Nursing Home/Neglect/Abuse

As the elderly population in this country continues to rise, so does the retirement/nursing home population. These trends have also been accompanied by increased incidence of nursing home abuse and neglect. Governmental oversight currently regulates care and services at the state and federal levels, maintaining standards to ensure the protection and safety of patients.

However, in spite of these governmental agencies and efforts, more than one million nursing home residents become victim of some type of abuse each year. This abuse can include both negligence and active, intentional abuse. Whether consisting of chronic, recurrent negligence or a single incident, the victim has a right to damages. Most often, the nursing home in question may be liable – and may stand to lose its certification and/or federal funding.

Nursing home abuse may include physical acts resulting in physical damage (falls, dehydration or malnutrition, hitting or restraining, etc). More subtle but just as damaging are the neglect, theft, abandonment, defective equipment, sexual assault, coercion, and mental or emotional abuse. All of these have the potential to lead to injury or death of the nursing home patient.