Facts &
Figures
A Response to the Abuse of Vulnerable Adults:
The 2000 Survey of State Adult Protective Services
Published by: National Center on Elder Abuse
Abstract: BASED ON FIGURES FROM 54 STATES, the total
number of reports received was 472,813 elder/adult
abuse reports for the most recent year for which
data were available. State report totals ranged from
a low of 108 reports to a high of 70,424 reports.
From 32 respondents, complainants were family
members (13.7%), followed by health care
professionals (11.1%) and social service agency
staff (10.0%).
Click here
to
see the study.
Last year at a hearing on elder abuse held by Sen.
Craig, Sara Aravanis, Director of the National
Center on Elder Abuse, told the committee that
nationwide reports of elder abuse increased from
117,000 cases in 1986 to 470,000 in 2000 a 301%
increase. These numbers and statistics include
seniors abused at home and in the community, as well
as those in nursing homes.
Source: Press Release issued by US Senate Committee
on Aging
http://www.senate.gov/~aging/press.htm#rls
Major Types of Elder Abuse
Published by: National Center on Elder Abuse
http://www.elderabusecenter.org/default.cfm?p=basics.cfm
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Practice Area -
Nursing Home & Elder Abuse
Because the nursing home industry has become a
multi-billion dollar business comprised of major
corporations, in some facilities profitability has
become more important than administering proper
care. Reports state that 30% of nursing home
facilities are cited for instances of abuse. For
this reason, both federal and state governments have
introduced legislation to protect residents of
nursing homes.
Nursing home negligence or abuse can have tragic
results such as nursing home deaths, falls resulting
in broken bones, malnutrition, dehydration,
decubitus ulcers and residents wandering off the
nursing home premises and stepping into harms way.
If a nursing home has failed to administer
reasonable care in a professional and compassionate
manner, and if someone you love has suffered from
inadequate care, you may be entitled to
compensation. It is important to thoroughly
understand the warning signs of potential nursing
home negligence.
If you see any of the following signs of elderly
abuse in nursing homes, they should be immediately
investigated:
►
Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, sprains, or
fractures in various stages of healing.
►
Bedsores or frozen joints.
►
Unexplained venereal disease or genital infections;
vaginal or anal bleeding; torn, stained, or bloody
underclothing.
►
Sudden changes in behavior.
►
Staff refusing to allow visitors to see resident or
delays in allowing visitors to see resident.
►
Staff not allowing resident to be alone with
visitor.
►
Resident being kept in an over-medicated state.
►
Loss of resident's possessions.
►
Sudden large withdrawals from bank accounts or
changes in banking practices.
►
Abrupt changes in will or other financial documents.
In addition to these 10 warning signs, elderly abuse
in nursing homes can occur on all different levels.
Mental Elderly Abuse
►
Fear, agitation, hesitance
►
Depression, withdrawal
►
Sudden behavior changes
►
Unusual behavior patterns
►
Unwillingness to communicate
►
Disorientation, confusion
►
Unjustified isolation
►
Rude, humiliating, derogatory comments by staff
►
Specific complaints by residents
►
Physical Elderly Abuse
►
Wounds, cuts, abrasions, burns
►
Bruises, welts, swelling
►
Broken bones, sudden inexplicable weight loss
►
Unexplained/hidden injuries
►
Unwarranted restraints (either physical or chemical)
Specific complaints by residents
►
Bed sores (decubitus ulcers)
►
Unsanitary environment
►
Malnutrition, dehydration
►
Smells of urine and/or feces
►
Unkempt appearance
►
Poor personal hygiene
►
Untreated medical condition
►
Specific complaints by residents
exploitation/Financial Abuse
►
Sudden, unjustified selling of property
►
Missing/stolen money or property
►
Radical changes in handling personal/financial
affairs
►
Specific complaints by residents
If a family member has suffered due to
nursing home neglect, the
Davis Law Group can help
you. Having experience with this type of claim, we
have the skill and experience necessary to represent
you.
Contact us for
a FREE, no obligation consultation.
News -
Nursing Home & Elder Abuse
►
Nursing Home Abuse
& Violence Among Residents Comment, Newsinferno.com,
NY, July 12, 2007
►
State investigates
patient care at Veterans' Home, Warren Times
Gazette, August 1, 2007
►
Nursing home 'breakdown' cited, Dallas Morning News,
July 25, 2007
►
No excuses: Nursing home rape should never have
happened, Sal Lake Tribune, July 16, 2007
►
Lawsuit says nursing home kicked out rape victim,
Houston Chronicle, July 14, 2007
►
Nursing home is sued in death, Chicago Tribune, July
19, 2007
►
Ex-owner of KY nursing home cleared of charges,
Cincinnati Post, OH, July 13, 2007
►
Nursing home corporation arraigned in resident
death, Eyewitness News, RI, July 26, 2007
►
State report rips nursing home, Chicago Tribune,
July 13, 2007
►
Nursing home death a public disgrace, Petaluma
Argus-Courier, CA, July 11, 2007
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