Emotional effects of nursing home abuse
Elder abuse and neglect also has an emotional impact on the victims causing including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Withdrawal from social activities
Nursing home abuse and neglect, which impacts about one in ten seniors in the U.S., causes seniors to suffer unnecessarily and greatly diminish their quality of life. If you are being abused or know someone who is, USAttorneys recommends you report the abuse first then contact a nursing home abuse lawyer in Louisiana.
Financial exploitation of nursing home residents
Another common form of elder abuse in nursing homes is financial exploitation. Many seniors put their life savings into trust funds when they enter a nursing home, leaving that facility in charge of their money. This practice can be helpful for some residents, but unethical employees can plunder trust funds. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, financial exploitation of the elderly costs American seniors over $2.6 billion annually.
Louisiana’s Nursing home abuse laws
Louisiana law R.S. 15:1504 requires health care or mental health providers and social service employees to report any suspected incidents of elder abuse or neglect.
Anyone who suspects an elderly person is being abused or neglected should call the Louisiana Department of Health at 1-888-810-1819. Or, you can contact the Office of Aging & Adult Services (OAAS) at 800-898-4910. If a licensed health care facility is suspected, your complaint should be reported to the Health and Standards Section of the above numbers.
National Resources for elder abuse victims:
Elder Abuse Helplines and Hotlines: Call 1-800-677-1116
National Center on Elder Abuse: www.ncea.aoa.gov
National Institute on Aging: www.nia.nih.gov
National Institute of Justice: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/crime/elder-abuse/
Meet with a nursing home abuse lawyer
Victims of elder abuse suffer economically and psychologically, so they may be eligible for compensation to cover their medical expenses, costs of rehabilitation and emotional distress. If your loved one is abused or neglected by a caregiver or a nursing home, or you are being abused, USAttorneys can connect you with a compassionate and skilled nursing home abuse lawyer in Louisiana work on your injury claim.
