The United States has a large population of elderly citizens, many of which are currently living in nursing homes across the country. Nursing homes are care facilities which are staffed with doctors, nurses, and other trained staff members who care for elderly persons, as well as physically and mentally impaired adults who are unable to care for themselves. Many elderly people who live in nursing homes are the victims of abuse and neglect by the professionals who are supposed to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

As a result of the large number of reports of nursing home abuse being made in the 1980s, Congress passed important legislation in 1987 raising the standards for nursing homes. According to the law nursing homes are legally obligated to "provide services and activities to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident." The law clearly states that it is illegal to use chemical or physical restraints and states that all residents must be properly supervised to prevent accidents and injuries.

Although nursing home standards were increased, many nursing home residents are still suffering from abuse, including:

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect or negligence
• Verbal abuse

For some elderly and disabled persons, it is difficult to protect themselves against physical violence or sexual abuse, and even more difficult to fight back against their attackers. There are Federal health and safety standards which are enforced to protect nursing home residents from suffering abuse and neglect, which rely on annual nursing home inspections to determine whether or not the facility is meeting the standards.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of abuse or neglect by employees or caregivers of a nursing home, you should contact a Missouri nursing home abuse attorney at Peterson & Associates immediately. Our attorneys will investigate your claim and provide you with aggressive legal advice and representation.

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