When Ohio residents feel the need to move elderly or ill family members into nursing homes and assisted living facilities, the choice is deeply personal. Unfortunately, the reality is that many people just don’t have the time and resources to care for these family members on their own and, in many cases, the family members who are being cared for will be better off with the more intensive supervision and the availability of healthcare professionals in nursing homes. But it is also a reality that there can be instances of nursing home neglect and abuse.
Recent estimates put the number of residents of nursing homes in America at well over a million people. Almost another million people reside in “care communities.” As America’s population continues to age, those numbers can only be expected to increase.
Of course, sadly, that may also mean that instances of nursing home abuse and neglect will increase as well. For example, statistics show that in the year 2014, 7.6 percent of the complaints about nursing homes were in regards to allegations of neglect and abuse. The good news is that many people are becoming more aware of the damaging impact nursing home abuse and neglect can have on Ohio residents and Americans everywhere, which may lead to quicker reports and problems being identified quickly.
Anyone in Ohio who has suffered an injury or who has contracted an illness due to nursing home abuse or neglect may be able to pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. These types of lawsuits can not only result in financial compensation for the victims, but also in accountability for those responsible for nursing home neglect and abuse.