July Library Items: A Focus on Nursing Home Abuse in North Carolina

Elder abuse and neglect is one of the saddest, most unfortunate, and most deplorable type of abuse that attorneys come into contact with. But although issues such as nursing home abuse are difficult to discuss, it is vital that we openly confront these issues across long-term adult care facilities across North Carolina. By understanding and reporting instances of nursing home abuse, we will be better able to stop such horrid occurrences and make adult care facilities safer for our loved ones.

The 2004 Survey of Adult Protective Services reported some sobering numbers regarding elder abuse, not just for North Carolina, but for the entire country:

• There were a total of 565,747 cases of elder abuse and neglect in 2004 - roughly a 19 percent increase from the last survey conducted in 2000.
• Roughly 24 percent of the neglect cases stemmed from caregiver neglect, while another 21 percent of cases dealt with financial exploitation.
• 67 percent of neglected or abused elders were female.

Because of these shocking numbers, we have decided to focus our new July document library items on how to look for signs of nursing home physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect.  According to the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation, there have been hundreds of adult care facility violations in North Carolina in the last two years - ranging from small issues with staff qualifications to the completely avoidable deaths of nursing home residents due to negligence, abuse, or neglect.

If you have a relative in a nursing home, long-term care facility, or adult care home, take a moment to go over the three lists of warning signs we have complied and become familiar with the red flags of abuse and neglect. It is always a difficult choice to place a loved one in professional assisted living - make sure they are getting the care and attention all people deserve. If you think that your loved one is being abused and neglected, please seek help immediately.

Learn the signs of elder abuse and neglect:

• Warning signs of physical nursing home abuse
• Warning signs of sexual nursing home abuse
• Warning signs of nursing home neglect