Nursing Home Abuse

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Nursing Home Abuse

As the healthcare system in this country has changed, so have traditional nursing homes. Families have the right to expect that their loved ones will be taken care of by professionals in a caring environment. Unfortunately, may people are being abused and neglected in nursing homes. It is very clear that abuse is a serious problem among nursing home patients, and something needs to be done to put a stop to it.

Abuse can happen to anyone, but elderly adults residing in nursing homes are more vulnerable and have a higher risk for abuse (Rasansky Law Firm, 2006, para. 1). Elders are among the fastest growing in the population, and because of this many more elderly Americans are becoming residents in nursing homes than ever before. There are several different kinds of abuse: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and abandonment. In a recent article, USA Today estimated that half of nursing home residents are not being treated properly for their pain" (Thomson, 2006). There are some diseases that cannot always be treated or prevented, but negligence and abuse can always be prevented. "The causes of negligence are often a result of unqualified staff, employees with a history of violence, inadequate staffing, resident isolation and residents who are reluctant to report abuse in fear of embarrassment and retribution" (Thomson, 2006). Most injuries are often due to bedsores, dehydration, malnutrition, overuse of sedatives, unnecessary use of urinary

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catheters, and inappropriate use of physical restraints. By learning to recognize the signs and symptoms of nursing home abuse, there will be a decrease in the number of patients who are neglected.

A recent article tells how Nahon, Saharovich, and Trotz law firm has grown into one of the largest plaintiff firms in the state. NST has become a powerhouse in handling cases in areas of worker's compensation, mass tort, product liability, nursing home ligitation and accident litigation. Its nursing home abuse hotline receives about a half a dozen potential clients daily. Laura Owings is the law firm's first-year associate who works in nursing-home abuse practice. She graduated sixth out of 123 in her class at the University of Memphis. Owings said, "In law school, anything I'm working on, it's all theory. Here it's people's lives and it's kind of scary and I think it's good to be kind of scared. It keeps me on top of my game." Owings said she chose her field because nursing home abuse affects some of the most vulnerable members of society and the number of claims are predicted to rise