As the population of America continues to age, more and more elderly Americans are living in nursing homes. As this number rises, so does the incidence of nursing home abuse, neglect, and exploitation. We don’t want this to be an unspoken problem. Our nursing home abuse lawyers in Joliet want to emphasize the importance of understanding elder abuse and responding to it.
What is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse is the infliction of physical, sexual, emotional, or financial harm on an older adult. According to the CDC, 1 in every 10 people, ages 60 and older, have experienced some sort of abuse. In many financial exploitation cases, it occurs without the elderly persons’ immediate knowledge.
Nursing Homes
Although there are over 1.4 million nursing home residents, statistics on elder abuse in nursing homes are often deficient. Many elderly residents in these facilities aren’t able to effectively explain their situations due to physical or mental incapacities. Others may fear the response of nursing home staff members if they report incidents of abuse or neglect. If you suspect your loved one is a victim of abuse, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our nursing home abuse lawyers in Joliet.
Preventing Nursing Home Abuse
The best thing to do is carefully research any care facility before admitting a family member there. A higher quality nursing home will have adequate staffing levels, monitoring systems in place, training programs on abuse, and an emphasis on community building for the residents.
Our attorneys at Block Law can help recognize the signs of abuse and explain what to watch for when your loved ones are living in an elder care facility. Contact a nursing home abuse lawyer in Joliet today for a free case evaluation.
CDC Abuse
