Snapchat Videos Show Nursing Home Abuse of Elderly Patients

The advent of social media networks has apparently sparked a new type of mistreatment in nursing homes, as incidents of mistreatment appear in videos uploaded or shared by nursing center workers. Some of the shared content apparently shows dehumanizing photos or videos of elderly residents without their consent.

The objectionable content not only violates patient privacy laws, but also provides glaring evidence of nursing home abuse that can be used in a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible parties.

Nursing Home Abuse Photos on Snapchat

Snapchat is a social media service that displays shared content briefly before vanishing without any lasting record. The photos and videos discovered on Snapchat have shown elderly patients in partial or complete undress.

In one case, a nursing assistant sent a Snapchat video of a patient laughing and singing while seated on a portable toilet, with her pants below her knees. Another video recorded by a nursing home employee in one nursing center showed an employee lightly slapping the face of an elderly patient with a nylon strap as the patient begged “Don’t! Don’t!”

Types of Nursing Home Abuse 

Nursing home abuse can take many forms such as: 

  • Sexual assault or abuse
  • Physical abuse
  • Financial abuse
  • Maltreatment by failing to provide adequate care or sedating the patient with anti-psychotic drugs
  • Posting embarrassing photos of patients may also be considered a type of elderly mistreatment in these homes and centers that have the legal duty to take care of their patients

Signs of Abuse 

A loved one in a nursing home may not always report any abuse or mistreatment, but it is possible to detect abuse which may manifest through: 

  • Dehydration and malnutrition
  • Bedsores
  • Burns
  • Recent wounds or fractures
  • Behavioral changes
  • Poor hygiene

If a loved one appears to be suffering from mistreatment or negligent care in a nursing home, it’s important to speak to a personal injury attorney. Your lawyer can examine the situation and pursue aggressive legal action against all responsible parties which may include:

  • Nursing home corporations
  • Parent companies
  • Third party staffing companies
  • Contractors and subcontractors
  • Vendors

In the state of California, The Cifarelli Law Firm has helped families of elderly patients recover compensation for nursing home abuse. Our attorneys can handle all administrative aspects of your case so you can focus on moving on from the sad experience of a loved one’s injury. Call us today at (949) 502-8600 and learn how we can help.

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