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Elder abuse a very real and growing problem in the United States, whether we like it or not. There are many different forms of abuse that fall under the elder or nursing home abuse category, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, exploitation, neglect, and abandonment. Elder abuse can be performed by anyone from the senior’s children, other family members, spouses, and nursing home staff members. Before we go over a few interesting facts about elder abuse in America, let’s briefly look at the most common types of nursing home abuse as a refresher:
● Physical abuse – This occurs when someone inflicts pain or injury upon an older adult or nursing home resident
● Sexual abuse – This type of abuse includes touching, fondling, intercourse, and any other unwanted sexual activity with an older adult
● Emotional abuse – This includes verbal assaults, threats, harassment, or intimidation
● Neglect – When a caregiver fails to provide the senior with life’s necessities, such as food, clothing, shelter, or medical care, it is considered neglect
● Deprivation – When an older adult is denied medication, medical care, shelter, food, or physical assistance, they are at risk of becoming physically, mentally, or emotionally damaged
● Financial abuse – This happens when a caretaker, family member, or nursing home staff member misuses or withholds an older adult’s monetary resources
Now that we have a better idea of what some of the most common types of nursing home abuse are, we can look at some facts about elder abuse in America:
● It is estimated that between 1 and 2 million Americans 65 or older have been injured, exploited, neglected, or otherwise mistreated by someone they trusted and depended upon
○ Some studies indicate the number of abused elders in the U.S. is as high as 5 million
○ This number is unknown largely because many people do not report elder abuse
● The majority of elder abuse cases go unreported
○ In fact, for every one elder abuse case that is reported, five go unreported
● Nearly 90% of all elder abuse and neglect incident happen at the hands of a family member
○ Both men and women are guilty of abusing older adults
○ Two-third of all perpetrators are adult children or spouses
● Older adults in long-term care facilities experience nearly 2 million adverse drug events every single year
○ 70 percent of these cases are preventable
○ It is estimated that upwards of 90,000 of these cases are fatal or life-threatening
● Elder abuse typically takes place in the home where the senior lives
○ Most people mistakenly believe that the majority of elder abuse cases occur in nursing homes. While we certainly do see these cases, most happen in the personal home of the older adult
● The majority of elder abuse victims are dependent on their abuser for their most basic needs
○ This statistic correlates to the above fact pointing to family members and loved ones as the most common abusers of seniors
● The most common form of elder abuse is financial exploitation
○ Physical abuse, neglect, and emotional abuse follow closely
If you or someone you love has been involved in an elder abuse case in Dallas, please contact Rad Law Firm today. Our elder abuse attorneys will go over your case with you and do our best to ensure justice is served.
