Emotional and Psychological Abuse

Elder abuse and nursing home negligence can take many forms, some of which are more difficult to recognize because there may not be obvious physical injuries to arouse suspicion. Nevertheless, emotional and psychological abuse in nursing homes or assisted living centers is unacceptable and should not be tolerated under any circumstances. If you suspect that your loved one has been the victim of emotional abuse or is suffering psychological harm because of negligence or abuse in a nursing home, Rockland County nursing home abuse lawyer Valerie J. Crown can help. She represents nursing home residents and their families throughout Greater New York.

At the Law Firm of Valerie J. Crown, we are available to assist our clients 24/7. You can reach Valerie’s cell phone at any time by calling 845.598.8253. We take genuine pride in asserting the rights of the elderly and other injured people in our community against those who have harmed them. Our small firm provides personalized attention at every stage of the process.

Emotional and psychological abuse of the elderly and others confined to a long-term care facility may include conduct such as verbal humiliation, scapegoating or blaming, intimidation through words or physical actions, forced isolation, or ignoring the physical, mental, or social needs of the nursing home resident. National statistics indicate that an alarming number of nursing home residents are emotionally or psychologically abused at least occasionally. Such abuse may come directly from a staff member, or it may come from another resident whom the staff ignores.

While physical abuse of nursing home residents can sometimes be verified through bruises, fractures, and other injuries, emotional abuse can be more difficult to detect. If your loved one avoids eye contact, does not speak openly, seems scared or disturbed, has sudden mood swings, or is suffering from low self-esteem, he or she could be a victim of psychological abuse by a staff member, roommate, or other resident. If he or she is not allowed to make decisions or is being prevented from interacting with others, including family, it is possible that someone within the nursing home environment is inflicting emotional abuse.

The family of a nursing home resident who has suffered abuse – whether physical or emotional – should talk to an experienced nursing home negligence and abuse attorney about the possibility of filing suit against the responsible party. If the nursing home failed to act in a reasonably prudent manner, the family may be able to bring a negligence claim. This would require showing the elements of duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages by a preponderance of the evidence. If you are successful, you may be able to receive damages such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and medical expenses.

A negligence action may arise from the action or inaction of the nursing home owners, such as improper hiring, lack of adequate staff supervision, or chronic understaffing, or the claim may involve the behavior of a particular employee or group of employees. In most instances, nursing home owners are legally liable for the careless or reckless actions of their staff members through the doctrine of vicarious liability.

If you suspect that your loved one has been emotionally or psychologically abused, you should take action before further, possibly irreversible harm happens to him or her. Knowledgeable Rockland County nursing home abuse attorney Valerie J. Crown is here to help you investigate your loved one’s situation, put a stop to the abuse, and formulate a strategy to pursue appropriate compensation for what has happened. For a free, no-obligation consultation with an injury attorney, call us today at 845.708.5900 or contact us online. You can also call Valerie’s cell phone at 845.598.8253. We represent people throughout Rockland, Westchester, Ulster, Dutchess, and Orange Counties, as well as in New York City.