A rising problem is the neglect of nursing homes in taking care of elder citizens. Elders in nursing homes may experience negligence that can lead to otherwise avoidable medical issues. An elder law attorney can help families respond to cases of elder neglect.

Nursing Home Negligence

Sadly, nursing home neglect is a serious and prominent problem in the United States today. Indeed, millions of older Americans over the age of 60 are neglected or otherwise abused. To make matters worse, a huge chunk of these cases are never actually reported to authorities.

Nursing home neglect can take many forms, but one of the most prominent is negligence that passively leads to declining health or physical suffering. For instance, if caretakers do not actually take care of the elders in their charge, they may suffer from a number of injuries. Injuries caused by negligence in the nursing home can often include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Bed sores
• Pressure sores
• Fractures from falling
• Malnutrition
  Dehydration
• Chronic infections
• Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Abused elders may also be subjected to other physical abuse, sexual abuse, or abandonment. If you suspect that someone you know is suffering from nursing home neglect and is in immediate danger, calling 911 or local police is the way to go.

The percentages of nursing home residents that suffer from negligence are stunning. One in every three nursing homes has been cited at least once for nursing home negligence. According to a 2000 study, a whopping 95 percent of nursing home residents reported that they themselves were abused or that they had seen another nursing home resident abused.

These horrible statistics make it even more clear that being on the lookout for signs of nursing home negligence is essential to protect these vulnerable citizens. Be on the lookout for signs of negligence like bed sores, dehydration, and chronic infections. More signs of nursing home negligence can be found on our investigation page.

Elder negligence can also place these people at further risk. Indeed, negligence can seriously increase an elder’s risk of death. In fact, neglected elders have a 300 percent higher risk of death than those who have not been neglected. People with dementia face an even higher likelihood of elder neglect than those without dementia.

Finding an Elder Law Attorney

Nursing home negligence isn’t just sad — it’s also a serious crime. Reporting instances of negligence is essential to protect the elders you love. If you believe someone you love has been harmed by nursing home negligence, you may be able to seek help from an elder law attorney. It can be difficult to figure out what to do in response to nursing home neglect. An elder law attorney can help you navigate these issues.