Heber Springs Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Statistics & Facts About Nursing Home Abuse

Over 1.4 million people aged 65 and older are currently in nursing home facilities.

However, due to mental or physical incapacity, many of the elderly population are at a high risk of being abused or neglected.

Abuse in nursing homes has a devastating impact on the lives of thousands of people annually.

According to the nursing home ombudsman, there were around 15,000 reports of neglect or abuse in 2020.

According to a report published in 2018 by the National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC), nursing home residents are at risk for abuse at the hands of both personnel and other elderly residents.

Here is how the NCVC categorizes reports of abuse in nursing homes:

• Physical abuse: 29%
• Resident-on-resident abuse: 22%
• Psychological abuse: 21%
• Gross neglect: 14%
• Sexual abuse: 7%
• Financial exploitation: 7%

Abuse in nursing homes is a subset of a much bigger issue.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) estimates that as many as 5 million senior citizens are abuse victims each year.

However, not all instances of abuse in nursing homes are reported, and experts are still working to pin down exact numbers.

This is made even more complicated by the fact that some elderly adults may not want to share their experiences or may not be able to.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Heber Springs nursing home abuse occurs when elderly patients suffer from deliberate or negligent actions taken by caregivers.

Types of nursing home abuse include:

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is any form of ill-treatment by a nursing home worker that causes personal injury, pain, or disability.

However, abuse can occur without the victim experiencing any obvious or significant discomfort.

Malnourishment and dehydration, for example, are subtle indicators of physical abuse that can go unrecognized.

Neglect

Most cases of neglect occur unintentionally because of a lack of staff.

When basic necessities like personal hygiene, water, and food are overlooked, this can be considered neglect.

This can lead to various health problems, including malnutrition, dehydration, skin infections, and bed sores.

Emotional Abuse

Also called psychological harm, emotional abuse is when nursing home employees intentionally cause mental anguish or stress by doing things that aren’t physically harmful.

However, it’s crucial to remember that the effects of emotional abuse aren’t always obvious.

Thus, it might be difficult to spot signs. As a result, emotional abuse has become a widespread problem in nursing home facilities.

Sexual Abuse

When a nursing home resident is sexually abused, they are deliberately violated in a sexual way without consent.

Sexual abuse comes in many forms and can be perpetrated by anybody, including employees, residents, or visitors.

Some forms, such as harassment, may be more difficult to recognize than others, like penetration or groping.

This includes any form of sexual contact with a resident who can’t communicate or has cognitive impairments, such as a dementia patient.

Financial Abuse

Nursing home financial abuse occurs when a resident is manipulated or exploited for economic benefit.

When a resident’s property, assets, or money are used in a way that is not in their best interests, this is considered abuse.

In addition, abusers sometimes capitalize on a vulnerable person’s lack of financial savvy.

This kind of deception may require a large group of people to pull off inside and outside the organization.

Abandonment

Abandonment happens when a person responsible for caring for an older person or who has primary custody leaves them behind.

Some examples of nursing home abandonment include the following:

• Leaving a resident unattended for an excessive amount of time in a public
• Not regularly checking in on the residents
• Ignoring or failing to respond to resident calls

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

In some cases, Heber Springs nursing home residents report abuse to their family and friends.

However, some residents of Arkansas nursing homes might not be able to tell anybody about the abuse they’ve suffered at the hands of employees.

Signs of elder abuse can be seen in the following list.

Mood Swings and Other Behavioral Changes

Depression, disorientation, agitation, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, and isolation are all symptoms of Heber Springs nursing home abuse, as noted by the National Institute on Aging.

Extreme Weight Loss and Malnourishment

Family and friends visiting a resident in a Heber Springs nursing home may discover that their loved one has lost some weight, although there seem to be no changes in food or activity level.

The resident might not have been getting enough meals or the right kind of food at the nursing home, both of which are indicators of neglect.

Unsanitary Environments

When you visit a nursing home, take note of whether the residents appear to have recently showered.

Examine the residents’ clothing and living conditions to see if they are clean.

If not, the National Institute on Aging suggests that nursing home abuse may be the problem.

Infections and Injuries

Does your senior family member have a lot of mysterious bruises?

Do they seem to be suffering from infections that can be readily treated or avoided?

These may indicate elderly abuse in a nursing facility.

Sudden Adjustments to Medications and Dosages

When visiting a loved one in a Heber Springs nursing home, it’s common to find that the resident’s medications have been changed without the family’s knowledge or consent.

Abuse in a nursing home might include situations like this.

Historic Settlements in Cases Involving Nursing Home Abuse

While the average compensation for a lawsuit against nursing home abuse is around $406,000, the amount awarded might vary widely depending on the circumstances of the case.

Noteworthy examples of nursing home settlements include:

• $1.5 million for neglect: A nursing home in Illinois paid $1.5 million to an 84-year-old patient who took legal action against the facility for negligence. She suffered severe burns because the personnel at the nursing home had put her in excessively hot bathwater.
• $1.2 million for neglect and elder abuse: After two staff members were captured on video assaulting and trying to smother a 96-year-old nursing home resident, the family received $1.2 million in compensation.
• $346,000 for neglect and elder abuse: A man at a nursing home developed life-threatening bedsores because he wasn’t given the attention he needed. Through a nursing home abuse lawsuit, his wife received a settlement of $346,000.

Resources for Victims of Nursing Home Abuse

There are nationwide programs to ensure the safety of senior citizens in nursing homes.

Read on for links to resources and organizations that help prevent elder abuse:

• Arkansas Adult Protective Services
• Arkansas Long-term care ombudsman
• Medicare’s Care Compare tool
• Arkansas Division of Aging and Adult Services
• Arkansas Office of Attorney General
• National Council on Aging

Resources for Family Members and Friends of Nursing Home Abuse Victims

The families and friends of Heber Springs nursing home abuse victims can reach the following for assistance:

• Nursing home abuse attorneys
• Local police or law enforcement
• Long-term care ombudsmen
• Medical professionals

Why People Should Hire a Heber Springs Nursing Home Abuse Attorney for Their Nursing Home Abuse Case

In most cases, corporations that own care facilities, such as nursing homes, will do anything to prevent their residents from proving neglect and abuse to avoid financial responsibility.

They have the resources, the nursing home abuse attorneys, and the insurance companies to drag out the process and make it so you give up.

That’s why you’ll need the help of experienced nursing home abuse lawyers from The Keith Law Group.

We’re familiar with their methods and we’ve already won similar cases.

If you’re not a lawyer, navigating the legal system can be challenging.

You can make the legal process much easier if you talk to a knowledgeable nursing home abuse lawyer.

Contact us today for a free consultation.