Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes: 8 Shocking Facts You’ve Probably Never Heard Before
The population of nursing homes continue to increase every year because the number of the aged being registered is rapidly increasing. In America alone, over 5 million oder Americans are being nursed in a nursing home. Below are 8 shocking facts you’ve probably never heard before.
1) There are Several Types of Nursing Home Abuse
There are several types of nursing home abuse which include; physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, residential to residential abuse.
2) Several Signs of Nursing Home Abuse Revealed
There are signs that if you notice on your loved one, then you can know that he or she is being abused. They include; fractures or broken bones, bed sores, frequent infections, caregivers that don’t want the patient to be left alone with anyone else, Indications of dehydration, changes in a person’s mental status, lack of cleanliness or poor physical appearance, patients nursing home abuse, unexplained weight loss refusal to take medication or eat, the refusal to speak, and emotional outbursts or mood swings.
3) 300% Who are Abused Are Likely to Die Within 3 years
Most of the elders abused in nursing homes are likely to die within three years after the abuse. This is because the patients can’t contain some of the pain they undergo like broken bones.
photo/ StockSnap
4) 5 Million Older Americans are Abused
A report by American Society of Aging reveals that more older people are being abused compared to children. In their report, more than 5 million older people are abused compared to 1.3 million for children.
5) Few Nursing Homes are Responsible for the Abuse
“Between 2000 and 2002, 23 percent of the facilities in California were responsible for 71 percent of lawsuits involving abuse or negligent care; 10 percent accounted for half of the lawsuits. More than half (53 percent) of nursing homes did not have a single lawsuit filed against it during those three years”
6) Nursing Industry is Profitable and Sometimes Sacrifice Patient Safety to Increase Profits
Center for Justice Democracy reveals the following; “Many for-profit nursing homes have earned exceptionally healthy profit margins, often 20 and 30 percent, For-profit nursing homes have on average 32 percent fewer nurses and 47 percent higher deficiencies than non-profit nursing homes, and that In the last few years, many nursing homes purchased by investor groups have provided inferior care while shielding themselves from regulators and litigation by creating intricate structures of shell companies and subsidiaries.”
7) Legislators in All 50 States Have Passed Some Type of Elders Abuse Law
Many states have passed elders abuse law. Some of the states include; Nevada, District of Columbia, Arizona, Massachusetts, Iowa, Wisconsin, Vermont, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Louisiana, West Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, Kansas etc. You can find others here.
8) Most Victims are Dependent on their Abuser for Basic Needs
Even though the elders suffer nursing abuse, they’ll still get most of their basic needs from the nursing homes. Probably, that’s the reason why they decide to remain humble even if they’re abused. Though you should take action as soon as you realize your loved one is being abused.
Bottom Line
It is your responsibility to raise an alarm to relevant authorities if you realize any of your loved one is being abused in any nursing home. It is better to report than to keep silence while others are suffering. Take action today and save the elderly from nursing home abuses.
Author: Laura Brown
Nursing Home Abuse Needs to be a Priority for the Federal Government
