Nursing home abuse is a widespread issue for residents not only in California but nationwide. To protect these vulnerable populations, it is important to continue to raise awareness and hold nursing homes accountable for the care they provide. With the right support and resources, it is possible to make nursing homes safe and secure places for our loved ones.
To combat the problem of nursing home abuse in California, it is important to raise awareness and educate the public. While this can involve volunteering or working in a nursing home, one of the best ways to provide an understanding of nursing home abuse is to look at the various statistics. To that end, here are some statistics that show the depth of California’s nursing home abuse problems.
California Nursing Home Abuse Statistics
In terms of compiling statistics for nursing home abuse in California, there are many different agencies and organizations that work to put together numerous facts and figures to make a coherent model from the information
Among these organizations, some of the foremost suppliers of this information are the government agencies responsible for investigating and regulating nursing home abuse in the state. One such agency is the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). Data from the OAG found the following:
- By 2030, California’s elderly population–those aged 65 or older, which are the segment of the population most in need of nursing home care–will be nearly double its current rate.
- There are around 110,000 residents receiving care in our state’s 1,300 licensed nursing homes.
- There are 150,000 elderly residents receiving care in our state’s 7,500 licensed residential care facilities
- Another 150,000 elderly people are housed in unlicensed assisted living facilities.
- Around 13% of complaints made to the California Department of Aging’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman involves abuse or neglect.
One of the major issues with nursing home abuse statistics is that, under normal circumstances, they rely on nursing homes self-reporting incidents of abuse or neglect. While California law requires incidents of abuse or neglect be reported to the Department of Public Health, that doesn’t always happen because of fear of retaliation on the part of caregivers or residents themselves fearing reprisal.
National Nursing Home Abuse Statistics
Like the data in California, national nursing home abuse statistics come from a variety of different organizations.
National Center For Victims of Crime
The National Center For Victims of Crime (NCVC) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for victims’ rights and provides support and resources to individuals affected by crime, which includes nursing home abuse. In a 2018 study, they found the following data regarding nursing home abuse:
- Physical abuse accounted for 29% of nursing home abuse
- Physical or sexual abuse between residents accounted for 22% of nursing home abuse
- Psychological abuse made up 21% of all nursing home abuse
- Nursing home abuse amounting to gross neglect accounted for 14% of cases of abuse
- Sexual abuse accounted for 7% of all nursing home abuse
- Financial exploitation also accounted for 7% of nursing home abuse.
National Center For Elder Abuse (NCEA)
Data from the National Center For Elder Abuse (NCEA) found the following
- 21% of the country’s population (nearly 52.4 million people) is considered elderly, or aged 65 or older.
- By 2040, this number is expected to top 80 million people.
- 1 in 10 residents of nursing homes or care facilities have reported suffering some form of abuse
- Abuse differs across different communities and institutions. However, on study found that psychological (33.4%), physical (14.1%), and financial abuse (13.8%) are the most prevalent in nursing homes.
Like statistics in California, national statistics also rely on self-reporting to compile data. While this data does show the prevalence of nursing home abuse, it is believed that the actual number of cases is much higher, as many incidents of abuse go unreported. Nursing home abuse is a growing concern and it is important for families and loved ones to be observant and proactive in protecting the well-being of their elderly loved ones in nursing homes.
What You Need To Know About Nursing Home Abuse in California
In California, nursing home abuse is covered by the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (EADACPA). While the law outlines penalties and procedures relating to nursing home abuse, it ultimately provides a framework for defining what nursing home abuse is. Under the EADACPA, nursing home abuse is any mistreatment that involves the following:
- Physical abuse
- Neglect
- Financial abuse
- Abandonment
- Isolation
- Abduction
- Any other treatment that results in physical harm, pain or mental suffering.
Even with this legal framework in place, nursing home abuse still happens in California. This brings up another difficulty with nursing home abuse. While it may seem straightforward, it’s often not easy to actually witness abuse happen. Going a step further, abuse and neglect often happens when a resident is isolated from others. Still, there are always warning signs of abuse. These usually include:
- Unexplained injuries or bruises
- Sudden changes in behavior or mood
- Unusual weight loss or malnutrition
- Dehydration or bedsores
- Unsanitary or neglectful living conditions
- Withdrawal from social activities or depression
- Financial irregularities or unexplained disappearance of money or belongings
- Presence of physical restraints
- Fear or reluctance to be alone with a caretaker
- Staff refusing to allow visits or communicating with the resident
In terms of liability for nursing home abuse, the following can potentially be held liable for any damages:
- The nursing home facility or owner.
- The individual staff member(s) responsible for the abuse.
- The nursing home company or management company.
- The healthcare providers responsible for medical treatment.
- The government agency responsible for licensing and regulation of nursing homes.
While nursing home abuse is indeed a widespread problem, every case has its own unique set of circumstances. As such, the liable parties may vary based upon the circumstances that surround your loved one’s abuse. No matter what these circumstances are, working with our team of experienced California nursing home abuse lawyers can help you figure out every available path to compensation.
Work With Dedicated California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
At Maison Law, our skilled team of dedicated California nursing home abuse lawyers takes pride in our ability to stand up for victims of this unspeakable mistreatment. The elderly and dependent residents of nursing homes are among the most vulnerable class of individuals you will find in our society and they require special care and treatment. Instead, when nursing homes and caregivers fail in their responsibility to treat their residents with the proper respect and care they deserve, they need to be held accountable.
With our experience and knowledge of California law, we can make sure that your elderly loved one is given every opportunity to be heard and advocated for. If you believe your loved one has been or is currently suffering abuse in a nursing home, contact us today for a free consultation.
