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5 Signs of Nursing Home Abuse Families in Virginia Beach Should Never Ignore

Placing a parent or loved one in a nursing home is one of the hardest choices you will ever make. You do it with the hope that trained staff will provide the attention and compassion they need.

Sadly, many families face the painful reality that some Virginia Beach facilities fall short of that responsibility. Abuse and neglect still occur, and you may be the first to notice troubling changes during a visit.

What Are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse? 

Learning to recognize the signs of nursing home abuse can help you know when to step in and protect someone you love. Here are five of the most common to look out for.

Unexplained Bruises, Cuts, or Broken Bones

It can be alarming to visit your loved one and see a bruise, cut, or broken bone that no one can explain. These kinds of injuries may indicate neglect or abuse. A nursing home must protect the people in its care, and unexplained injuries raise serious concerns about whether staff are meeting that duty.

Repeated falls may mean they are being left unsupervised when assistance is needed. Marks on the body can also come from being handled roughly when moved in or out of a bed or chair. When staff cannot provide a reasonable explanation, it is time to question the level of care the facility is providing.

Trust your instincts. Seeing a pattern of unexplained injuries could indicate neglect inside the facility.

Bedsores and Neglected Hygiene

Finding a bedsore on your loved one shows that staff have neglected basic care. Also called pressure ulcers, these wounds form when a person is left in the same position for too long without being moved or cleaned. They are painful, slow to heal, and can lead to life-threatening infections.

Other hygiene issues may also appear, such as dirty clothing, unwashed hair, or a strong odor in the room. Families turn to nursing homes because they expect help with bathing, grooming, and other daily needs. When ignored, your loved one’s health and dignity suffer.

Discovering bedsores or ongoing hygiene concerns should prompt you to ask staff how often your loved one is being turned, bathed, and monitored. Ongoing lapses are one of the signs of a bad nursing home.

Dehydration and Malnutrition

You might notice your loved one losing weight, or becoming weak or confused. These changes can signal they are not getting enough to eat or drink. A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that many nursing home residents do not receive enough fluids to stay healthy.

Nursing homes must provide regular help with meals and hydration. Struggling to eat, being left alone at mealtimes, or rarely being offered water can cause health to decline quickly.

Watch for:

• Unintended weight loss over weeks or months;
• Lips dry, mouth cracked, or frequent thirst complaints;
• Meal trays pushed away, or assistance withheld when needed; or
• Fluids kept far from reach or offered infrequently.

If you observe one or more of these, it may mean staff are failing to meet essential care needs.

Emotional and Behavioral Changes

Abuse can also show in your loved one’s mood or behavior. A parent who suddenly seems fearful, anxious, or withdrawn is demonstrating important warning signs.

Pay attention if they:

• Avoid eye contact or become unusually quiet,
• Express fear about certain staff members,
• Lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, or
• Show sudden agitation or mood swings.

Emotional distress is a warning that your loved one’s environment may be unsafe. These changes might be dismissed as part of aging, but the National Council on Aging reports that one in ten older adults has experienced abuse or neglect. It is therefore essential to recognize mood and behavior shifts as possible nursing home abuse symptoms.

What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

Realizing your loved one may be suffering in a nursing home is overwhelming. You may not know where to start, but there are steps you can take now to help protect them:

• Record what you observe. Photograph injuries, unsafe conditions, or signs of neglect. Save all correspondence with staff and keep a written log of each conversation, noting who you spoke with and how they responded. 
• Report your concerns. Bring issues to the facility’s management. If their response is inadequate or dismissive, escalate to Virginia’s Adult Protective Services or file a complaint with the Virginia Department of Health.
• Get a medical evaluation. Arrange for an independent physician to examine your loved one. An independent medical professional can objectively document injuries, malnutrition, medication errors, or other health concerns. 

While you’re taking these steps, consider getting help. Through legal action, you can force the facility to answer for mistreatment in nursing homes. A Virginia Beach nursing home abuse lawyer can help you access records, speak with those involved in your parent’s care, and push for the changes needed to protect your loved one.

Get Help from an Experienced Virginia Beach Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today

For 50 years, The Law Firm of Carlton F. Bennett, P.L.L.C. has stood beside Virginia families facing some of the most challenging moments of their lives. 

If you believe your loved one has suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home, do not wait to act. Call us today for a free and confidential consultation. Together, we can take steps to protect your loved one and pursue accountability from the facility responsible.

Your family deserves answers. The Law Firm of Carlton F. Bennett, P.L.L.C. is here to help you recognize the signs of nursing home abuse and take action to keep your loved one safe.