Since the end of World War II the lifespan of American citizens has steadily increased thanks to improved nutrition, higher standards of living and exceptional medical and prescription drug advances. In past decades, those who retired at 65 did not anticipate living for much more than 5 additional years but now that our life expectancy averages 85 years old elderly citizens must cope with 20 years of income-free living and declining health.

Often the elderly have debilitating but not life threatening conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, and dementia or combination of heart problems, physical ailments and limited mobility that cause them to be unable to live independently. Family members and friends, if available, try valiantly to care for such individuals at home but in many cases the attention they require and the needs they possess cannot be met in the comfortable home environment and family members must entrust the care of their loved ones to assisted living facilities or nursing homes.

It is reasonable to expect such institutions to provide the highest standards of care, and in many cases they do. Unfortunately, complaints of elderly abuse and nursing home negligence are prevalent in the elder care systems in America today and it is essential that loved ones becomes educated and informed about elder abuse.

Nursing home negligence can range from minor to severe; from simple oversights like the failure to supply regularly cleaned clothes, towels and bed linens to the failure to provide appropriate and timely health care for residents. The failure to fulfill some or many caretaking obligations accounts for more than half of all elder abuse claims reported to authorities.

Elderly abuses in nursing homes and assisted living facilities may also include physical abuse including shoving and other physical assaults or the inappropriate use of restraints, confinements or drugs resulting in pain or injury. Emotional abuse of seniors may come in the form of verbal intimidation, threats, humiliation and scapegoating or may manifest through isolation, ignoring the elderly individual or terrorizing them. Sexual abuse can involve forced sexual acts and may also include forcing the elderly person to watch or look at pornography or others engaged in sexual acts or making to resident undress in front of others. Elders may be financially exploited through forgery, identity theft or monetary theft, investment frauds or bogus charities and unethical medical professionals may commit health care fraud by overcharging, double billing, receiving kickbacks or not providing the care that they are charging for.

From 500,000 to 1,000,000 reports of elder abuse reported annually and most of these reports are valid. If you suspect that you or an elder loved one is the victim of elder abuse contact the nursing home health care administrators immediately and place a call to a personal injury attorney.