Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
According to the United States Administration on
Aging, a division of the Department of Health & Human Services, as of 2003
approximately 12.3% of our population was 65 years of age or older. About one
in every eight Americans is now over the age of 65, and the Census Bureau
estimates that in another twenty years their numbers will grow to represent
over 20% of our population. By the year 2020, the number of people alive over
the age of 85 will nearly double.
While a great many of our elderly live healthy
lives, the sad fact is that many of our elderly cannot care for themselves due
to illness, surgery, or physical frailty. Some may only require assisted living
facilities for a short time, to recover from surgery, illness, or injury.
Others may need to permanently move into a nursing home where medical
assistance is continually available. The difficult and emotional decision
process involved in moving one's parents or other loved ones into such a
facility can be exacerbated by fears that they may be in danger from abuse or
neglect.
The aging of a significant portion of our population
has led to substantial growth in the residential nursing care industry. Large
corporations built for-profit "assisted living" facilities at a rapid
pace during the 1990s, now considered a boom time for their industry. While
these for-profit centers are highly visible, the majority of care facilities
for older persons, sometimes referred to as "nursing homes," are
smaller, independent operations run by families or small businesses, or
facilities operated by non-profit organizations. Often these non-profit and
smaller facilities do not hire well-trained individuals with the proper
experience in caring for the elderly. Many organizations do not train their
staff adequately to deal with the types of situations that can arise in nursing
homes. Most often the nursing home is understaffed. These conditions, and
many others, can lead to accidents and injuries inflicted on nursing home
residents. There have also been cases where nursing homes may have consciously
allowed negligent behavior or abusive behavior to occur. Unfortunately
most of these abuses to a patient's dignity go unreported AND unpunished.
Nursing home law states that a nursing home must care for the resident in
such a manner and in such an environment as will promote maintenance or
enhancement of the quality of life of each resident. If you
suspect that someone you love may have been injured in a nursing home, the
counsel of an experienced personal injury lawyer who has dealt with nursing
home negligence cases may be of great benefit. Please contact the Harvey Law
Firm at (505) 254-0000 or toll free at (877) 254-5254.
Practice Areas Main
Six Steps for Choosing a Nursing Home for your Loved One
Nursing Home Resident's Bill of Rights
Recognizing Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
What to do if you suspect nursing home abuse
Useful Websites in Caring for the Elderly
