Nursing Home Abuse Facts You Should Know

 Posted on July 20, 2023 in Nursing Home Abuse

When an elder’s loved ones place them in a nursing home, it is generally to keep them safe. Senior citizens often reach a point where it is no longer safe for them to live at home. They may begin to need more care or more skilled care than their family members can provide. Or, incidents that occur in the elder’s home may signal to relatives that it is not safe for them to live alone anymore. The primary reason we move elders into designated care facilities is because we want them to receive all the care they need, delivered by trained professionals. If you have a loved one living in a nursing home, finding out that they have not received essential care may be among your worst nightmares. Sadly, nursing home abuse and neglect is more common than most people would like to think. It is important to check on your loved ones in nursing homes frequently so that you will know right away if they are not receiving the care they need. 

The Frightening Truth About Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

One of the major problems many nursing homes struggle with is understaffing. An understaffed nursing home cannot often properly care for every patient in the facility. Facts about neglect and abuse in nursing homes you should be aware of include: 

• The problem is getting worse - More people are living longer. The nursing home population has steadily increased and will likely continue to do so. Meanwhile, staffing concerns remain a problem. 

• There are many types of abuse - Abuse in nursing homes can take many forms. It may be physical, psychological, sexual, or emotional. Neglect - not providing the care a patient needs - is another form of abuse often faced by elders. 

• Incomplete statistics - The true extent of the issue is unknown. Many incidents of abuse or neglect, even those causing harm to the patient, go unreported. Elders who need skilled nursing care are often unable to communicate what is happening to them and do not have family around to notice the signs. 

• It may be compensable - Elders who have been abused or neglected by their care facility may be entitled to compensation. An attorney may be able to work with the elder or their family to file a lawsuit against the home. 

The sooner and more decisively signs of abuse or neglect are addressed, the safer your loved one and others in their nursing home may be. 

Contact a Cook County Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Schwartz Injury Law is committed to protecting the rights of nursing home residents. Our skilled team of Chicago nursing home abuse lawyers will do all we can to help your elderly loved one recover the compensation they deserve. For a complimentary consultation, please contact us at 312-535-4625. 

Source: https://www.nursinghomeabuseguide.org/nursing-home-abuse-statistics/