by Charlie Smith | Jul 6, 2020 | Blog, Evidence, Nursing Home Abuse |
Millions of elders living in nursing homes are victims of abuse every year and are not even aware of it. Elder abuse in nursing homes can be difficult to detect and it is not uncommon for cases to go unreported. Though many elderly residents in nursing homes are treated well and cared for in the manner in which they should be, abuse still continues and is much more prevalent that people wish to believe. Nursing home abuse is something that should definitely be of concern; seniors who have been abused have a 300% greater chance of death in the 3 years following the abuse than those who are not abused. Statistics show that nearly 1 in 6 nursing home residents are the victims of abuse or neglect every year, and although legislatures in all 50 states have passed anti-elder-abuse laws, nursing home abuse continues to occur. Nursing home abuse can include any of the following: Physical abuse – may be intentional such as hitting or pinching, or it may be due to neglect including overuse of restraints and lack of physical care Psychological abuse – this may be harder to identify, but it includes yelling, criticizing, humiliating or shaming of the patient. Sexual abuse – any unwanted sexual attention or exploitation Financial exploitation – may include taking advantage of access to patient’s financial matters, stealing, or otherwise compromising a patient’s financial status. Neglect – often times may be unintentional and a result of inadequate staffing, but nevertheless it is considered to be abusive. Instances of neglect may include, personal hygiene care not being met, not provided with food, clothing,...
