Nursing home abuse is a heinous crime yet sadly, it is a crime that many elderly people experience. Get the facts on the prevalence of nursing home abuse and how to take action against those responsible.
A Widespread Problem
Nursing home abuse or neglect involves taking intentional actions that result in harm or risk of harm to an elderly person. Nursing home abuse takes many forms and can be physical, emotional, sexual, and financial.
As of 2009, approximately 3.2 million United States citizens lived in nursing homes. In a recent study of 2,000 nursing home residents, respondents reported an abuse rate of 44% and neglect rate of 95%.
Sadly, many cases of nursing home abuse and neglect go unreported. This may be due to an elderly person’s mental incapacity to communicate the abuse or due to threats or intimidation on the part of the elderly person’s caretaker.
The underreporting of nursing home abuse is also due to state governments’ reporting inefficiencies. According to recent studies, 70% of state surveys will miss a nursing home deficiency and 15% of surveys will miss incidences of immediate jeopardy or harm to a nursing home resident.
Taking Action Against Nursing Home Abuse
If you suspect your elderly loved one has experienced abuse or neglect in their nursing home, bring it to the attention of the nursing home’s staff immediately. If you directly witness nursing home abuse, contact the authorities.
At DiPasquale Moore, our nursing home abuse attorneys can help you hold responsible parties accountable for their actions. We have a proven track record of success and a dedication to providing all our clients with the high-quality legal representation they deserve.
Contact us today at (816) 888-7500 to learn how we can help you.