How Common is Nursing Home Neglect?

How Common is Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse?

In 2003, the National Research Council link to  estimated that 1 to 2 million Americans 65 and older were “injured, exploited or otherwise mistreated” by a caretaker. The Government Accountability Office (the investigative arm of Congress) released data that showed more than 300,000 nursing home residents live in facilities where they are at “great risk of harm due to woefully deficient care.”

In 2006, a report issued by the University of Kentucky on behalf of the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse revealed that, in one year alone, adult protective services investigated 461,135 reports of neglect and abuse, and substantiated 191,908 of them.  Of these cases, 26.1 percent were from caregiver neglect.

Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the preventable conditions of malnutrition, dehydration, and infected bedsores were the combined cause of nearly 14,000 deaths in nursing home patients between 1999 and 2002. This figure is likely low since the government relies heavily on nursing home to self-report such incidents.

Why is The Issue of Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse So Important?

With more than 2.5 million American elders and disabled adults live in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other care settings, this problem can affect large numbers of people, including your loved ones.

Nursing homes are not just for long-term care anymore. Many people go to nursing homes for short-time rehabilitation after hospitalization for illness or surgery.

What Can I Do if My Rights or the Rights of a Family Member Have Been Violated?

• If you suspect abuse or neglect, call 911 or your local police.
• For persons who are NOT in a facility, call Adult Protective Services 1-866-ENDHARM.
• For persons in a long-term care facility, call the Washington State Ombudsman 1-800-562-6028 or the DSHS complaint hotline 1-800-562-6078.