Nursing homes are health and personal care facilities that should provide their residents with professional attention. The caregivers in nursing homes have an obligation to assist with daily activities and necessities while maintaining the dignity of the elderly residents. The problem is that older adults living in nursing homes and other residential settings offering long-term supportive services are more susceptible to abuse and neglect.
The physical effects of abuse can be easier to recognize and treat. The psychological effects, however, are less evident and can be harder for your elderly loved one to live with.
The psychological effects of abuse and neglect on the elderly
Unexplained wounds and injuries are telltale signs of elder abuse. Nursing homes should monitor the whereabouts of their residents to prevent these from happening. Dehydration and malnutrition are also compelling abuse indicators. You will notice these immediately. What you may not see is that your elderly loved one is dealing with the following psychological problems:
- Depression
- Excessive fear and anxiety
- Low self-confidence and self-esteem
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Shame and guilt
- Withdrawal
- Loss of interest in life
- Agitation
- Inability to decide for themselves
Such psychological effects can impact an individual’s quality of life and will to live. They question who they are and find fault in everything they do. That is not living. It is torture.
Why we should fight for our elders
Elders are particularly vulnerable because of impaired physical and/or mental health. Any form of abuse can induce these psychological effects, consequently increasing an individual’s risk for heart disease and stroke. It can also hamper their immune system. In California, it is a serious criminal offense for a caregiver to hurt or threaten to harm an elderly resident intentionally.
Imagine having lived all these years only to suffer at the hands of the people you are now dependent on. You should hold these people accountable and recover justice for the psychological torment they caused your elderly loved one.