subject: Nursing home abuse cases are one the rise: One-third of homes cited for abuse [print this page] Nursing home abuse cases are one the rise: One-third of homes cited for abuse
With almost 17,000 nursing homes in the U.S. which nearly 1.6 million elderly folk call home, nearly one-third of them have been cited for nursing home abuse such as injuries, death and even elder sexual abuse cases. Nursing home abuse statistics and crimes against elderly persons are expected to rise as the increase of residents entering long term care facilities are expected to grow to about 5 million by the year 2040 and about 6.6 million by the year 2050. A number that is quadruple to what it is now, according to the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Government Reform - Minority Office. The federal government keeps an inspection database of facilities nationwide which records care home abuse. More than 1,000 homes have been cited for employing nursing facility staff with a history of nursing home abuse and neglect. Although the nursing home industry will agree that there is a need for better and more complete background checks, they will disagree that elder abuse in nursing homes or other crimes against elderly persons are common in care homes across the country. Reports show that there are thousands upon thousands of abuse cases yearly and investigators believe many violations go undetected or are simply not reported, leading federal regulators to believe the problem is underestimated. Further findings also show: Over 3,800 violations, more than 40 percent were reported only after formal complaints from residents, family members or community advocates. Furthermore, 1,327 facilities were cited for more than one violation in a two year period. 305 were cited for three or more violations and 192 were cited for 5 or more violations. According to the National Academy of Sciences Panel to Review Risk and Prevalence of Elder Abuse and Neglect, causes of care homes abuse are staff burnout, lack of proper staff training and stressful working conditions and staff shortages. According to nursing home abuse statistics, elder abuse in nursing homes is widely under reported. One of the reasons is the patients reluctance to tell someone about the abuse. By arming yourself and your loved ones with their rights provided by the nursing home act hopefully your loved one can avoid being part of the statistic. Remind your loved ones now residing in a nursing home that they have the right to and must notify their loved ones of abuse. Ask your loved ones nursing home to provide you with a list of the patients rights. Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, are also a firm of Arkansas social security lawyer who understands the importance of effective, quality care.
