When a family makes the decision to put an elderly loved one into a nursing home facility, they are putting their complete trust into the facility and its employees. Unfortunately, many nursing home employees take advantage of this trust by abusing or negligently caring for their vulnerable patients. Abuse of the elderly can come in various forms, ranging from physical violence and sexual misconduct to emotional abuse and failure to properly care. If your elderly loved one has been abused, it is time to seek out the assistance of a trained legal professional.

The Impacts of Abuse

Here in the United States, nursing home abuse is far more common than any of us would like to assume. Approximately one in ten elderly Americans have faced some sort of abuse. According to statistics compiled by the National Council on Aging (NCOA), as many as 5 million Americans over the age of 60, are abused each year. Physical abuse can lead to broken bones, internal bleeding, and other life-threatening symptoms, for elderly people that are already physically vulnerable.

Negligent care is not always talked about as a form of elderly abuse, but in all reality, the impacts of reckless medical treatment can be devastating. Failure to care can come in the form of failing to regularly move an immobile resident, failing to regularly provide meals, and not assisting the patient in bathing or other actions needed to maintain personal hygiene. From bed sores and unusual weight loss to poor personal cleanliness, nursing home negligence should be taken incredibly seriously.