Senate learns nursing home abuse is rampant

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In 2001, the Senate was presented with a report showing how widespread nursing home abuse is throughout the country. “Abuse of Residents Is a Major Problem in U.S. Nursing Homes” revealed that one in every three nursing homes were cited with at least one abuse violation during a two-year period from 1999 to 2001. The report noted that “the problem of abuse in nursing homes may be far more prevalent than the public generally recognizes.”

Contained inside the report were representative examples of the different kinds of abuse and neglect suffered by elderly residents at the hands of staff members or other residents. Violations also included not providing adequate protection to residents, and not having written policy against abuse and neglect.

Examples cited in the report:

In Illinois, a staff member cursed at a female resident and then hit her in the face, breaking her nose and bruising her mouth. The woman had to have her airways suctioned for blood before she suffocated, and required oxygen. The staff member had a history of abuse, it was found later, but the nursing home had not screened this individual to find his violent past. Even more shocking: the nursing home did not start an investigation, and the situation was not resolved until after the police department stepped in almost a week later.

In a case of repeated and ongoing abuse, an 80-year old stroke victim was dragged on her knees, locked alone in a bathroom, and hit with various objects by staff members. At one point, they bribed a 50-year old resident with brain damage to attack her. Family members did not learn of the abuse until another staff member finally reported the incidents.

A nursing home in Indiana was the scene of a homicide when one resident picked up another by the arms and slammed her against the wall. The woman suffered a severe brain injury and died three weeks later. The offending resident had at least 50 reports of violent behavior in his record, and displayed signs of mental illness. Yet the nursing home did not take any measures to protect other residents from this individual.

The list of offenses goes on. The shocking nature and number of incidents is proof enough that the so-called Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 has done little to protect residents, and prevent the apparently routine nursing home abuse that goes on across the country. Until real reform comes about, residents will continue to be abused and neglected at the hands of other residents, and at the hands of those who are supposed to be there to help.

If you or a loved one has suffered any incidents of abuse or neglect at a nursing home, contact Jim S. Adler & Associates for a free case review. You may not realize that regardless of whether the abuse comes from a staff member or another resident, the nursing home is fully responsible.

Call 1-800-505-1414 or click on the link on this page to find out more and get a free case review. Nursing home abuse and neglect are sometimes complex issues, but the experts at Jim S. Adler & Associates will ensure that your rights are protected.