As Our Population Ages, Elderly Abuse is on the Rise
Baby boomers are coming of age and reaping the benefits of modern medicine to live longer than any previous generation. As our life expectancy increases, an ever-increasing proportion of our society is joining the ranks of the elderly, and more and more families are faced with decisions about the care of their aging members. The old model of providing care for the elderly at home has become less practical, as most adults work outside the home and are not available to care for aging parents. The best available option for elderly care is often an assisted living facility or a nursing home. When elderly people are in a situation where they must rely on others for their basic needs, without the daily vigilance of family members, they sometimes find themselves at the mercy of caregivers who really don’t care—or in the worst cases, may go beyond being neglectful to becoming actively abusive.
A study by the National Center on Elder Abuse in the United States found that 50 percent of all nursing homes are understaffed, and some kind of patient abuse is going on in at least 30 percent of all nursing homes and care-giving facilities. Worse, these figures probably represent only the tip of the iceberg. Research shows that only 20 percent of all instances of abuse even get reported; the majority aren’t even included in the statistics!
Abuse in nursing homes and assisted living homes is not only at the hands of staff; other residents may be the source of the abuse as well. Abuse can take a number of different forms: neglect that leads to bedsores, ulcers, or malnutrition; overmedication; physical abuse; sexual abuse; emotional abuse; and financial abuse are all types of elder abuse that sometimes occur in these facilities.
Institutionalized care of the elderly is likely to continue growing at a steady pace. It is essential that abuse of our older citizens be stopped. On the front line in the battle against those who would harm people who are too old and frail to fight back are the Phoenix, Arizona elderly abuse attorneys at Wattel and York.
If you or someone you love has been subjected to neglect, abuse, or maltreatment of any kind in a nursing home or assisted living facility in Phoenix or anywhere in Arizona, your best option is to arrange a free consultation with Wattel and York. We are passionately committed to the well-being of the senior members of our community and will fight for their right to live out their last years in peace, comfort, and safety.
Give us a call today to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation and case evaluation. We understand that it may be difficult for you to get to our office, and on of our elder abuse attorneys will be happy to meet with you at your residence.
