Patient Abuse Reported in Tennessee Nursing Home

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is looking into allegations of abuse at a Johnson City, Tennessee nursing home. So far, five employees have been fired. The Tennessee Department of Health has put a halt to all admissions to the nursing home for the time being because they say the home did not report alleged abuse of a particular dementia patient. According to a representative of the nursing home, they investigated and reported the incident only five days after it was said to have taken place. They also claim the incident was reported to local police. The incidents that led to the firing of the five employees were described as three caretakers spraying water on a dementia patient to see her reaction. The other two assistants were fired for providing false testimony.

Nursing home abuse is no small issue. Often it is hard to detect abuse because the senior citizens feel overpowered and unable to speak out against abuse. The elderly require special treatment and care as they age. They can begin to become frail, lose their memory, and lose function of their extremities. It takes a special kind of person to care for their needs and provide comfort to people as they age. Nursing homes should be a refuge for the elderly, so reported cases of nursing home abuse are outstandingly atrocious. Abuse can take on many forms. In this particular case, the abuse was a form of ridicule and embarrassment which is a type of psychological abuse. Physical abuse is also possible and easier to detect than psychological abuse. If you think you notice nursing home abuse, then it is important to seek the help of a Houston personal injury attorney from our firm. Contact a nursing home abuse lawyer from Arnold & Itkin today if you know someone suffering from nursing home abuse.