Nursing Home Abuse

Senior citizens are America’s fastest growing population segment.  It is estimated that over 38 million Americans are 55 years and older, with over 1.5 million living in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. 

Too often, many of these nursing home residents fall victim to elder abuse.  Elder abuse can be described as doing or failing to do something which results in harm or the risk of harm to a vulnerable adult.  According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, the major types of elder abuse include:

• Physical Abuse - Use of force to threaten or physically injure a vulnerable elder.  Warning signs include slap marks, unexplained bruises, most pressure marks, and certain types of burns or blisters like cigarette burns.
  
  
• Sexual Abuse - Sexual contact which is forced, tricked, threatened, or otherwise coerced upon a vulnerable elder, including anyone who is unable to grant consent.  Warning signs include bruises around the breasts or genital area and unexplained, sexually transmitted diseases.
  
  
• Emotional or psychological abuse - Verbal attacks, threats, rejection, isolation or belittling acts that cause or could cause mental anguish, pain or distress to a senior.  Warning signs include withdrawal from normal activities, unexplained changes in alertness and/or other unusual behavioral changes.
  
  
• Neglect - A caregiver’s failure or refusal to provide for a vulnerable elder’s safety, physical or emotional needs.  Warning signs include bed sores (decubitus ulcers), filth, lack of medical care, malnutrition and/or dehydration.
  
  
• Abandonment - Desertion of a frail or vulnerable elder by anyone with a duty of care.
  
  
• Exploitation - Theft, fraud, misuse or neglect of authority, and use of undue influence as a means to gain control over an older person’s money or property.  Warning signs include sudden change in finances and accounts, altered wills and trusts, unusual bank withdrawals, checks written as “loans” or “gifts,” and loss of property.
  
  
• Self neglect - An inability to understand the consequences of one’s own actions or inaction which lead, or may lead, to harm or endangerment.'

Our elders deserve to be treated with compassion, respect and integrity. Elder abuse is never excusable or toleratable in any form. If you or a family member is the victim of elder abuse, please contact the Law Offices of Stuart A. Kritzer, P.C. immediately for a no obligation consultation.