Last Updated: September 26, 2022

Nursing Home Neglect: Emotional Vs. Physical Abuse and Neglect

Nursing Home Neglect: Learn the 2 Types of Neglect (Emotional Vs. Physical) and What To Do If You Suspect Neglect.

Unfortunately, nursing home neglect is not entirely uncommon. In fact, mistreatment of elders is on the rise. Nursing home neglect, whether it’s physical or emotional, needs to be dealt with immediately by a nursing home negligence attorney.

The Administration of Aging defines neglect as: the failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care, or protection for a vulnerable elder.

But that definition doesn’t comment on the difference between emotional and physical neglect, though. So what’s the difference? In this article, we’ll dive into the differences between the two types of neglect as well the different signs of each.

Emotional Neglect in Nursing Homes

Put simply, emotional neglect is when nursing home professionals pay no mind to the emotional needs of their residents. For example, there may be a dispute between residents. And nursing home professionals are trained to handle these. But when they fail to act to resolve these issues, some residents may be left out of social activities or otherwise ostracized. This is emotional neglect.

Physical Neglect in Nursing Homes

Physical neglect is easier to see because the signs are obvious. Nursing home staff may be failing to properly feed or care for your loved one. If your loved one’s physical state is deteriorating, he or she may be a victim of physical neglect. This could even include medication errors in a nursing home.

Signs of Emotional Neglect

As we said, usually it’s fairly easy to find evidence of physical neglect if you’re paying attention. But emotional neglect may be harder to spot. Look for behavioral changes in your loved one. They may not always tell you as they could be afraid that staff or other residents will enact revenge. One of the biggest challenges that nursing home negligence attorneys face with their cases is that negligence is grossly underreported.

At the end of the day, whether it’s physical or emotional, you need to take action. You’re putting your trust in these healthcare professionals to provide your elderly loved one a high standard of care. Neglect is never okay.

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If you suspect either emotional or physical neglect, contact the top nursing home negligence attorney—the Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo. At the Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo, we provide you the legal expertise you need to ensure that your loved one receives the care they deserve. We specialize in nursing home abuse and negligence. To learn more, visit our website or give us a call today at 312-500-4500.

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