Nursing Home Abuse Statistics: What You Need to Know from a Palmetto Attorney
The difficult decision to place a loved one in a nursing home is most often based on the family’s inability to provide proper care for the individual. However, the care received at the nursing home may be substandard, according to a Palmetto nursing home abuse attorney.
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)
As part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging, the NCEA provides data and resources on the subject of elder abuse. As noted by a Palmetto nursing home abuse attorney, a research brief published by the NCEA reported some disturbing statistics:
- More than 30 percent of all nursing homes were cited for some violation of federal standards.
- More than 40 percent of nursing home residents report they had been abused.
- More than 90 percent of nursing home residents report they had been neglected or witnessed another resident neglected.
A Palmetto Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Explains the Magnitude of the Problem
Incorporating 2010 U.S. Census data and additional NCEA reports:
- There were over 40 million Americans over the age of 65 in 2010, approximately 13 percent of the population;
- By 2050, it is estimated those over 65 will constitute 20 percent of the population; and
- As few as 1 in 14 cases of abuse are properly reported to authorities.
As a Palmetto nursing home abuse lawyer understands, nursing home abuse is truly an epidemic.
A Palmetto Nursing Home Abuse Attorney on What Can Be Done
There are many reasons the resident victim does not report incidences of abuse, primary of which is either an inability to communicate or a fear of reprisal. Therefore, you must be the advocate for your loved one who is confined to a nursing home. Visit often, visit at different times, get to know the staff, be observant and, perhaps most importantly as a Palmetto nursing home abuse attorney suggests, ask questions.
Contact a Palmetto Nursing Home Abuse Attorney for Legal Advice
If you have any reason to suspect a lack of proper care, call Peter Giroux, a Palmetto nursing home abuse lawyer, at (727) 895-5399.