• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sinclair Prosser Gasior

Annapolis Estate Planning Attorneys

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Call Now: (410) 573-4818

Attend a Free Workshop Trustee School

  • Home
  • About Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Founding Attorneys
    • Meet Our Team
  • Services
    • Annapolis, MD Asset Protection and Business Planning
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Annapolis, MD Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Annapolis, MD Trust Administration & Probate
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Annapolis, MD Incapacity Planning
    • Annapolis, MD LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Annapolis, MD Pet Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Annapolis, MD Special Needs Planning
    • Estate Planning for Young Families
  • Resources
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Estate Planning Definitions
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Asset Protection Planning
      • Estate Planning
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Medicaid
      • Power of Attorney
      • Probate Avoidance
      • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Wills
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Probate Resources
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Trust Administration
      • Estate Planning for Niches
    • Top 10 Estate Planning Techniques
    • Newsletters
  • COMMUNITIES WE SERVE
    • Anne Arundel County
      • Annapolis
      • Crownsville
      • Davidsonville
      • Highland Beach
      • Millersville
    • Baltimore County
    • Calvert County
      • Dunkirk
      • Huntingtown
      • Owings
    • Charles County
      • Charlotte Hall
      • Waldorf
    • District of Columbia
    • Howard County
    • Maryland
      • Clarksville
      • Columbia
      • Ellicott City
    • Prince George County
      • Bowie
      • Fort Washington
      • Glenn Dale
    • Queen Anne’s County
      • Grasonville
      • Queenstown
      • Stevensville
    • St. Mary’s County
      • Charlotte Hall
      • Leonardtown
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • BLOG
  • Contact Us
  • Make A Payment
  • Client Portal
Home / Elder Law / How Do I Know If My Parent Is the Victim of Elder Abuse?

How Do I Know If My Parent Is the Victim of Elder Abuse?

January 6, 2021 by Jon J. Gasior, Estate Planning Attorney

Annapolis elder law attorney

If you have a parent who is a resident of a nursing home, you undoubtedly worry about the level of care and compassion they are receiving at the facility. Unfortunately, there is no way to know with 100 percent certainty that the facility in which your parent is a resident is free from elder abuse and neglect. You are not powerless though. What you can do is be aware of the issue and learn how to spot the signs of elder abuse and neglect. To help you, the Annapolis elder law attorneys at Sinclair Prosser Gasior offer the following tips to help you recognize the signs that your loved one may be the victim of elder abuse and/or neglect.

How Often Does Nursing Home Abuse Happen?

You probably went to great lengths to find a facility that, for all outward appearances, takes excellent care of the residents. Should you still be worried? How common is elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes? Are there nursing homes that provide compassionate and competent care, or should you be suspicious of all nursing homes? The answers to these questions are not simple ones. Moreover, the truth about abuse and neglect in LTC facilities probably lies somewhere between the way it is reported in the news and how the nursing home industry would like the public to believe. Accurate statistics relating to elder abuse and neglect are difficult to come by because victims are often ashamed to be a victim and/or afraid of reprisals if they speak out against their abuser. Nonetheless, the following facts and figures are telling to say the least:

  • Between 1999 and 2001, almost one-third of all nursing home facilities were cited for violations of federal standards that could cause harm, or that did harm elderly residents of those facilities.
  • Nearly 10 percent of those homes had violations that posed a risk of serious injury or death, or that did cause deaths of elderly residents.
  • More than 40 percent of nursing home residents have reported abuse, and more than 90 percent report that they or another resident of the facility have been neglected.
  • Research from 2010 indicates that up to half of all nursing home attendants have admitted abusing or neglecting elderly patients.
  • More than half of all Certified Nursing Assistants (CAN’s) in elder care facilities have admitted verbally abusing, yelling at, and using foul language with elderly residents of care facilities.

Signs of Elder Abuse and Neglect

The best thing you can do for your parent is to visit frequently, show up at unexpected times, and pay attention. If you notice any of the following signs of abuse or neglect you should investigate further. The victim of elder abuse or neglect may be able to file criminal charges against the abuser and/or may have the basis for a civil lawsuit against the abuser and/or the facility. Common signs to look for include:

  • Excessive and/or unexplained physical injuries
  • Bruising, particularly around wrists or ankles that may be from restraints
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Change in hygiene habits
  • Mood swings
  • Angry outbursts with no apparent cause
  • Depression or withdrawal
  • Failure to take medication as prescribed
  • Doctor visits cancelled or missed
  • A particular dislike or avoidance of a staff member

Contact an Annapolis Elder Law Attorney

For more information, please join us for an upcoming FREE webinar. If you have additional questions or concerns about elder abuse, contact an experienced Annapolis elder law attorney at Sinclair Prosser Gasior by calling (410) 573-4818 to schedule an appointment.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Jon J. Gasior, Estate Planning Attorney
Jon J. Gasior, Estate Planning Attorney
Attorney/Owner at Sinclair Prosser Gasior
His personal experience with family and the problems that resulted from their failure to create an estate plan resulted in his desire to learn more about this area of the law. From his work in the Elder Law Clinic, he further realized the need to plan not only for death, but also for incapacity during their lifetime.
Jon J. Gasior, Estate Planning Attorney
Latest posts by Jon J. Gasior, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)
  • Helping Your Family Through Estate Planning - September 21, 2022
  • Estate Planning Scams - August 16, 2022
  • What is the Maryland Trust Act? - July 11, 2022

Filed Under: Elder Law

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Bowie elder law attorney
Does My Parent Need a Guardian?
Annapolis estate planning attorney
Celebrating the Caregiver during National Family Caregiver Month
fraud ahead
Maryland’s Project SAFE Act to Help Curb Elder Financial Exploitation
What is a Personal Care Agreement?
Sinclair Prosser Gasior
Choosing the Right Housing for the Elderly
Sinclair Prosser Gasior
What is an Aging Life Care Professional?

About Jon J. Gasior, Estate Planning Attorney

His personal experience with family and the problems that resulted from their failure to create an estate plan resulted in his desire to learn more about this area of the law. From his work in the Elder Law Clinic, he further realized the need to plan not only for death, but also for incapacity during their lifetime.

Primary Sidebar

Download our free estate planning worksheet

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Testimonials

5 Stars
Client Review
September 3, 2020
    

We initiated estate planning following a presentation by Sinclair Prosser Attorney Jon Gasior. We were so impressed, we contracted with them to complete our estate planning. Subsequently, we assembled information on our assets and Sinclair Prosser Gasior did the rest. Correspondence was communicated to our financial institutions and the estate was established. We were very pleased with the courteous manner of the Sinclair Prosser Gasior staff. However, it was their professionalism that made us satisfied we chose this firm to handle our estate. We have nothing but praise for Sinclair Prosser Gasior .

default image
– Walter K.

Blog Subscription

Sign up for our blog to receive all of our latest estate planning news and updates!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

ANNAPOLIS

900 Bestgate Road
Suite 103, Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Phone: (410) 573-4818
Fax: (410) 573-2802

BOWIE

4201 Mitchellville Road
Suite 403, Bowie, MD 20716
Phone: (301) 970-8080
Fax: (410) 573-2802

MILLERSVILLE

1520 Jabez Run Rd
Suite 300, Millersville, Maryland 21108
Phone: (410) 573-4818
Fax: (410) 573-2802

WALDORF

Hamilton Centre II
3261 Old Washington Road, Suite 2020 Waldorf, MD 20602
Phone: 800-366-4615

Map

map for office

Footer

footer logo
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this Maryland Attorneys & Lawyers / Law Firm website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys| Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Site Map