Nursing Home Residents and Bruising: Is It Always Abuse?
As people age, their bodies become more fragile and their gait or balance may be "off" - making them prone to fall. Those falls can cause injuries, including bruising. How do you determine if your loved one's bruises are the result of an accidental fall or abuse?
In a 2009 study, the National Institute of Justice looked at accidental bruising and elderly people and how to determine whether the bruising resulted from abuse.
The main focus of the study stressed that accidental bruising does not happen on the face, neck, torso, or back. Reportedly, accidental bruising is most often found on the arms and legs and usually the individual cannot recall how they got there. Accidental bruises occur in a predictable pattern. Abused older adults are more likely have bruises on the head, neck, or torso and 56% of abused elderly often have a bruise larger than 5 centimeters.
The study also found that it is no longer safe to judge a bruise by its color because the color of a bruise is not always indicative of when the injury was incurred. Recent studies have found that yellow bruising has occurred on the first day of an injury. Additionally, individuals who have compromised functional ability are more likely to have multiple bruises.
The study found that one sign of abuse is if a person has a story about how they got the bruise, it could be a lie, but someone with intentional bruising will always have a reason or excuse how the injury got there.
The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. Please contact us with any questions or concerns at (888) 317-2525 or visit us on our website at www.nursinghomejustice.com.
