It is becoming increasingly clear that nursing home abuse is a serious problem all across the United States.

Researchers from Human Rights Watch, an advocacy group, visited over a hundred nursing homes in 2016 and 2017, interviewing hundreds of people, to discuss nursing home abuse—especially in regards to the growing problem of antipsychotic drug misuse for dementia patients. This is a practice in which antipsychotic drugs are intentionally given to dementia patients in order to function as a restraint, preventing them from acting out, and essentially making them docile.

The researchers found that, per week, around 179,000 nursing home residents with dementia are given inappropriate medications as a chemical restraint, sedating them and making them easier to handle. In many cases, these drugs are given without the consent of the residents or their loved ones.

This is particularly concerning because antipsychotic drugs carry with them significant risks, especially for dementia patients. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), antipsychotic medications can double the risk of death for older dementia patients. Other side effects can include diabetes, blood clots, and stroke.

Antipsychotics are meant to treat certain psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, but are not meant to treat dementia. Despite this, a government study found in 2012 that a third of dementia patients in nursing homes are likely prescribed antipsychotics. The use of antipsychotics as a restraint rather than a treatment may constitute nursing home abuse, and it is one of several ways in which a nursing home patient may be harmed.

Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse

A growing number of families of elders are choosing to file lawsuits after they discover that their loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse. Filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit can be complicated, but consulting a nursing home abuse lawyer can help you fight back on behalf of your loved one.

Nursing home abuse and neglect can lead to medical issues that would otherwise have been avoidable. Millions of Americans over the age of 60 are neglected or otherwise abused. Given that a huge amount of elder abuse cases never get reported to the authorities, the exact numbers aren’t known. Nursing home abuse is becoming an increasingly prominent problem.

Nursing home abuse can come in a variety of forms. There are some signs that the family of elders should be on the lookout for to ensure the safety of their loved one. Injuries caused by nursing home abuse can often include these problems:

• Bed sores
• Pressure sores
• Fractures from falling
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Chronic infections
• Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Filing a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit

One of the most prominent signs of nursing home neglect is declining health or physical suffering. This is because elder neglect can often lead to physical injuries or medical issues when they are not properly and consistently cared for.

If you believe someone you love has been harmed by nursing home negligence or abuse, you may be able to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit, and consulting a lawyer with experience in this area can help. It can be difficult to figure out what to do in response to nursing home abuse and neglect, but a lawyer can help you navigate these issues.