Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect cases occur when a facility that contracts to provide care for elderly or infirm individuals fails to do so, oftentimes causing injuries to their clients, who are among the most helpless members of society. Making matters worse, the victims of this neglect and abuse may not be able to voice their fears, concerns, and complaints about the mistreatment they have suffered.
Nursing home neglect occurs when the nursing facility fails to provide basic necessities of life, such as food, water, and basic care. When not provided the attention and care required by anyone who needs assistance with basic activities of everyday life, horrible injuries can occur, such as broken hips and other broken bones, sepsis, malnutrition, dehydration, deep bed sores, pressure ulcers, falls, or complications due to improper or inadequate administration of medication.
Nursing home abuse also comes in many forms, ranging from outright physical abuse to verbal and emotional abuse. Physical abuse, of course, can result in a number of injuries, but the injuries may appear inexplicable — broken bones, internal injuries, open wounds, and a variety of other injuries may be due to intentional misconduct within the facility. On a related note, nursing home patients may be victims of verbal and emotional abuse due to threatening language, ridicule, or harassment.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Resources
U.S. Administration on Aging – National Center on Elder Abuse The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) is a government agency dedicated to “ensure that older Americans will live with dignity, integrity, independence, and without abuse, neglect, and exploitation.”
The American Geriatrics Society The American Geriatrics Society (AGA) is a not-for-profit organization of health-care professionals devoted to “improving the health, independence and quality of life of all older people.”
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services A division of the Federal Government’s Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provides comprehensive resources regarding Medicare and Medicaid programs and health care facilities.
National Citizen’s Coalition for Nursing Home Reform The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (NCCNHR) is a public interest group founded for the specific purpose of addressing substandard care in nursing homes.