Physical Abuse
One of the saddest kinds of cases we see is physical abuse of the elderly. This can be any kind of physical violence against a nursing home resident. This could be anything from hitting, assault, battery, punching, pushing, shoving, grabbing, or using some sort of restraint in an inappropriate way to prevent the resident from moving. Abuse can be by a staff member, such as a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), Nurse, LPN, RN, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist or other staff member. Other residents or visitors to the nursing home could also commit abuse. Examples of physical abuse that can happen to a nursing home resident can include the following:
- Pushing
- Hitting
- Shoving
- Pushing
- Slapping
- Scratching
- Inappropriate Restraint
The following are typical signs of potential abuse to a nursing home resident:
- Bruising (bruises to chest, bruises on the arms, bruises to the face, bruises to the wrists, black eye or other bruises that are not typically self-inflicted)
- Head trauma
- Lacerations/cuts
- Unexplained internal injuries
- Burns
- Broken bones
Inappropriate restraint is also considered to be abuse. This can take the form of physical restraints, such as wrist restraints or strapping the resident to the bed.
Chemical restraints are medications used primarily for the purpose of restricting the resident’s movement and make them more sedate. Typically, psychopharmacological drugs such as sedatives and anti-anxiety medication are used as chemical restraints, but pain medications can also be used. It is illegal for a nursing home to administer these medications to nursing home residents for the sole purpose of subduing the resident, rather than to treat a legitimate medical condition or to prevent a resident from harming themselves or others.
The mains types of chemical restraints are psychopharmacological drugs, which affect behavior, mood, sensation and thinking. These drugs sedate or relax residents who behave in a violent manner. Examples of drugs used for chemical restraints:
- Antipsychotics: Antipsychotics are commonly associated with chemical restraint. These include atypical antipsychotics and typical, or classic antipsychotics. Common antipsychotic drugs include droperidol, haloperidol, risperidone, and olanzapine.
- Benzodiazepines: These drugs help alleviate anxiety, seizure disorders, muscle tension, panic attack symptoms, and insomnia. The most common benzodiazepine used for chemical restraints are lorazepam and midazolam.
- Dissociative Anesthetics: These drugs are a form of hallucinogen and can distort perceptions of sound and sight. Dissociative anesthetics block brain signals between the conscious mind and other parts of the brain.
- Pain Medications: Pain medications are sometimes given to residents for the sole purpose of making them more docile, even when they are in no pain whatsoever. Examples of pain medicines used in this way as chemical restraints are Codeine, Hydrocodone (Zohydro ER), Oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone), Methadone, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo), Morphine (Avinza, Kadian, MSIR, MS Contin), Fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic)
Family members should visit the nursing home frequently and observe any patterns of behavior or physical signs of abuse if you notice bruising or other unexplained injuries or if your loved one appears to be confused or sedated. Many times, nursing home residents are unable or unwilling to report the abuse themselves. If you even suspect that your loved one is being abused, you should report it.
If you suspect your loved one has been the victim of physical abuse or chemical restraint at a nursing home or other facility, call Wagner Hughes, LLC for a free consultation at (404) 900-6979.