| 1.6 million families in Tennessee and around the United | | | | homes across the United States, and North Carolina |
| States turn to nursing homes to care for their elderly | | | | facilities are no exception. These types of violations |
| loved ones. The number is expected to rise to 5 | | | | are particularly grievous since elderly and disabled |
| million over the next thirty years, as the baby | | | | residents are unable to protect themselves from an |
| boomer population ages. While families chose nursing | | | | attack. In many cases, they are not even able to |
| care with an expectation of professionalism, kindness | | | | communicate the abuse they have suffered to their |
| and compassion, there is a dark side to nursing | | | | family members, and hence have neither recourse |
| homes: neglect and abuse. | | | | nor protection from future abuse. |
| Abuse violations include physical, emotional and sexual | | | | According to a 2001 Congressional report, more than |
| abuse, as well as neglect. According to a 2001 | | | | 9,000 nursing home abuse reports were filed in the |
| Congressional Report, one in three U.S. nursing homes | | | | two-year period between January 1999 and January |
| have been cited for abuse. These types of violations | | | | 2001. Of these 9,000 reports, more than 2,500 were |
| are especially insidious since elderly and disabled | | | | severe enough to place residents in immediate |
| residents are unable to protect themselves from an | | | | jeopardy of death or serious injury. Reported types |
| attack. In many cases, they are not even able to | | | | of abuse include sexual, physical and verbal. |
| communicate the abuse they have suffered to their | | | | Nursing home neglect is another significant area of |
| family members, and hence they have neither | | | | abuse, and can range from failure to provide |
| recourse against nor protection from future abuse. | | | | medications according to the doctor-prescribed |
| What is being done to protect Tennessee residents | | | | schedule to withholding food and even water from |
| from falling victim to this kind of abuse? First, there | | | | patients. Dehydration and death have occurred as a |
| are a number of laws on the books in Tennessee. | | | | result of this type of neglect. |
| For example, all staff must pass a criminal | | | | Also according to the Congressional report, which |
| background check and all nursing homes are subject | | | | was spearheaded by Representative Henry Waxman |
| to annual or more frequent inspections by the | | | | (D-CA), the number of nursing homes that is cited |
| department of health. Furthermore, Tennesseans are | | | | for abuse is increasing, and has been every year |
| protected by national nursing home laws, such as the | | | | since 1996. For example, the number of nursing |
| Americans with Disabilities Act and the Nursing Home | | | | homes cited for abuse during annual inspections more |
| Reform Act. | | | | than doubled between 1996 and 2000. |
| These two laws mandate, among other things, that | | | | While these national statistics are appalling, of even |
| patients must be given freedom and must receive | | | | greater concern are the incidents of unreported |
| respect for their persons, and their personal property | | | | abuse. In fact, officials believe that abuse is grossly |
| and possessions. | | | | underreported; some experts even say that the |
| If you suspect that you or a family member has | | | | majority of abuse incidents go unreported. At |
| been the victim of abuse or neglect, you can report | | | | particular risk are nursing home patients without the |
| the incident via state agencies such as the | | | | mental or physical faculties to be aware of -- or even |
| Tennessee Department of Health. The health | | | | to articulate -- the abuse they are suffering at the |
| department has licensing oversight for nursing homes | | | | hands of their supposed caregivers. |
| and can revoke a home's license if it is found to be in | | | | Nationwide, one-third of the U.S.'s 1,600 nursing |
| severe violation of state and national law. | | | | homes were cited for an abuse violation that had the |
| In addition to reporting the incident to the state | | | | potential to cause harm or death. This |
| agency, you should also contact a local lawyer | | | | heart-wrenching statistic has devastating |
| experienced with cases of nursing home abuse and | | | | consequences for a state like North Carolina, which |
| neglect in Tennessee. Your Tennessee nursing home | | | | has over 37,000 of its residents living in nursing |
| abuse lawyer will work with you on filing your claim | | | | homes, according to a census conducted in 2002. |
| with the state authorities, will advise you on the | | | | The reality is grim for North Carolina seniors, since |
| variety of legal issues, and will advocate for you as | | | | one out of every three residents over the age of |
| you seek monetary compensation for the neglect | | | | eighty-five lives in a nursing home. Given the national |
| and abuse you or your loved one experienced. | | | | rates of nursing home abuse, North Carolinians are |
| Families in North Carolina and around the country turn | | | | undoubtedly at risk. If you or a loved one has been |
| to nursing homes to provide care and attention to | | | | the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, please |
| their elderly loved ones. But all too often families' | | | | contact a qualified attorney. Your lawyer can help |
| expectation for professionalism, kindness and | | | | you to get the compensation you deserve for your |
| compassion is replaced with a shocking reality: abuse. | | | | mistreatment, abuse and neglect. |
| Abuse violations are a serious concern in nursing | | | | |