Elder abuse, as our Baltimore nursing home abuse attorneys have reported in a related Maryland elder abuse blog, is a term used to refer to any treatment by nursing home staff, a health care provider, or any other person that is negligent, intentionally causing harm or a great risk of harm to an elderly adult who is vulnerable.
According to the NCEA, research indicates that more than one in ten elders experience abuse, with only one in five reported every year. The White House reports that every year approximately 700,000 to 3.5 million elderly Americans are abused, exploited and neglected. Studies show that elders are often abused by the very people that they trust the most, like spouses, family members, personal acquaintances or professionals in a position of trust.
According to the NCEA and the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (NCCNHR), types of elder abuse include physical, emotional, verbal, mental, psychological, and sexual abuse, as wall as exploitation, neglect, abandonment, or intimidation.
Elder abuse can happen anywhere, in nursing homes, healthcare facilities or in the community, and is a problem that remains to be under recognized, causing elders to experience consequences that can lead to personal injury or even wrongful death.
All 50 states across the country have laws prohibiting elder abuse, and nursing home abuse, and according to the national Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987, nursing homes residents by law should receive quality care and attention that is free from abuse, negligence, and criminal acts. Nursing homes are also required by federal law to have regular monitoring and intervention strategies to maintain the safety and protection of residents at all times—in an environment that is free from neglect and abuse.
If you are worried that a Maryland resident or loved one is experiencing elder abuse in a Maryland nursing home facility, contact Lebowitz and Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers today, so our nursing home abuse attorneys can advise you about the rights of elders.
Abuse & Neglect Consumer Fact Sheet, The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, NCCNHR
What is Abuse: Why Should I Care About Elder Abuse?, National Center on Elder Abuse, NCEA
What is Elder Abuse?, Department of Health & Human Services: Administration on Aging
Related Web Resources:
Frequently Asked Questions, National Center on Elder Abuse, NCEA
Honoring the Global Effort to End Elder Abuse, The White House Administration Press Release: Council on Women and Girls, June 15, 2010
International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Related Blog Posts:
Children of Hollywood Actor Gene Barry Sue Nursing Home for Elder Abuse and Negligence, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, December 15, 2010
White House Honors Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, June 17, 2010
Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, October 12, 2009