Q: Can a West Palm Beach nursing home be liable for emotional and psychological abuse?

A: The weakened mental and physical state of the elderly can sometimes make them easy targets for emotional abuse from stressed workers in short-handed, understaffed Florida nursing homes.

Emotional and Psychological Abuse

There are many ways in which emotional and psychological abuse occurs in West Palm Beach nursing homes. Emotional or psychological elder abuse is defined as: “Inflicting mental pain or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts”. Because there is often no physical evidence of emotional abuse, it is critical to stay on guard to the common signs of emotional and psychological nursing home abuse.

Nursing homes have a legal responsibility to ensure proper care of elderly residents, and to exercise reasonable care to ensure that staff is properly trained and supervised. If your loved one has experienced psychological or emotional abuse at the hands of a nursing home staff member, it could constitute nursing home negligence; the facility might be liable.

What You Should Do

Due to the complex but highly serious nature of these situations, it is critical to be armed with the knowledge and expertise you need. An experienced West Palm Beach nursing home abuse attorney will help determine the best course of action to protect the rights of your loved one.

If your loved one has experienced Emotional and Psychological Abuse in a Florida nursing home, contact Fetterman & Associates at 561-845-2510.