Although the problem of elder abuse in U.S. nursing homes has long been recognized, there is not nearly enough research into incidence rates. The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) itself admits: “No one knows precisely how many older Americans are being abused, neglected, or exploited. While evidence accumulated to date suggests that many thousands have been harmed, there are no official national statistics.” The agency suggests that there are several reasons for this, including inconsistent definitions of elder abuse between states, different ways of recording abuse, and the fact that most instances of abuse are “hidden.”
Still, the NCEA estimates that between one and two million Americans over the age of 65 have been “injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depended for care or protection.” This includes nursing home residents and those who live in their own homes or that of a family member. However, in the same list of statistics, the NCEA quotes a rate as high as five million cases of financial abuse alone per year.
Five types of elder abuse arise
In fact, there are five main types of elder abuse: physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, financial/material abuse, and neglect. In nursing homes neglect, physical, and psychological abuse is most common, though all five are possible. Sadly, the victim may not tell anyone – including family members – about the abuse for many reasons including fear, confusion, and reluctance to “rock the boat” in a facility responsible for their care.
Therefore it is often left to the family members themselves to detect signs of abuse. There are many resources that family members can access to help them if they suspect elder abuse in a nursing home, including the NCEA and of course the police.
Here is a short list of some of the signs:
Physical Abuse – unexplained bruises, cuts, or injuries; history of “accidents;” several instances of medical attention needed; depression, fear.
Psychological Abuse – social withdrawal; fear and depression; noticeable fear of being left alone with specific people; change in appetite or sleep patterns; family members are blocked from seeing the resident.
Sexual Abuse – social withdrawal; fear and depression; noticeable behavior changes including avoiding eye contact; torn or bloody clothing.
Neglect – Malnutrition and/or dehydration; lack of needed supervision/assistance; missing medical items including dentures, eye glasses; inappropriate dress; encouragement to “sleep in” every morning.
Financial/Material Abuse – Unusual bank withdrawals or cashed checks; confusion about finances; missing personal items including jewelry, watches, electronics, etc.
Contact a nursing home abuse lawyer today
If you suspect elder abuse is currently happening, call the police or 911 immediately. Then contact Jim S. Adler & Associatesto find out what legal action you may be able to take on behalf of your loved one. Abuse can lead to long-term health problems, both physical and mental, and may require additional medical bills. Jim S. Adler & Associates can help you secure the money you need to cover those expenses, plus get your loved one compensation for pain and suffering and punitive damages.
Call Jim S. Adler & Associates directly for your free case review, or fill out the form on this page with the details of the nursing home abuse incident(s) and we will contact you.