Although everyone in a care facility has the right to be treated with dignity, emotional and mental abuse in Orlando nursing homes is a serious problem. If you know or have reason to suspect that your loved one has suffered this type of mistreatment, contact the experienced nursing home abuse attorneys at The Florida Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers immediately.
We stand up for the rights of nursing home residents and seek accountability from facilities that abuse and neglect them. We are so well-known for our success in this area of law that most of our cases come as referrals from other law firms and local professionals.
Examples of Emotional and Mental Abuse
Emotional abuse is behavior that is intended to induce feelings of fear, shame, or humiliation. It is usually a pattern of behavior rather than a specific event.
The perpetrators of emotional abuse can be nursing home staff or other patients. Some behaviors that could be considered emotional abuse include:
- Shouting at a patient
- Incessant criticism
- Mean-spirited “teasing”
- Ignoring a patient
- Mocking a patient’s needs or personal characteristics
- Making threats
- Keeping a patient isolated
There are numerous other examples of mental abuse—in short, any behavior intended to cause a patient emotional distress could be considered abusive, especially when there is a pattern of such conduct.
The federal and state regulations governing nursing homes recognize that a patient’s emotional well-being is critical to their overall health. Nursing homes must prevent emotional abuse and respond to it effectively when they suspect it is happening in their facility. When you believe emotional abuse may be occurring in an Orlando nursing home, contact an attorney at The Florida Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers to discuss your next steps.
Emotional Abuse Can Impact Physical Health
Identifying emotional or mental abuse quickly is critical because it can have a severe impact on a nursing home patient’s health. Emotional distress can lead to sleep and eating disorders, which can exacerbate any physical problems the patient is experiencing. Abuse can lead to mental health problems like depression and anxiety, which can accelerate a nursing home patient’s physical decline.
Signs to Look For
Nursing home patients may be admitted to a care facility because they can no longer take care of themselves, require round-the-clock monitoring, or both. These characteristics make them vulnerable to all forms of abuse. Recognizing emotional abuse is especially difficult because a vulnerable resident may be unable or unwilling to disclose it.
Besides trouble sleeping, changes in eating habits. and depression, there are more subtle signs that many victims of emotional abuse display. Any marked change in demeanor merits investigation, especially if someone with a sunny or outgoing personality becomes withdrawn or self-isolates. Signs of fear around specific staff members or patients can also indicate abuse is happening.
If you are concerned that a loved one may be experiencing emotional abuse, document the changes you observe. Take note of anything the patient says or does that might be an indicator that something is wrong. Our attorneys can use your notes as a basis to investigate the nursing home for failing to protect a resident from emotional abuse.
How Do You Hold Facilities Accountable?
Nursing home residents have the right to live free of bullying or abusive behavior and to be treated with dignity. These rights are enshrined in the law, and Florida Statutes § 400.023 allows patients or their family members to sue if a facility violates those rights.
You could claim financial damages for any health impacts the patient suffered as a result of the abuse, plus compensation for their mental anguish and suffering. Our Orlando lawyers obtained more than $400,000 for the family of a patient who suffered verbal abuse at a nursing home.
Talk to Our Orlando Attorneys If You Suspect Mental Abuse at a Nursing Home
If you suspect a loved one is experiencing emotional and mental abuse at an Orlando nursing home, act immediately. Patients can deteriorate quickly under these conditions.
Schedule a free consultation at Colling Gilbert Wright to explore your legal options. We work on contingency, so there is no cost to you until we win compensation. Reach out to a member of our nursing home abuse intake team today.