According to the findings of the National Center or Elder Abuse (NCEA) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), instances of nursing home abuse and neglect occur at an alarming rate across the country. Approximately 5,961,568 cases of elder abuse were reported in 2010 alone – accounting for a shocking 9.5% of the elderly population in the United States. One of the reasons that this form of abuse is so common is because nursing home facilities continue to employ under-qualified caretakers, while concurrently operating with an insufficient amount of staff members. In fact, it has been reported that nearly 91% of all nursing homes in the U.S. lack an adequate staff. This means that the residents of these facilities will not only be deprived of the level of care that they deserve, but they may even be subjected to acts of physical abuse.
Unfortunately, elder abuse is a growing problem in the United States – including St. Paul, Minnesota. Most people would never think to question the type of treatment that their loved ones are receiving in a nursing home, as it is often just assumed that they will be provided with a reasonable level of care, but it is important to understand that instances of abuse are more common that you would think.
Each form of abuse can have lasting ramifications on the victim – including the development of psychological trauma and permanent physical injuries – so it is important to call attention to this very prevalent issue. If you suspect that a loved one is being mistreated while under the care of a nursing home facility or an in-home caretaker, you should not hesitate to take action. By contacting a St. Paul personal injury lawyer from Rob Roe Law, LLC, you can figure out what steps to take in the interest of protecting your loved one's rights.
Many times, elderly victims are forced to suffer through several instances of abuse before anything is done to stop it. This may be due to the fact that some victims are embarrassed or ashamed, physically incapable of communicating or fearful of the potential backlash. For this reason, it is important for the families of these victims to be able to recognize the warning signs. By remaining actively aware, they may be able to stop the abuse before it causes irreparable damage. Some of the most obvious red flags include any unexplained bruises, broken bones, lacerations or marks – as this may be an indication that the victim has been physically or sexually abused. Although emotional trauma can be more difficult to detect, signs of fear, depression, weight loss or irrational self-consciousness should not be ignored.
If your loved one has become the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, you should not hesitate to get in touch with our firm today. Recovering compensation may be necessary to their physical and emotional recovery, so it is highly recommended that you involve a St. Paul personal injury lawyer as early on as possible.
To learn how Rob Roe Law, LLC can assist you with your case, contact our dedicated legal team today at (888) 492-9614 or submit a free case evaluation form online.