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As people get older, they start to have issues taking care of yourself. In many families, children step up and try to take care of the parents because the parents had the same thing for them when they were younger. At the same time, there may come a time when children are simply no longer able to take care of their parents. Often, elderly individuals have chronic medical conditions that require expert medical care or around the clock assistance. In this situation, many individuals are going to turn to nursing homes for help.
Even though the vast majority of nursing homes provide great care, there are still instances of elder abuse that take place. Even one instance of elder abuse is one too many. Furthermore, it is important for people to understand that nursing home abuse comes in many shapes and forms. According to the May Firm,
“Elder abuse can take many forms and is not limited to the traditional notion that only hitting, striking, or beating constitutes abuse. A caretaker can be found liable for abuse if they intentionally allow their patients to develop bedsores or knowingly limit meal portions. Leaving an elderly patient to go to bed without being served their dinner because the caretaker was displeased with them is a form of abuse. In addition to physical abuse, caretakers may abuse their patients emotionally or psychologically through the use of threats, degradation, or manipulation.”
Furthermore, when taking a closer look at the statistics of elder abuse, it is obvious that this is far more common than many people realize. In reality, these numbers are shocking.
The Numbers: Elder Abuse
According to statistics that have been published by the NCOA:
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About 10 percent of all people in the United States are over the age of 60 have experienced some form of elder abuse
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As many as 5 million elderly individuals are abused every year
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Less than 10 percent of all cases of elder abuse are actually reported to the authorities
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Perpetrators of elder abuse are both men and women
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The vast majority of cases of elder abuse involve neglect of; however, this is far from the only type of abuse
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Usually, the perpetrator of elder abuse is known to the victim
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Because elders often experience social isolation and mental impairment, they are more prone to experiencing abuse than other populations
Clearly, this is heartbreaking and something has to be done about it. The good news is that anyone who has experienced elder abuse does not have to go through this situation alone. There are always trained individuals who are willing to lend a helping hand to those in need.