Do you need the help of Florida Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Daniel Young? Call Today at 954-763-0996. You never pay anything unless we win your case.
Nursing Home Abuse Information
Nursing home abuse is one of the nation’s largest growing problems. An estimated one in three nursing homes are reported for nursing home abuse, a number thought grossly underestimated. This statistic is frightening, especially considering the fact that the instances of nursing home abuse that are reported are so severe. Reports of death, physical and sexual abuse, broken bones, beatings, and complete neglect have occurred in these situations. Sadly, nursing home abuse potentially affects the 1.6 million nursing home residents.
A study done by the minority staff of the Special Investigations Division of the House Government Reform Committee found that 30 percent of nursing homes in the United States — 5,283 facilities — were cited for almost 9,000 instances of nursing home abuse over a recent two-year period, from January 1999 to January 2001.
Every year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological, or other forms of abuse and neglect. For every case of elder abuse and neglect reported to authorities, experts estimate that there may be as many as 5 cases not reported. Research suggests elders who have been abused tend to die earlier than those who are not abused, even in the absence of chronic conditions or life threatening disease.
People put their elderly parent or grandparent in a nursing home so that they can be safely taken care of, so that someone can properly look after them in their old age. No one expects that these nursing home residents should get anything less than the proper care and respect that they deserve, but with the horrifying rise in nursing care abuse, this is not always the case. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse in the United States , more than 30 percent of all nursing homes in America indulge in some form of resident abuse.
Statistics show that nearly 50 percent of all nursing homes are short staffed. The staff people who do work in these facilities are underpaid, overworked, and all too often overburdened, which in turn leads to elder neglect and abuse.
Even more alarming is the prediction that the problem will only worsen in the near future. More than 91% of nursing homes lack adequate staff to properly care for patients. The H ealth and Human Services Department report found patients in understaffed nursing homes were more likely to suffer from a variety of problems, such as bed sores, malnutrition, weight loss, dehydration, pneumonia, and serious blood born infections. It’s a serious concern that will only increase with time, given that the population of people aged 85 or older is expected to double to 8.9 million by the year 2030.
Further, it is estimated that only 20 percent of abuse cases are reported at all, but also that the statistics reveal the source of the abuses are not staff members alone. Other residents contribute to the problem, as well. Abuse takes the form of physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological distress, financial exploitation, malnutrition, and neglect.
Our elderly do have rights under the law. If you or your loved one needs help or protection, contact Elder Abuse Lawyer Daniel Young today for your free consultation 954-763-0996.
