The Connection Between Dementia Patients and Severe Abuse

Dementia is a prevalent condition in the elderly, affecting around 55 million elderly Americans, including those in Arizona. Sadly, dementia patients suffer a higher rate of abuse than elderly patients without cognitive impairment. Worse, elder abuse in dementia patients is widely believed to be underreported, due to the cognitive and physical constraints that may prevent a victim from reporting their abuse. 

Studies reveal alarming connections between elderly dementia patients and higher abuse rates both in nursing home environments and with at-home caregivers. 

For families concerned about a loved one’s safety, consulting a Phoenix elder abuse lawyer or Phoenix nursing home abuse lawyer can be a critical first step toward accountability and protection.

Why Is Elder Abuse More Prevalent In Dementia Patient Care?

Elder abuse causes a severe decrease in the victim’s quality of life, often resulting in faster cognitive and physical decline and shortened life expectancy. A study focused on uncovering the relationship between increased instances of abuse for dementia patients pinpoints the following connections:

• Dementia patients have greater care needs, increasing the burden on caregivers
• Dementia patients who need a high level of care are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of neglect; for instance, due to an inability to eat, drink, or perform toileting without assistance
• Behavioral changes in dementia patients can cause agitation, sometimes triggering an aggressive response in caregivers
• Decreased cognitive awareness leaves dementia patients vulnerable to financial exploitation
• High staff turnover rates in nursing homes result in inexperienced and overwhelmed caregivers, making elder abuse of dementia patients more common in long-term care facilities

Finally, a patient with dementia may be unable to report abuse, increasing the likelihood that the abuser will continue their abuse or escalate their abusive behaviors into severe abuse.

What Types of Abuse Occur to Dementia Patients In Arizona?

Experts on elder abuse group abusive behaviors into five categories, including the abuse that occurs to dementia patients who cannot report their mistreatment. The most common forms of elder abuse include the following:

• Neglect: failure to provide adequate food, water, hygiene, medication, or medical care
• Physical abuse: hitting, pushing, restraining, or causing physical injury
• Emotional abuse: yelling, humiliating, threatening, or intimidating behavior
• Sexual abuse: any non-consensual sexual contact or exploitation
• Financial exploitation: theft, fraud, unauthorized banking activity, or misuse of assets

Dementia patients may be unable to report their abuse due to their disability, or may fail to report abuse out of shame, embarrassment, or an unwillingness to burden loved ones. Many abuse victims don’t report the abuse out of fear of retaliation.

How Do I Recognize the Signs of Abuse In an Elderly Dementia Patient?

Although a person with dementia may be unable to adequately express themselves to report their abuse, or may fail to report it for other reasons, there are often signs of abuse that loved ones can recognize during visits. These include the following warning signs:

• Unexplained injuries, such as fractures, bruises, abrasions, lacerations, and traumatic brain injuries
• Broken personal items, such as glasses, dentures, and hearing aids
• Torn or bloodied clothing and bedding
• Sudden weight loss
• Dry, cracked lips and skin
• Unkempt appearance and environment
• Uneaten meals and full glasses of water left in the room
• Poor hygiene
• Social withdrawal and behavioral changes
• Unwillingness to speak in front of a caregiver
• Untreated bedsores and infections
• Missing medications
• Unexplained financial transactions

If you notice these warning signs, contacting a Phoenix elder abuse attorney or Phoenix nursing home abuse lawyer from Knapp & Roberts can help protect your loved one and investigate potential wrongdoing.