Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse

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"We owe everything to our elderly. To neglect or abuse those who paved the way for us and our children is an absolutely shame.  To turn a blind eye to this tragedy is a crime." Jeffrey C. Chilton

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Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect is far more common than you may think.  In 2001, CBS News reported that nearly one-third of all nursing homes had been cited for abuse at that time.

In one instance, a certified nurse's assistant attacked an elderly resident, choking her and breaking her wrist, because she had accidently soiled herself.  In another case, a resident was killed when another resident with known abusive behavior picked her up and slammed her into a wall.  The Nursing home attempted to cover-up the story by claiming that the resident had simply fallen on her own.

Nursing Home - Elder Abuse

As the population of our elderly continues to increase, nursing homes and their staff will be under increasing pressure to meet the rising demands of elder care  needs.  Limited state funding, coupled with an increase in the average life span results in the  inability of many facilities to meet the basic standards for care of our elderly population.  To make matters worse, family members aren't always able to care for their aging loved ones.  This group of facts has created an environment wherein nursing home residents are put a a high risk of being neglected or abused by the very caregivers who are commissioned to tend to their health and other needs.

How Does Nursing Home Abuse Happen?

Simply stated, nursing home abuse or nursing home neglect is the abuse, neglect, or intentional exploitation of an elderly person. Elder abuse can be caused by:

• Familial Abuse: an elderly person is abused by a member of his or her own family;

• Institutional Abuse: wherein a resident of a geriatric care facility neglects to provide basic human needs to the point of physical, emotional or psychological damage; or wherein a member of the facility staff intentionally abuses the elderly resident.

Types of Elder Abuse

There are many types of neglect and abuse. These include:

• Physical abuse: beatings, sexual abuse, denial of food or water, and excessive use of restraints are all ways that the elderly are physically abused.

• Psychological or emotional abuse: threats, isolation, verbal assault, and humiliation are all ways that the elderly are psychologically or emotionally abused.

• Financial abuse: cashing an elderly person's check without their permission, forging their signature, stealing their money or possessions, and abusing guardianship or power of attorney are all ways that the elderly are financially abused.

• Neglect: failing to provide food, water, shelter, clothing, and other necessities.

• Abandonment: deserting an elderly person at a public place such as a shopping mall, hospital, or nursing home is defined as abandonment.

If your loved one has suffered neglect or abuse, you may have questions and need to talk to a Beaumont Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer. Please Contact Us or call toll-free.  We're always ready to offer candid, confidential information.