Nursing Home Abuse
As the saying goes, “Our elders should always be treated with respect.” When you finally settle on a nursing home for a loved one, you expect them to be taken care of and watched over.
Unfortunately, a recent case study in New York, conducted by Life Span of Greater Rochester, Inc., Weill Cornell Medical Center of Cornell University, and New York City Department for the Aging, has shown that 76 per every 1,000 older residents living in nursing homes are subject to some form of abuse every year. These forms of abuse can be classified as:
Financial Abuse:
As nursing home abuse lawyers in New York, we can tell you that financial abuse is the highest rate of abuse that stems from financial exploitation. The case study discovered that 42.1 per every 1000 residents have been a victim to financial abuse.
Employees from the nursing homes are taking advantage of the elderly by theft of money or property, using items without permission, and impersonation for the purposes of obtaining personal records such as money, bank cards, accounts, or even power of attorney.
Physical and Sexual Abuse:
Physical and Sexual abuse is the second highest form of abuse. The case data showed that 22.4 per every 1,000 older residents living in a nursing home have been a victim to such abuse. Physical and sexual abuse includes intentional use of force that results in an injury, pain, impairment, or non-consensual contact of any kind by a third party.
Abuse by Neglect:
Neglect is the third highest form of abuse that was reported in the case data. The case data uncovered that 18.3 residents per every 1,000 older residents have suffered from neglect.
You may have a claim for neglect if the caregiver at a nursing home fails to fulfill their responsibilities of a caretaker such as, but are not limited to: abandonment, deprivation of food, water, heat, clean clothing and bedding, eyeglasses or dentures, or any health-related services.
Emotional Abuse:
Emotional abuse is the fourth highest form of abuse reported in nursing homes. The case data reported that 16.4 per every 1,000 residents in a nursing home have suffered emotional abuse. Emotional abuse is defined as any willful infliction of mental or emotional distress that comes from a threat, humiliation, intimidation, or other abusive conduct.
What can you do?
If you or a loved one has experienced any form of abuse in a nursing home, you should contact an experienced attorney immediately. Don’t allow your abuse to go unreported.
These exploitations and forms of abuse deprive the elderly residents of nursing homes from the resourced needed for the necessities of life. Put an end to the abuse today. If you or a loved one has experienced abuse in a nursing home, you may be entitled to compensation.