or she was a baby or a child.
How can I flag verbal abuse?
It is important to watch for signs that your loved one may be a victim of verbal abuse. They may be too afraid to confide in you. Common signs are the development of nervousness, agitation, withdrawal and becoming less social. They may also be suffering from insomnia.
If you believe that your loved one might be suffering from verbal abuse, it is important to take action quickly so that the abuse can be stopped.
Source: Nursing Home Abuse Guide, “Verbal Abuse in Nursing Homes,” accessed March 07, 2018