Practice Areas

Blog

Nursing Home Neglect

North Carolina Trucker Suffered Fatal Heart Attack Before Crash...
Posted on 1/31/2012
Fog the Likely Cause of Fatal North Carolina Crash on I-85...
Posted on 1/31/2012
NC Workers’ Compensation Benefits Awarded after Painkiller Death...
Posted on 1/30/2012
North Carolina Shuts Down Wake Forest Nursing Home after Deaths...
Posted on 1/30/2012
North Carolina Cyclist Teen Fatally Struck by Sleepy Truck Driver...
Posted on 1/28/2012

Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

Our elderly loved ones deserve to be treated with respect and care. Unfortunately, nursing homes are addled by aid shortages, negligent staff, and instances of shocking physical, sexual, and financial abuse. In fact, nursing home abuse and adult care neglect are more common that you might think - and the majority of infractions are never discovered or reported.

Here are some current nursing home abuse statistics:
· 1 out of 3 nursing homes across the country have been cited for nursing home abuse and other related infractions.
· 11% of nursing homes have been cited for unnecessary dispensing of prescription drugs.
· 1/4 of the aides prosecuted for abusing patients have previous criminal records and 5% of nursing home aides across the nation have criminal records.
· There are over 42,000 nursing home beds in North Carolina and an estimated 37,000 nursing home residents in North Carolina.
· 32 % of North Carolinians over 80 are nursing home residents.
· 1 to 2 million Americans over 65 have been abused, neglected or mistreated by their primary caregiver.
· 1 in 10 people over 65 will spend some of their lives in a adult care facility or nursing home.
· An estimated 50% of nursing home patients suffer from untreated pain.
· In 1999, 5,000 death certificates of nursing home patients listed dehydration, malnutrition, starvation, or bedsores as the cause of death.
· CNN reports that just over 90% of nursing home facilities are understaffed. These staff shortages lead to increased instances of health problems, neglect, and abuse.
· Only 16% of elder abuse cases are ever reported, according to the National Elder Abuse Incident Study.
· 20% of reported elder abuse cases involve emotional abuse.
· 16% involve physical abuse.
· 3% involve sexual abuse.
· 12% involve caretaker neglect.