How Often Does Nursing Home Abuse Or Neglect Occur?

Some of the most vulnerable New Orleans citizens reside in nursing homes. Placing a parent or grandparent in a nursing home is a very difficult decision, and we all want to make sure they are well cared for. While it is difficult to obtain hard data on the frequency of abuse or neglect of nursing home residents, the numbers that are available are sobering.

Studies have shown that some form of resident abuse occurs in more than 30% of all nursing homes in the United States. It is difficult, however, to come up with an exact figure for two reasons. First, nursing home abuse and neglect can cover a wide variety of issues – including failure to properly supervise medication, allowing bed sores to fester and actual physical or sexual abuse of a resident by staff or other residents. Because of the variety of behaviors that can be categorized as abusive, it can be difficult to measure the true extent of the problem.

Second, it is difficult to come up with an exact figure because most cases of nursing home abuse or neglect simply go unreported. Experts estimate that for every one case reported, five are not. Of the cases that are reported, many are never actually brought to the attention of public authorities.

Approximately five percent of senior citizens in the United States reside in nursing homes, half of whom are over the age of 85. Many of these residents are extremely vulnerable to being abused or otherwise exploited. If you suspect a nursing home resident has suffered abuse or neglect, do not be afraid to report it.

If your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, please call us at (504) 527-8767. We would be happy to help you.