With a focus on increasing social support, education, and guidelines for the sufficient care of the consistently growing number of elderly residents, the National Center on Elder Abuse has identified gaps in the reporting frequency from nursing homes in Las Vegas, NV and throughout the United States, indicated that only 20% of neglect, exploitation, and abuse cases are reported.
The last available figures listed 1.4 million people living in nursing homes, and over 835,000 receiving long-term care in a licensed facility. In Clark County, Nevada there are more than 50 elder-care facilities in operation whose residents’ families share the same concerns as the rest of the nation when it comes to abuse statistics.
According to the National Ombudsman Reporting System, the last available statistics reported that in a single year:
- 7.6% of their nearly 189,000 nationwide complaints involved exploitation, gross neglect, or abuse of an elderly person
- The State of Nevada reported 1,233 the same variation of complaints to the agency
What’s more is that the U.S. General Accountability Office found that state surveys understate problems that occur in licensed facilities, including:
- 70% miss at least one deficiency in their nursing home or long-term care facility’s operations
- 15% missed the actual harm or immediate jeopardy a nursing home or long-term care facility resident is subjected to
Common Types of Elder Abuse: Know the Signs
Knowing the signs of nursing home abuse can help family members, and legal representatives intervene swiftly to avoid further disruptions in care for not just loved ones, but anyone who is living in the facility where the abuse is taking place.
Distinct types of abuse can include:
- Physical abuse, including unexplained:
- Bruises
- Scratches
- Broken bones
- Psychological, verbal abuse, or sexual abuse, which could manifest in:
- Withdrawing from visitors
- Depression
- Appearing frightened of staff members or other patients
- Self-neglect
- Financial exploitation, including:
- Missing medication or increased refills of narcotics
- Unexplained medical charges
- Missing cash or private property
- Unexplained use of bank account funds, debit, or credit cards
- Neglect
- Dehydration
- Weight loss
- Bed sores
- Unkempt appearance
- Dirty clothing or bed sheets
The Centers for Disease Control and their Data from the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers outlines the research of elder abuse in nursing homes and the absence of proper reporting methods.
Their research found that:
- 7% to 10% percent of the elderly suffered from at least one episode of abuse within the past year
- Only one in 25 cases of financial exploitationare reported
If you are one of the millions of Americans whose loved one is living in a nursing home or long-term care facility and believe that they are being mistreated in any capacity, act today. Their safety and that of the other residents could depend on it.
Contact the Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys at Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen Today
As the aging community in Las Vegas, NV continues to grow, so do their family’s concerns about their loved ones receiving proper care. If you have questions about nursing home abuse, and what it means to your family, contact our accomplished Las Vegas Nursing Home Abuse attorneys today at (702) 505-8115 for a free consultation. Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen have the answers you need to make an informed decision regarding your legal options.