Advances in medical knowledge about nutrition general health care mean that the lifespan for an American living in West Virginia is now the longest it has ever been. This good news means that it is realistic to anticipate that people can live into their 70s, 80s or even longer. But this good news is not necessarily unalloyed. Those who make it to old age may reach a point when they can no longer adequately care for themselves and need to be placed in an assisted living facility. And sometimes this can lead to dangerous, even deadly consequences if neglect or physical abuse is taking place there.
If you believe that a loved one of yours is being neglected or abused in a nursing home, you should not hesitate to consult with a personal injury law firm that is experienced in nursing home neglect matters to see if any legal remedies are available to you or to your elderly relative.
How serious is the problem of elder abuse in nursing homes? The available information suggests that the problem is worse that many of us would like to believe:
- One study has indicated that more than 40% of nursing home residents have reported being abused. It also suggests that more than 90 percent of residents have been neglected, or have seen someone else being neglected.
- Another study has concluded that even when state governments monitor licensed nursing home facilities, too often they fail to catch institutional shortcomings as well as instances of nursing home injury.
The physical and emotional consequences to nursing home residents who are being abused or neglected by those who are supposed to be caring for them can be extremely serious. Residents who suffer abuse are three times more likely to die compared to residents who have not experienced mistreatment.
