Illinois State Police are currently looking into a possible case of nursing home abuse that took place at Golden Moments Senior Care Center in Jacksonville. The allegations include a nurse’s aide threat to cut the throat of a 68-year-old man, slapping a woman, insulting other disabled and sick adults and taking the food away from starving residents of the said senior care center. In addition, there are also allegations that these horrible incidents took place for several months before these were reported to the administrator.

Meanwhile in California, Villa Valencia confronted another nursing home abuse lawsuit when Theresa Sperry, a 91-year old woman died due to Alzheimer's and painful pressure ulcers on her feet. The family of Sperry cited negligence and excessive profit-orientation of the said nursing home as main reasons why Theresa Sperry died.

These two cases are two examples of nursing home abuse which is becoming prevalent in many nursing homes across the United States. Nursing home abuse has become a pressing issue nationwide as reports show that thirty percent of the facilities in the United States are cited for cases of abuse. What is more alarming is that nursing home abuse statistics shows that these instances of nursing home abuses are never reported to the authorities.

If your loved one is elderly and is currently confined to a nursing home, it is imperative that you should look into his or her welfare. One way of ensuring the welfare of elders is knowing some of the caveats of nursing home abuse. Here are some of the most commonly observed signs of physical abuse.

• Assault

• Battery

• Rape

• Sexual Assault

• Unreasonable physical restraint

• Elder reports incidences of being slapped, ridiculed or mistreated

• Deprivation of food or water

• Giving improper medication

• Unexplained injuries

• Caretaker cannot sufficiently explain condition of the elder

• Open wounds, cuts, bruises or welts

• Slapping, pushing, shaking, beating

Other indication of nursing home abuse is negligence of caretakers or nursing home personnel. In addition, some signs of neglect on the part of caretakers include disregarding the needs of elders, neglecting medical problems, failing to help in personal hygiene, failing to maintain clean and safe conditions and failing to protect from health and safety hazards.

Sometimes, physical abuse and negligence are not the only abusive things that take place in our nursing homes. Verbal and emotional abuse is also common. Let us take a look at some signs that might tell you that your loved one in nursing home is experiencing verbal and emotional abuse.

• Agitated or upset elder

• Strange behavior like non-communicative or withdrawn

• Frightened

• Wanting isolation from the people

These are just some of the common signs of nursing home abuse. If your loved one has been a victim of such abuse, do not be reluctant in filing a medical malpractice lawsuit or civil lawsuit against the nursing home. With the help of an experienced medical malpractice or civil rights lawyer, you can put an end to this horrible case and spare others of the burden of nursing home abuse.