Essential Statistics on Elderly Abuse in Nursing Homes
Discover key statistics on elderly abuse in nursing homes. Click. here to learn more and protect your loved ones in Oklahoma today!
According to Caring.com, over 17,200 older adults in Oklahoma live in one of the state’s 200+ nursing homes. Such senior care facilities promise to provide residents with compassionate care and round-the-clock supervision.
Most nursing homes uphold their promises and high-quality standards of care. Unfortunately, not all do. Instead, they commit offenses against their vulnerable older residents.
To that end, the legal experts at BDIW, Boettcher, Devinney, Ingle & Wicker, put together this guide exploring statistics on elderly abuse. Read on to discover key facts and figures about this matter and what to do if you suspect nursing home neglect or abuse.
Key Statistics on Elderly Abuse
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), one in ten American adults aged 60 and older experienced some form of abuse in the prior year.
On a state-wide level, Oklahoma may not be faring any better. The Oklahoma Ombudsman Program, the state’s long-term care advocacy program helping and serving residents of long-term care communities and nursing homes, has received thousands of complaints regarding these facilities. For example, an October 2023 article published by KOSU.org reported that the program received the following complaints during the 2022 fiscal year:
- 3,068 total complaints
- 798 complaints about the quality of care provided by long-term care facilities
- 672 complaints regarding residents’ rights or autonomy choices
- 476 complaints of abuse, exploitation, and neglect
- 192 complaints regarding the facilities’ environment
The above statistics are already concerning, but what’s even more disturbing is that they could only be a fraction of actual elderly abuse cases. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs explains that reports filed only account for one in 14 cases. The rest go unreported, meaning far more older adults could be suffering from abuse.
Our Team Is Here To Assist You Every Step Of The Way.
SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYTypes of Elderly Abuse
While anyone can experience abuse, older adults are prime targets because they depend on others and may have disabilities, such as memory problems or cognitive impairment, that abusers tend to exploit. And when abusers mistreat older adults, they can use various ways to perpetrate their crimes.
Here are some of the most common forms of elderly abuse that you, as a loving family member, should be aware of.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse occurs when a person causes another bodily harm. In nursing homes, it can happen when a facility personnel, such as a nurse or caregiver, does the following to a senior resident:
- Slapping
- Hitting
- Pushing
Restraining residents against their will can also constitute a nursing home abuse case. An example is if a facility’s staff locks an older adult in their rooms. The personnel may even go as far as to tie or handcuff them to furniture!
Emotional Abuse
Elderly emotional abuse, also called psychological abuse, often occurs when someone threatens an older adult’s emotional well-being by doing something that undermines their self-worth and dignity. Such acts may include attempts to:
- Dehumanize
- Intimidate
- Demoralize
An example of emotional abuse is when a nursing home staff member repeatedly yells and hurls hurtful words at an older adult. Another is if they intentionally ignore older residents.
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse is when someone steals from an older adult or misuses their money. There are many ways nursing home staff can commit this crime, including:
- Forging checks
- Taking an older adult’s Social Security or retirement benefits and using them for personal gain
- Accessing and withdrawing from residents’ bank accounts without permission
In many other cases, nursing home personnel may physically steal the money or valuables of their older residents. For example, they may take cash from an older adult’s wallet or pilfer and sell their jewelry.
Neglect and Abandonment
Neglect is when nursing home staff deliberately ignores their residents’ needs. They may commit this by:
- Not attending to an older adult’s physical, emotional, and social needs
- Failing to assist residents with medication management
- Withholding food and access to healthcare
On the other hand, abandonment is when nursing home staff leaves residents without making prior arrangements to ensure someone else can look after them and address their needs.
Protecting Seniors’ Rights: Beware Elderly Abuse Symptoms
If you have an older loved one living in an Oklahoma nursing home, pay careful attention to their physical and emotional health. Look for the following elderly abuse signs and symptoms:
- Unexplained bedsores, bruises, burns, cuts, pressure marks, and scars
- Rocking back and forth, which could indicate psychological trauma
- Agitation, irritability, violent tendencies, or acting withdrawn
- Poor hygiene, such as unwashed hair, uncut nails, body odor, bad breath, and dirty clothes
- Unclean, unsanitary, smelly, or hazardous living conditions
- Sudden and unexplainable financial losses or bills
Act quickly as soon as you notice your loved one exhibiting one or more of the symptoms above.
Steps to Take if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
Please call 911 if you believe your loved one living in a nursing home is in urgent danger. If not, but you suspect they’re experiencing abuse, file an official report. Email the Oklahoma Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at ombudsman.intake.line@ltco.ok.gov.
You should also consider seeking nursing home abuse and elder care legal advice. Legal professionals in Oklahoma can help you file a complaint or even bring a lawsuit against the nursing home. They will:
- Investigate the elder care facility on your behalf
- Determine all the parties involved in the abuse
- Gather compelling evidence
- Build a solid case against the perpetrators
- File the lawsuit
- Litigate the case
With a highly experienced elder abuse attorney on your side, you can protect your older loved one and put a stop to the abuser’s crimes.
Consult With BDIW Today
Now that you know more about the shocking statistics on elderly abuse, you should be more cautious, especially if you have an older loved one living in a long-term care facility. If you suspect your older loved one is suffering from abuse, please report the nursing home immediately to the authorities. Then, contact our law firm in Oklahoma, BDIW, Boettcher, Devinney, Ingle & Wicker.
At BDIW, our veteran attorneys have decades of experience handling nursing home abuse cases. They’ve successfully settled and litigated thousands upon thousands of personal injury lawsuits. Rest assured that if you partner with us, we’ll strive to protect your older loved one’s rights and do our best to achieve the best possible outcome.
Get in touch today for your complimentary, non-obligatory consultation.
