NURSING HOME ABUSE / NEGLECT

The statistics on nursing home and elderly abuse are grim. Conservative estimates state that one of three homes in America will be affected in some way by abuse of an elder relative while in a nursing home. With the elderly population growing rapidly, nursing home residents nationwide number over 1.6 million. Currently, there are over 17,000 registered nursing home and elder care facilities. This number is expected to rise to 5 million in the next three decades. Sadly, as the number of nursing home residents increases, so does the frequency of abuse.

Because of the projected numbers and the problems associated with those numbers, nursing home care has become an area of public and governmental concern. As with every medical and care giving facility there are state and federal regulations that govern the "duty of care" for nursing homes. Many nursing homes attempt to squeeze more out more profit and therefore are using under trained and unqualified help, which puts the facilities and their members at a higher risk of cultivating abuse and neglect.

Not all types of abuse are physical, and not all abuse results in visible injuries. Common types of elderly abuse in nursing homes are:

• sexual abuse
• neglect
• abandonment
• extortion
• psychological and emotional abuse
• physical abuse

Families and friends of nursing home residents should be aware of the signs and indications of abuse. These include:

• any injury that cannot be promptly explained
• bedsores
• unusual bruises
• sexually transmitted disease
• out of the ordinary financial requests
• sudden changes in attitude or appetite

While these signs do not always mean there is nursing home abuse present, it is a good idea to investigate any unusual injuries or behavior in elderly people because nursing home abuse is growing at an alarming rate. If you suspect abuse or neglect by a nursing home in Florida, report it immediately to the Florida Department of Social Services and then contact an experienced Florida nursing home abuse lawyer for advice.