Nursing Home Abuse: Growing Old Without Dignity

Press release from: The Law Offices of James Sokolove
(openPR) -

When families place an elderly loved one in a nursing home, they expect that he or she will experience quality care in a safe, nurturing environment. But reality paints a much different picture. According to a recent report by the National Center on Elder Abuse, 20,673 complaints of abuse, gross neglect and exploitation on behalf of U.S. nursing home and board and care residents were investigated in 2003 alone. Of these complaints, physical abuse was most commonly reported.

“Sadly, these numbers only skim the surface,” says Attorney Jim Sokolove, founder and principal of the Law Offices of James Sokolove (LOJS). “For every reported case of abuse or neglect, an estimated five more go unreported. Nursing home abuse is a growing and very serious problem, and it’s happening in facilities all across the country.”

The term “elder abuse” describes any intentional or negligent act by a caregiver or other person that causes harm or risk to a vulnerable adult. Common forms of nursing home abuse include inadequate medical care, dehydration, untreated bedsores, inadequate sanitation and hygiene, and malnutrition. Nursing home abuse may also be sexual, emotional, or exploitative in nature.

In a Senate Finance Committee hearing in 2002, leading long-term care expert Catherine Hawes emphasized that the root causes of nursing home abuse and neglect lie with severe workforce shortages that lead to staff burn-out. She also indicated that since many elderly people rely on Medicaid reimbursement instead of paying for their own care, their choice of nursing home facilities is usually limited to those providing a lower caliber of services.

As the “baby boom” generation ages, the demand for nursing home care will continue to grow. Experts predict that the number of Americans aged 65 and older will reach 71 million by the year 2030. By 2050, the number of individuals living in nursing home facilities is expected to soar to 6.6 million.

“It’s important for people to understand that residents of nursing homes do have rights under the law—the right to be treated with dignity, and most importantly, the right to live free of mistreatment and neglect,” Sokolove says. “The Law Offices of James Sokolove works with these victims and their families on a daily basis to help them protect these rights and hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.”

Those interested in learning more about recognizing, reporting and preventing nursing home abuse and neglect can visit the Nursing Home Abuse section on the LOJS website.

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