Nursing Home Abuse Negligence Lawsuits. We need only look at nursing homes abuse statistics to understand how widespread and serious a problem nursing home negligence is in the United States. It is known, for example, that every year, 2.1 million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological, or other forms of nursing homes abuse. For every case of nursing home injury reported to authorities, experts estimate that there may be as many as five cases not reported.
It is easy to become overwhelmed when confronted by such grim nursing homes abuse statistics. Our nursing home injury lawyers understand that these numbers represent real people who have been denied their right to live a life free of abuse and negligence. That’s why we have made it our mission to protect the rights of nursing home injury victims.
Shocking Nursing Home Negligence Statistics
One-quarter of the aides prosecuted for nursing home injury have previous criminal records and five percent of nursing home aides across the nation have criminal records.
In 1999, 5,000 death certificates of nursing home patients listed dehydration, malnutrition, starvation, or bedsores as the cause of death. These problems are red flags for nursing home negligence.
According to a recent CNN report, just over 90 percent of nursing home facilities are understaffed. Staffing shortages create an environment that is ripe for nursing home negligence and nursing home injury.
Eleven percent of nursing homes have been cited for unnecessary dispensing of prescription drugs. This is up from two percent in 1992. According to one recent study, 44 percent of nursing home residents have suffered some form of physical abuse. Forty-eight percent reported having been treated or handled roughly, while 38 percent reported having witnessed the nursing home injury inflicted on others.
Roughly 30 percent of long-term care staff had witnessed some form of nursing home negligence in the previous year. Eighty-one percent reported having seen some form of verbal, physical, or other form of nursing homes abuse over this same time period. An astonishing 40 percent admit to committing acts of nursing homes abuse at least once over the previous year.
Need Legal Help Regarding Nursing Home Abuse?
These nursing home injury statistics are alarming, but there is hope. We can end the epidemic of nursing home injury and nursing home negligence by insisting that those who inflict this crime on our elderly are held accountable. If someone you care for has been victimized in this way, our nursing home injury lawyers will make sure your loved receives the compensation and care they deserve or call us at 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).