Nursing Home Abuse Facts

The 2000 Survey of State Adult Protective Services (National Center on Elder Abuse) reports the items below.

National Statistics

According to national data, elder abuse is primarily a "family problem" with perpetrators most likely being:

Adult children of the victim (47 percent), spouses (19 percent),
grandchildren (9 percent), or other relatives (9 percent).


The most common types of abuse are:

• neglect (49 percent),

• emotional/psychological (36 percent),

• physical (25 percent), and

• financial/material exploitation (30 percent).
  
  
  Those being abused are the most vulnerable:

• 48 percent of abuse cases involve people who are unable to take care of themselves.

• 29 percent of victims are only marginally able to take care of themselves.

• The percentages include elders who live alone or with relatives, as well as those within long-term care facilities.

  Crimes committed by family members and caretakers occur far more frequently than crimes perpetrated by strangers yet are the least reported and prosecuted. Only an estimated 21 percent ever get reported to Adult Protective Services or the police.

  According to a national study, more than a half-million people, aged 60 and over, experienced abuse, neglect or self-neglect during a single year. The same study estimates that for every reported incident of abuse or neglect, five go unreported.

Contact a Nursing Home Abuse attorney in Massachusetts now!

	Did You Know?
	There are places to report nursing home abuse. Make your report to the nursing home’s administrator, director of nursing, or social worker. The state or local ombudsman.The local police or state law enforcement. A protection and advocacy or adult protective services agency. The state survey agency that licenses and certifies nursing homes (often in the Health Department). A citizen advocacy group, or other church or community group that visits regularly.