What is nursing home abuse?

Nursing home abuse is a form of elder abuse. It is a heartbreaking reality that many elderly individuals suffer abuse in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Nursing home abuse can be physical, psychological, financial, or sexual in nature. The most common type of nursing home abuse is physical abuse, which includes hitting, slapping, pushing, or physically restraining elderly individuals against their will. Psychological abuse involves verbal or nonverbal actions that are intended to cause mental anguish or distress, such as threats, humiliation, name-calling, or isolation. Financial abuse can involve the misuse of an elderly person’s funds or assets in order to benefit the abuser without the victim’s permission or knowledge. Lastly, sexual abuse includes any form of sexual contact, such as inappropriate touching or forced sexual contact, which is non-consensual and perpetrated against an elderly individual. In Virginia, nursing home abuse is a crime and is punishable by law. The state has a Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Law, which outlines the various forms of elder abuse that are considered illegal. There are many resources available to help victims of nursing home abuse in the state, such as the Virginia Department of Social Services, the Virginia Protection and Advocacy System, and the Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. To report nursing home abuse, victims or individuals with knowledge of the abuse can contact local law enforcement or the Virginia Adult Protective Services hotline.

What is nursing home abuse?

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