When our elderly loved ones reach their golden years, we want them to live peaceful lives where they are happy and well cared for. We place many of our elderly loved ones into nursing homes or care facilities, trusting that the caregivers will treat them with care, dignity, and respect. Unfortunately, many elderly people in Nevada are the victims of elder abuse.
Sometimes caregivers abuse the elderly, and sometimes it is a family member doing the abusing. Many elderly individuals living in residential facilities, group homes, assisted living facilities, and nursing facilities fall victim to elder abuse. Whoever is causing the harm needs to be stopped, and your elderly loved one deserves to be compensated for the harm that they have had to suffer through. You should contact a personal injury lawyer who specializes in elder abuse cases immediately to find out more about how you can help your elderly loved one obtain justice.
Elder Abuse Statistics for Nevada
According to statistics provided by the State of Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division, since 2016, 1,275 elders in Nevada were abused. That number only represents reported cases of elder abuse; the true number could actually be much higher. There are many cases of unreported elder abuse for a number of reasons:
- The elderly victim may suffer from a disease or condition that affects his or her memory, and thus cannot remember or report it.
- Some elder abuse victims are scared about reporting their abuse. They fear that their abuser will hurt them if they report the abuse to someone who can put a stop to it.
- There are elderly victims who are physically unable to report abuse. Some elderly individuals suffer from an inability to use their voices or mouth muscles, due to a stroke or some other cause, leaving these victims effectively mute.
Elderly women are more likely to be the victims of abuse, surpassing the number of male victims by almost a third. The abuser is often one of the elderly victim’s children, some other relative, a caregiver, or a spouse or significant other. While it is not surprising that the abuser is often someone with a close relationship to the victim, it is heartbreaking nonetheless.
In 2016, there were 1,281 allegations of elder abuse reported to the authorities across Nevada, and of those, only 273 were substantiated. But just because evidence or witnesses are lacking in a particular case of elder abuse does not mean that the abuse is fictitious. Any allegation of elder abuse needs to be taken seriously.
Contact an Elder Abuse Lawyer Immediately
Elder abuse is a form of personal injury. If someone you love has suffered elder abuse or neglect from a caregiver, it is important that you contact an experienced Nevada elder abuse lawyer immediately to discuss the particulars of the situation. Contact the professionals at H & P to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your concerns about elder abuse.
