Elderly Abuse Statistics and Claiming Compensation for Damages

Occasionally we hear about elderly abuse in the news, and the involvement of lawyers who go to great lengths to protect to those injured. But most elderly abuse and nursing home neglect cases go unnoticed by the public eye. Elderly abuse can take many forms and sources. Many elderly abuse cases are kept silent by nursing home staff for fear of family retribution and/or a law suit, in addition to poor publicity for the nursing home. Nursing homes in general will deal with the guilty party if they are aware of the abuse charges, by probation or termination of the staff member. This is where it is usually dropped and nothing more is done. If the patient does not have a cognition deficit and is aware of what happened they will as a rule tell a family member. Nursing homes work hard to prevent intervention from a nursing home neglect attorney, as this is their worst nightmare.

Patients who suffer from dementia are at risk for more staff abuse. Nursing home care givers are generally young people who lack experience dealing with dementia day after day. This job of care giver is one of the hardest jobs in society. It tries emotions, and is a hard physical job and can be mentally frustrating. It takes a very special person to do this job day after day and display positive outcomes. A care giver who cannot cope with this type of daily stress has no business being in this profession. These young care givers tend to lose patience quickly and then abuse sets in, in the form of verbal abuse, physical roughness in handling of the patient and sometimes threats. Care givers are smart enough to know that the dementia patient cannot relate abuse and if they do, many times they'll say, “they just don't know what they are talking about", so they are not believed. There are many younger and older care givers who are devoted and caring towards their patients. But, it only takes one bad care giver to send elder abuse lawyers to the door.

Elderly abuse can take many forms such as verbal abuse through yelling, swearing, and threats. Physical abuse can take variety of forms as well such as pushing, shoving of the resident, slapping and hitting. Other abuse can be seen through withholding fluids and foods or denying elderly patrons their medication. Abuse can take the form of lack of care such as turning and repositioning and doing incontinent care at least every two hours. Abuse can be refusal to let a patient walk or go to the bathroom when the need arises. Abuse can take the form of skin ulcers from lack of movement or incontinent skin care. Abuse can take the form of withholding prescribed medications or overdosing with medications or refusal to administer pain medication when the patient needs them. Abuse can take the form of neglect in doing dressing changes. Abuse can take the form of misuse of personal possessions, such as allowing one patient to take and use another's belongings, or worse a staff member. Abuse can take the form of sexual abuse. The problem with abuse is that it must be proven by the elderly abuse accident attorney. It is hard to prove what happens behind closed doors. Some abuse is a given, such as the development of a small stage I skin ulcer quickly turning to a serious stage 3 or 4 ulcer.

In our present economy, medical insurance uncertainties and Medicare changes, more families are being encouraged care for their loved ones at home.

It's important to note that some abuse situations can happen at the hands of a trusted family member in the home environment. Taking care of a loved one will try any family's patience. LOA's from work are sometimes needed; job changes and socializations are many times put on hold. Some family members can become bitter about caring for the needs of their elders and quickly fall into an abusive pattern. If you are caring for your aging family member at your private residence, counseling is a good stepping stone to assure an abuse free home.