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| Cause
of Rising Elder Abuse |
Perhaps
the single most important reason for the
rise in elder abuse and negligent care is
due to the growing number of senior citizens
in this country. One indication of the rising
numbers is evidenced in the recent debates
over issues such as Medicare and Medicaid,
social security, and prescription drug prices.
| Evolution
of Elder Abuse Law |
As
the incidence of elder abuse increased over
the last 15 years, there was a response
from the legal community to safeguard our
older citizens. Back in 1987, as the number
of reported cases of negligent care and
elder abuse was skyrocketing, the Federal
Government enacted certain Amendments to
the Older Americans Act.
| Institutional
Elder Abuse |
We
will focus on institutional eler dabuse,
which is abuse suffered by residents of
a nursing home or other assisted living
facility. This can include, but is not necessarily
limited to, elder abuse in nursing homes,
foster homes, group homes, board and care
facilities.
| Perpetrators
of Institutional Elder Abuse |
Institutional
elder abuse (abuse that occurs in nursing
homes) can come in many forms and can involve
many factors on both the part of the perpetrator
and the victim. Often times, elder abuse
cases can involve a whole host of factors:
psychological, mental, physical, social,
sexual and economic on both the part of
the nursing home staff and the elder abuse
victim.
If
you would like to contact an Elder Abuse
Attorney, Click Here to CONTACT US. |
One of the most important decisions you
can make for an aging loved one or spouse
is selecting the right nursing home for
them. This decision is not always easy given
the many factors that go into the decision – quality
of care, financial
requirements, quality of facilities,
location,
among others. It is often an emotionally
charged decision that unfortunately, is
all too often made without taking the proper
amount of time to select the right nursing
home.
The
following is a list of some of the main
criteria that will help you eliminate certain
nursing homes and help you choose a nursing
home that is right for your loved ones:
To read a summary of rights as outlined
in the Federal Nursing Home Reform Law that
was part of the 1987 Social Security Act,
click here.
This law was enacted in order to "promote
and protect the rights of each resident."
One of the best gifts you can give to an
older loved one is protection from possible
elder abuse, neglect, and mistreatment at
the hands of a caregiver or nursing home
staff. At the heart of prevention lies your
choice in the facility to place your loved
one in.
| Elder
Abuse Prevention Steps |
| Monitor
to make sure the nursing home follows
its personalized health and care plans
for your loved one. |
| If
You Fear Elder Abuse
Has Occurred |
| As
soon as you fear an elder abuse injury
has occurred, begin collecting as many
facts about the case as you are able. |
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