No one expects to have to deal with Florida nursing home abuse, or nursing home abuse anywhere for that matter, whether it is themselves or a loved one. Thankfully, nursing home abuse doesn’t happen that often, but when it does, it can be challenging to work through and overcome. When nursing home abuse is first suspected, family members should take the necessary actions to stop the abuse and ensure that their loved ones are removed from the situation as quickly as possible. This may come in many different forms, including filing a formal complaint with the facility, filing a lawsuit, or relocating your loved one to a new facility. Aside from the physical abuse which individual’s may experience, there can also be emotional and/or psychological trauma that will have to be addressed once they are out of danger.
Coping Methods
The abuse an individual is subjected to will be different for every person. This also means that when an individual has been through a traumatic experience, the way that they handle the after-effects will also be different. Some individuals may have physical wounds that will require time to heal. Others may need to receive counseling in order to work through the psychological trauma that they have experienced. In addition, family members will need to process and cope with the emotional and psychological burdens as a result of another’s actions.
Physical Recovery
Physical recovery takes time, and in some cases, may require medical attention in order to heal properly. When a physical injury has occurred, the resident will need to get plenty of rest to allow for the injury to fully heal. Depending on the nature of the injury, some residents may be required to attend physical therapy to help with injuries that have debilitating effects, such as broken bones.
Psychological Recovery
Most individuals who experience nursing home abuse, will require some form of counseling to deal with the after effects. Not all individuals will express the need for counseling as obviously as others will. This presents a challenge of getting psychological help to all of those who require it before the psychological damage happens. Therefore, it is important for family members to pay close attention to their loved ones and keep an eye out for any signs or symptoms that indicate they might need psychological help. Signs and symptoms that indicate there is possible psychological trauma after abuse may include:
- Physical or emotional withdrawal
- Loss of pleasure or interest in everyday activities
- Symptoms of depression (sadness and fatigue)
- Excessive fear, anxiety, or apprehension in unwarranted situations
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering details
- Irregular sleep patterns (too much or too little sleep)
Not to Blame
Many individuals who fall victim to nursing home abuse, may blame themselves for what happened. It is important for family members and counselors to be sensitive to their feelings, while gently reinforcing the concept that victims are not to blame for what happened to them in these types of situations. Blame can be detrimental to one’s healing, as thoughts of blame can contribute to feelings of low self-esteem and other emotions that hinder the healing process.
Moving On
Most experts recommend relocating residents to a different nursing home facility to aid in the healing process. Even though the offending individual may no longer be employed by the facility, lingering memories brought on by remaining in the facility can be detrimental to a resident’s ability to move past the experience. When a resident is relocated to a new facility, this can help to create the feeling of a fresh, safe environment for the resident to heal and recover.
If your loved one has fallen victim to Florida nursing home abuse, there can be justice for you! Kogan Legal Nurse has been helping attorneys help victims and their families get the justice they deserve to help them move on and heal from abuse. Kogan Legal Nurse knows how to see and detect nursing home abuse and is able to give a professional medical opinion to attorneys to help bring justice to victims and their families.