Help for Elderly Victims of Mental Abuse in Denver, CO
At Levine Law, we are committed to helping nursing home residents who have experienced neglect and abuse. If you or a loved one is suffering due to mental abuse, we can help you obtain medical treatment, and we can help extricate you from your current situation. In addition, we can help you seek financial compensation. The financial and emotional costs of mental abuse can be devastating, and our goal is to ensure that you and your family have the financial resources you need for your recovery.
Forms of Mental Abuse in Nursing Homes
Mental abuse can take several different forms. We have experience helping individuals and families in cases involving:
- Insults, humiliation and disrespect
- Isolation and abandonment
- Manipulation
- Shaming and blaming
- Threats and intimidation
If your loved one has become withdrawn, is having difficulty sleeping or appears to be afraid of certain nursing home staff members, these can all be signs of mental abuse. Confusion, difficulty concentrating, disruptions in eating patterns and suicidal thoughts are all potential symptoms as well, and it is important for residents who have experienced mental abuse to receive professional medical attention as soon as possible.
Risk Factors for Mental Abuse in Nursing Homes
While all nursing home residents can suffer from mental abuse, the NCEA has identified several factors that can increase an elderly resident’s risk for victimization. These risk factors include:
- Lack of a social support structure
- Suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia
- Poor physical health and functional impairments (including incontinence)
- Non-use of social services
- Not having a spouse, partner or close family member who can help monitor the resident’s physical and mental wellbeing
According to the NCEA, female nursing home residents are more likely to experience mental abuse than male residents; however, studies also clearly indicate that perpetrators target both women and men.
