Abuse
An estimated 1.5 million people live in licensed nursing homes, and another 900,000 live in residential care facilities. National Center on Elder Abuse, www.ncea.aea.gov. While reports suggest an epidemic of abuse, neglect, and theft from these residents, the exact numbers are difficult to determine. Fewer than 10% of America's nursing homes are adequately staffed to care for patients (CNN Interview - 2/23/2002). According to the Health and Human Services Department, patients in understaffed nursing homes are more likely to suffer from such problems as malnutrition, bed sores, serious blood born infections, pneumonia, weight loss, and dehydration. By 2030, the population of people aged 85 or older is expected to hit 8.9 million -- more then double the current population. These numbers indicate that the serious problem of nursing home abuse will only increase with time.
Nursing home abuse cases are chronically under-reported. Police are seldom called out to investigate, and when they are, it's often between 2 days and 2 weeks after the incident occurred. Residents are reluctant to report abuse out of fear. Nursing home staff is also reluctant to report either because they are not certain abuse occurred, or they fear for their jobs. By the time police are called in to investigate, residents have often forgotten the details, or evidence has been tampered with. A 2002 study by the US General Accounting Office found that reporting problems such as these cause difficulties in prosecuting abusive staff members.