Nursing Home Neglect Statistics – Get the Facts

November 16, 2018 | Jim Coogan

Nursing home abuse is a growing concern in the United States, with an estimated 5,000,000 cases of physical abuse, financial abuse, and neglect occurring each year. NursingHomeAbuse.org estimates that one in 10 adults over the age of 60 have been abused at one time or another, and that as much as 24.3 percent of nursing home residents have been the victim of physical abuse at least once during their time in the home. See more nursing home neglect statistics below.

At Coogan Gallagher P.C., our Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys help victims and their families pursue compensation for the harm done to them. If you or a loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse, contact our law firm today.

Nursing Home Neglect Statistics in Illinois

The state of Illinois requires all nursing homes throughout the state to abide by standards set forth by federal and state laws. If a nursing home fails to do so, it stands to have its license revoked. In 2009, there were approximately 99 nursing homes throughout the state that received conditional licenses as a result of complaints of abuse. Of those 99, only three ended up having their licenses revoked. There were no nursing homes that had their license suspended as a result of abuse complaints.

On a national level, nursing home neglect is a significant problem. Though results vary from study to study, the American Association of Justice suggests that:

Over 20,000 individuals filed official complaints
Only 1 in 14 nursing home abuse cases were actually reported to authorities
Over 90 percent of nursing home staff did not adequately care for residents

In Illinois alone, the statistics are just as dire. According to the Central Complaint Registry (CCR):

In total, the registry received 20,991 calls
Of those calls, 3,506 were regarding reports of abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities
There were 185 reports of physical abuse, 82 reports of sexual abuse, 47 reports of verbal abuse, 1,837 reports of neglect, 975 reports of resident injuries, 60 reports of physical assault, and 359 reports of mental abuse

As the numbers suggest, elder abuse neglect is becoming an increasingly prevalent problem on both a state and national level. Unfortunately, it is a problem that remains highly underreported. This is the case for several reasons. On the one hand, the symptoms of abuse are often undetectable by family members, even if said family members are close loved ones. On the other hand, victims are often too afraid to come forward or simply unaware of their rights and how their inadequate care constitutes abuse under state or federal law.

Contact A Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

It is clear that abuse and neglect in nursing homes is prevalent. If you or a loved one is the victim of such treatment, reach out to the Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys at Coogan Gallagher, today to discuss your case and see what you can do to pursue justice.