How Prevalent is Nursing Home Abuse?

There are more than 39 million individuals over the age of 65 who live in the United States, and just under six million are older than 85 years of age. The growth rate of the older population is only expected to increase. In the next 20 years, for instance, it is projected that the growth rate of the older population is going to double what it is currently.

An older adult has a more than 70% chance that they will require some amount of assisted living services during their life. This can be minimal care, from light meal preparation and housekeeping to the need to reside in a full-service nursing home or long-term care facility. The National Center for Health Statistics indicates that as of 2018, there were 15,600 nursing homes in the United States, and in 2017 there were 1.3 million residents.

It is expected that when you find a nursing home for your loved one, they will be respected and cared for at the highest level. However, given the large number of elderly people in the country, there is also the issue of nursing home abuse that is, unfortunately, widespread. At least one in ten elderly individuals will be abused at some point during their lives.

If you believe that your loved one was harmed in a nursing home in Florida, the Tampa medical malpractice attorneys at Fulgencio Law can help you. 

Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes

There are several forms of elder abuse that can be inflicted on the elderly population. When an older person resides in a nursing home, they are more vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment. This is just one reason why it is so incredibly important to visit loved ones in nursing homes often and check in on them.

Elder abuse can be perpetrated in any of the following ways:

• Physical 
• Sexual
• Emotional
• Neglect
• Abandonment
• Financial

Women tend to suffer abuse at a higher rate than men do, but both men and women can be mistreated. And special populations, those that may have certain medical conditions like dementia, for example, are the highest risk group for suffering elder abuse. Abuse can lead to physical injuries or death. 

There are well over two million elder abuse cases that are reported annually throughout the country. This number may even be a low estimate because, for all of the cases that are identified and reported, there are many more that go unnoticed or accounted for.

When elder abuse happens, a medical malpractice claim could be appropriate. It may be possible to obtain financial compensation when your elderly loved one was abused in a nursing home. Though, there is only a three-year window to file such a claim. Speaking to an attorney at Fulgencio Law can help you better understand if you have a claim and, if so, what your claim is worth.

Schedule a Free Consultation with An Attorney at Fulgencio Law Today

You are welcome to come into Fulgencio Law to have your case evaluated for free. Call today at (813) 463-0123 to schedule your consultation.