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Elder Abuse Trends

Elder abuse is a major problem in American nursing homes and other settings all over the country. It’s something that many families worry about when they have to choose a facility for a parent or other family member.

Elder abuse happens in many ways and threatens many aging individuals. It’s a problem that government agencies keep an eye on – but unfortunately, eliminating it is difficult. Senior citizens are uniquely vulnerable individuals for a number of reasons.  Shining a light on elder abuse helps to protect those may have a hard time advocating for themselves.

Nursing Home Abuse: By the Numbers

The government also looks at trends in elder abuse in nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities or long-term care facilities. The National Institutes of Health has published reports from the National Ombudsman Reporting System or NORS. For instance, a 2015 study shows trending for the years between 2006 and 2013 – where an average of over 11,000 incidents were reported as complaint numbers trended down from 7.5 reports per 1000 beds to 5.6 reports per 1000 beds.

By any measure, there are many cases of elder abuse that happen each year. All too often, family members see warning signs – but investigating these issues can be tough. It takes someone to really stay involved and witness any abuse or negligence that is going on.

Types of Elder Abuse

In the NORS report, physical abuse was cited as the most common type of elder abuse constituting 28% of all reported complaints. However, physical abuse is not the only type of elder abuse that families have to look out for when trying to protect an elderly family member. Financial elder abuse is also rampant in nursing homes and other settings. Also, nursing home abuse lawyers see tragic cases of sexual elder abuse as well. Some of these extreme events make the news, but there’s not enough awareness in general of how often this tragic type of abuse happens.

All of these facts and statistics show that elder abuse is a real problem. It’s not something to be swept under the rug or pushed aside. It’s an issue that families care deeply about.

In Jacksonville, Florida, the law office of Steve Watrel helps clients to sit down and understand any concerns that they have about a family member’s care in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility. As a trusted local nursing home abuse lawyer, Steve Watrel fights tirelessly for his clients’ rights and helps families to pursue just and equitable results. Talk to this professional office about what you’re facing, and how your family member is doing in a nursing home setting.

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Need Help? Contact Steve.

Steve Watrel, P.A. is the only accident and injury law attorney that has been personally fighting against nursing home abuse for 30 years in Jacksonville. Contact us and see the difference today.

136 East Bay St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
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