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Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Nursing Home abuse takes many different forms, but the most common forms of abuse are:
Neglect
Neglect is one of the most tragic forms of abuse. Neglect can be defined in many ways,
but I define it as the failure to meet the resident’s care needs. In fact, it has been
shown that failure to fulfill a caretaking obligation constitutes more than half of all
reported cases of nursing home abuse. Neglect, whether intentional or unintentional, is
unacceptable.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is the non-accidental use of force against a nursing home resident that results
in physical pain, injury or impairment. Such abuse includes not only physical assaults such
as hitting and shoving, but also includes the inappropriate use of drugs, restraints, or
confinement.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is caused when a person speaks to or treats a nursing home resident in a manner
that produces emotional pain or psychological distress. Emotional abuse can be either verbal
or non-verbal. Verbal abuse includes yelling, screaming and/or humiliating a nursing home resident.
Non-verbal abuse includes ignoring, isolating and/or terrorizing a nursing home resident.
Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
Sexual abuse is any sexual contact with a nursing home resident with or without the resident's consent. Such
abuse can include unwanted physical acts, but may also include forcing the nursing home resident to
undress or view pornographic material or other sex acts.