Elder Abuse Statistics Indicate an Alarming Trend
As America’s Population Ages, Elder Abuse is a Growing Problem
Despite growing awareness, elder abuse incidents continue to increase. 2017 had the highest reported incidents of elder abuse in U.S. history, with elder abuse statistics confirming that 1 in 3 nursing home residents personally witnessed abuse in the past year.
General Elder Abuse Statistics
- Elder abuse in the U.S. is four times as prevalent as child abuse.
- 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 60 have experienced some form of elder abuse (physical, financial, emotional or social).
- Usually, elder abuse is perpetrated by someone close to the victim, such as a spouse, child, caretaker or nurse.
- Victims of elder abuse are 300% more likely to die prematurely.
- Median age of elder abuse victim: 77.9
- The most frequent injuries resulting from elder abuse and neglect include:
Nursing Home Abuse Statistics
Assisted Living Abuse Statistics
- There are more than 60,000 assisted living facilities (ALF) in America.
- New ALF construction is outpacing new nursing home construction by 4:1.
- ALF’s experience 30,000+ medication errors each year causing death or life-threatening injury.
- Falls inside facilities are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries.
- About 30% of falls in older Americans result in moderate to significant injuries like fractures. These injuries cause reduced mobility and loss of independence.
- 40% of older Americans in long term care facilities suffer at least one fall per year.
- Assisted Living and Nursing Home facilities are required by law to prevent falls.
- It is against the law to allow an Assisted Living Facility resident to develop a Stage III or Stage IV bedsore.
Elder Abuse Statistics: The Silence is Deafening
Despite the widespread problem of elder abuse in the U.S., experts estimate that only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse are actually reported.
The US Senate Judiciary Committee recently passed the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act due to widespread problems with elder abuse in the United States. Senator Blumenthal was quoted as stating,
“The unconscionable scourge of elder abuse is all too common in our country . . . Our bipartisan legislation, a portion of which is named in Matava’s honor, is now one step closer to raising awareness, improving prevention, and increasing prosecution in order to combat this shameless crime.”
If you or someone you care about has been injured through abuse or neglect, learn how to report elder abuse in your state.
More About Senior Justice Law Firm
Our Florida nursing home abuse lawyers are dedicated to holding neglectful caretakers accountable for their actions. We share the above elder abuse statistics in order to shed light on a growing problem in our country. If you or someone you know was a victim of elder abuse, contact our law firm to learn more about your legal rights: 1-844-253-8919.
Sources for Elder Abuse Statistics:
Rosen, T., Lachs, M., Teresi, J., Eimicke, J., Van Haitsma, K., Pillemer, K. (April 2015). Staff-reported strategies for prevention and management of resident-to-resident elder mistreatment in long-term care facilities. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 28(1), 1–13. doi: 10.1080/08946566.2015.1029659
http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343%2806%2901073-4/pdf
Selwood, A & Cooper, C. (2009). Abuse of people with dementia. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 19, 35–43. doi: 10.1017/S095925980999013X
National Center for Health Statistics. (2014). Nursing Home Care; National Center for Health Statistics (2014). Residential Care Communities.
Administration for Community Living Aging Integrated Database. National Ombudsman Reporting System (NORS).
Tronetti, P. (2014). Evaluating abuse in the patient with dementia. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine 30(4), 825–38. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2014.08.010
Anetzberger, G. (2004). The Clinical Management of Elder Abuse. New York, NY: Hawthorne Press.
Alzheimer’s Association. (2009). Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures (PDF).
Cooper, C., & Livingston, G. (2014). Mental health/psychiatric issues in elder abuse and neglect. Clinic in Geriatric Medicine 30(4), 839–50. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2014.08.011
Assisted Living Abuse and Neglect: Facts and Figures
Wiglesworth, A., Mosqueda, L., Mulnard, R., Liao, S., Gibbs, L., & Fitzgerald, W. (2010). Screening for abuse and neglect of people with dementia. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 58(3), 493–500. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02737.x
U.S. Government Accounting Office. (2008). Nursing Homes: Federal Monitoring Surveys Demonstrate Continued Understatement of Serious Care Problems and CMS Oversight Weaknesses.
