Physical, Sexual, and Emotional Abuse

What could be worse for a helpless, elderly person confined to a nursing home than to be physically, sexually, and emotionally abused?

Physical abuse is the use of physical force that may result in bodily injury, physical pain, or impairment. Physical abuse may include such acts of violence as striking with or without an object, hitting, beating, pushing, shoving, shaking, slapping, kicking, pinching, and burning. In addition, inappropriate use of drugs and physical restraints, force-feeding, and physical punishment of any kind also are examples of physical abuse.

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Physical abuse symptoms include:

• bruises, black eyes, welts, lacerations, and rope marks
• bone fractures, broken bones, and skull fractures
• open wounds, cuts, punctures, untreated injuries in various stages of healing
• sprains, dislocations, and internal injuries/bleeding
• broken eyeglasses/frames
• physical signs of being subjected to punishment
• signs of being restrained
• laboratory findings of medication overdose or under utilization of prescribed drugs
• patient's report of being hit, slapped, kicked, or mistreated
• patient's sudden change in behavior
• nursing home personnel refuses visitors the right to see a patient alone

Nursing Home Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse in terms of Pennsylvania nursing home abuse, is non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an elderly or helpless person. Sexual contact with any person incapable of giving consent is also considered sexual abuse. It includes unwanted touching, all types of sexual assault or battery, such as rape, sodomy, coerced nudity, and sexually explicit photographing.

Sexual abuse symptoms include:

• bruises around the breasts or genital area
• unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding
• unexplained venereal disease or genital infections
• torn, stained, or bloody underclothing
• the patient reports of being sexually assaulted or raped

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Nursing Home Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is the infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or nonverbal acts. Emotional abuse includes verbal assaults, insults, threats, intimidation, humiliation, and harassment. In addition, treating a patient as an infant; isolating him/her from family, friends, or regular activities; giving them the silent treatment; and enforced social isolation are some forms of emotional abuse.

Emotional abuse symptoms include but are not limited to:

• being emotionally upset or agitated
• being extremely withdrawn and non communicative
• unusual behavior usually attributed to dementia (e.g., sucking, biting, rocking)
• the patient reports of being verbally or emotionally mistreated

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