HOW TO SPOT NURSING HOME ABUSE WHEN THE RESIDENT HAS DEMENTIA
3 MEMORABLE THANKSGIVING DAY FOOTBALL PLAYS
Thanksgiving is all about good food, family, and football. Each year, football fans look forward to sitting down and watching the game with their family, regardless of whether or not their team is playing. While many games have been played over the years, some stand out more than others because of some major players and their quick actions. Here are three individuals who made their Thanksgiving Day games ones to remember.
Nursing home abuse can be hard to spot for the average person visiting their loved one. If their loved one has dementia, that can make it doubly difficult. Dementia can make a person paranoid and delusional, which leads many seniors to claim they’re being abused, even when they’re not. However, don’t let their crying wolf distract you from what could very well be an actual case of nursing home abuse. In order to be more sure of the situation, you’ll have to look beyond your loved one’s words.
LAWRENCE TAYLOR
New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor was said to have “single- handedly” beat the Detroit Lions in this memorable 1982 Thanksgiving Day matchup. The game was only the fourth of the season for Taylor, who had just recovered from a sprained knee injury suffered in a previous game. With the score tied at 6-6 in the fourth quarter, Taylor intercepted the ball from the Lions quarterback, Gary Danielson, and ran it 97 yards for a touchdown.
SIGNS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT
When a nursing home employee purposefully causes injury or pain to your loved one, that is obviously abuse, and the signs are usually apparent if you know what to look for. Any marks or injuries you can see, and don’t recognize, including bruises, scars, burns, dislocations, or even broken eyeglasses, can all be signs of abuse. If nursing home staff are neglecting your loved one, that can manifest itself as unusual weight loss, unsanitary living conditions, and poor hygiene.
LEON LETT
The Miami Dolphins were up against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day in 1993. This game was marked by its strange weather: Snow covered the field in Dallas, and temperatures reached only 26 degrees F. But that wasn’t what made the game memorable. In the last 15 seconds of the game, the Cowboys blocked the Dolphins’ last 40-yard field goal attempt. As the ball was rolling on the ground, Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett dove for it but slipped and missed. The Dolphins
SIGNS OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Seniors with dementia can be frustrating to deal with at times, but trained nursing home workers should know how to work with them in a calm and collected manner. There’s no excuse for any sort of belittling, shouting, and controlling behavior that you might observe in interactions between your loved one and their caregiver. This type of abuse might be a little harder to spot since an abusive staff member may try to tone it down when you’re visiting, but it’s still worth keeping an eye out for.
recovered the ball and were given the chance to kick another field
goal at the 1-yard line. The attempt was successful, and they won the game.
PHIL LUCKETT
SIGNS OF FINANCIAL ABUSE
One of the most memorable moments during a Thanksgiving game took place in 1998, when the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions entered overtime in a 16-16 tie. Referee Phil Luckett oversaw the coin
A dementia patient’s weakened state of mind makes them a prime target for financial exploitation. You should follow up on any sudden changes in your elderly loved one’s financial situation you observe. These signs might include ATM withdrawals while they’re bedridden, additional authorized users to their bank account, or any irregular spending patterns or withdrawals made despite penalties. Nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia are especially vulnerable to abuse, and if you think you can make a case for your loved one, give Shuttlesworth Law Firm a call today at (205) 322-1411.
toss, and that’s when things became tense. Steelers running back Jerome Bettis appeared to call tails, but Luckett said, “Heads is the call.” Upon review later, officials discovered that Bettis changed his mind mid-toss and had indeed called heads first. The Lions got first possession and scored a field goal to win the game.
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