Elder Abuse
The United States has a large population
of elderly citizens, many of whom 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 well-being. As a result of the large number of
reports of nursing home abuse 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 abuse and neglect, which rely on annual nursing home
inspections to determine whether the facility is meeting those
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.
For more information:
Nursing Home Abuse
FAQs
Nursing
Home Abuse Legal Glossary
Disclaimer
The Kansas and Missouri nursing home
negligence, elder abuse, nursing home malpractice, neglect or other
personal injury legal information presented at this site should not be
construed to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of a lawyer or
attorney-client relationship. Any results set forth herein are based
upon the facts of that particular case and do not represent a promise or
guarantee. Please contact an elder abuse attorney or nursing home
malpractice lawyer for a consultation on your particular personal injury
matter. This web site is not intended to solicit clients for matters
outside the states of Missouri and Kansas.
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Peterson & Associates,
P.C. All rights reserved. Elder Abuse Lawyers, Nursing Home Negligence
Attorneys and Personal Injury Law Firm serving Kansas City, Blue
Springs, Springfield and other communities in Missouri and Kansas.
Elder Abuse News
Prosecutors: Elder abuse victim, 81, dies
A Fall River woman whom prosecutors say was the victim of elder abuse by family members dies.
Woman dies after alleged elder abuse
Prosecutors said Thursday that an 81-year-old woman believed to have been a victim of elder abuse has died of her injuries.
Shocking Case of Elder Abuse in Fall River
Five members of a Fall River family have been arrested in a gruesome case of elder abuse. ABC6 Reporter Erin Logan has the story.
Advocates, DA encourage reporting of elder abuse
State and local officials are hoping that the services and safety nets provided to the elderly will ensure that no seniors share the same fate as Mary Araujo.
Victim of elder abuse dies on birthday
FALL RIVER - An elderly woman who was abused, allegedly at the hands of her own children, died today at St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River.
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