Types of Elder Abuse & Neglect

Abuse and neglect can take many forms, but some of the most common types of injuries abused nursing home residents suffer from are:

• Bedsores
• Broken bones
• Choking
• Dehydration
• Elopement
• Falls
• Infections and sepsis
• Malnutrition
• Medication errors
• Wrongful death

If you believe your elderly loved one has been injured or killed due to another party’s negligence, it is imperative you reach out to an experienced elder abuse and neglect attorney in your area to learn about your legal rights and options. You may be able to file a claim for damages if you or your loved one have suffered due to nursing home abuse.

What Is Elder Abuse?

According to the State of Illinois, “Elder abuse is any knowing, intended, or careless act that causes harm or serious risk of harm to an older person— physically, mentally, emotionally, or financially.”

Elder abuse often occurs in nursing homes and may fall into one or more of the following categories:

• Neglect
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Verbal abuse

How Common is Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect?

Sadly, nursing home neglect and abuse is a major problem in the United States. Whether intentional or not, neglecting or abusing a person in elder care can have major effects on the victim’s health and wellbeing.

According to Nursing Home Abuse Justice:

• Up to 1 in 3 elderly people in the United States have been victims of nursing home abuse
• Surveys show that 2 in 3 nursing home staff members claimed they had abused or neglected residents
• As many as 85% of assisted living facilities reported at least one case of abuse or neglect in 2012
• An estimated 97% of nursing home abuse cases across five U.S. states were not reported to local law enforcement as required in the year 2019

What makes these numbers even more shocking is that countless cases of nursing home abuse and neglect go unreported. Victims of abuse may be too scared or embarrassed to admit that they are victims; in some cases, victims aren’t even aware they are being abused due to diminishing cognitive abilities and other factors. Therefore, it is estimated by experts that there are far more cases of neglect and abuse that are never reported to the proper authorities.