Nursing homes are supposed to be safe places where vulnerable people, such as the elderly or those with disabilities are looked after by people who are there to support them through everyday life.
However, unfortunately this does not always happen, and sometimes care home residents face abuse at the hands of their carers.
Residents in care homes can often spend hours on their own, without supervision from their loved-ones – especially if there are limited visiting times or friends and family don’t live near. And unfortunately this means that abusers have could have many opportunities to take advantage of residents in their care.
Statistics show there has been a dramatic increase in reports of abuse at care homes in England over the past ten years – with a BBC Panorama into Whorlton Hall in 2019 highlighting the extent of the abuse.
The documentary showed how vulnerable adults at a specialist hospital were abused and mistreated by staff – with some members caught on camera intimidating, mocking and restraining patients with learning disabilities.
Cases of abuse in care homes
The abuse was uncovered after a BBC reporter worked shifts undercover for two months, where she filmed a number of shocking scenes where staff can be heard using offensive language to describe patients, while another calls the hospital a “house of mongs”.
In another case, a patient was told by her care worker that her family are “poison”.
Two male staff members single out a female patient for particular abuse.
Aware that she is scared of men, they tell her, in an effort to keep her quiet, that her room will be inundated with men.
Figures show that abuse in care homes is on the rise. In 2014 there were 37,060 reported allegations of abuse received by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), compared with 67,590 in 2018 – an increase of 82 per cent. The total number of allegations for the four-year period was 251,679.
In this article we look at the types of abuse that can take place in care homes, and how to spot the signs if a loved-one resides in a care home.
Signs of physical abuse
Physical abuse is often the most common type of care home abuse to be identified – as signs of abuse are often visible.
Signs that a patient is being subject to physical abuse can include bruises developing regularly and sores or cuts, especially around the wrist, ankle and arm area which may demonstrate that the patient has been forcefully restrained or grabbed by a member of staff.
If unexplained bruises or injuries have appeared, question care home staff or ask to see the accident book. Also, if this is happening regularly, start to write down every time you notice an injury to make sure this is documented with your own timeline.
Another thing to look out for is the less obvious signs of abuse. Has the patient’s behaviour changed? For example, have they become quieter, less sociable and jumpy? This could indicate that they are afraid, but they might not feel comfortable exposing what has happened to them.
Signs of emotional abuse
Emotional abuse in care homes can be subtle and difficult to spot but it can affect patients both physically and psychologically. Emotional abuse can include repeated patterns of instilling fear, humiliation, manipulation and insults – often for the perpetrators own gain.
If you have a loved-one in a care home, you should look out for the following signs of emotional abuse:
- Changes in behaviour
- Avoiding social gatherings
- Becoming quieter
- Being startled easy are all signs of emotional abuse.
Pay close attention to the habits of your loved ones, for example, are they demonstrating repetitive acts such as rocking back and forth or sucking on their thumb?
This could suggest emotional abuse is taking place. If you notice a consistent pattern in the patient’s behaviour that is unusual, get in touch with a professional who can advise you on how to proceed.
Signs of financial abuse
Financial abuse is the mistreatment of someone in terms of their money or assets, such as their property. Financial abuse often occurs alongside other forms of abuse.
Financial abuse can include:
- Money being stolen or misused
- Fraud
- Exploiting someone’s financial affairs
- Restricting someone’s access to money, employment or possessions
- Pressuring and coercing someone about their will, lasting power of attorney, property or inheritance.
What to look out for?
Financial abuse can look very different for different people, there are signs of financial abuse you can look out for, either in your own life or if you’re worried about a friend, relative or neighbour. Think about the answers to the following questions:
- Have you noticed unusual or inappropriate transactions on bank statements?
- Are you unable to access cash, either via banking or income sources, such as your pension or other benefits?
- Are you being pressured into giving your money to others, leaving you without the money you need to pay for essentials?
- Have you recently lost money without any explanation?
- Have you lent money to someone, and they haven’t given it back?
- Do you feel pressured or forced into making changes to your will or other financial plans?
- While this list isn’t exhaustive, these are some of the most common signs that someone may be experiencing financial abuse.
Financial abuse can be hard to detect especially if your loved one is very old and suffers from dementia or Alzheimer’s. If you have noticed suspicious transactions or lost money, keep a record of their expenditures and if you are concerned, speak to someone you can trust.
Signs of sexual abuse
Although it is painful to imagine a loved one experiencing this type of abuse at a care home, unfortunately it is common and being aware of the signs could prevent vulnerable adults from being subject to this form of abuse.
Similar to emotional abuse, it is not easy to identify when sexual abuse is taking place. Physical signs of sexual abuse can include the patient displaying unexplained Bruises on or around breasts and genitals.
They may have contracted sexual diseases and infections or have torn or stained underwear. Sexual abuse doesn’t always have to be physical; exposing patients to pornography or sexual harassment is also sexual abuse and is unacceptable.
If you suspect sexual abuse is taking place in your loved one’s care home, report it as soon as possible to local authorities.
Signs of neglect
At care homes, patients deserve to have their dignity maintained with basic hygiene and care needs being met. However, neglect is a common occurrence in care homes across the UK, often due to understaffing. The physical signs of neglect can include the patient displaying bedsores or pressure ulcers.
This can mean that the patient isn’t being cleaned properly and/or their bed and covers are moist or damp. Another sign of neglect is the patient not receiving the correct medication.
This can be life-threatening for patients who rely on medication to keep them alive. Often neglect goes undetected until it is too late; if you think neglect is taking place it is important to report it.
What to do if myself or a loved one suffered abuse at a care home?
If you or a loved one has suffered abuse at a care home, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Oakwood Solicitors has a team of specialists who deal with these cases and are happy to assist on a no-win no-fee basis.
We are a team of highly skilled legal experts who specialise in sensitive and complex abuse cases.
With years of experience across various fields of law, we are committed to providing legal support and expertise to those who need it most.
We will handle any enquiries with compassion, confidentiality and professionalism.
Further reading
Elderly care and care home abuse – Oakwood Solicitors
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.
