The nursing home system is in crisis in the United States.
The aging boomer population, the nationwide nursing shortage, the coronavirus pandemic, and the continued consolidation of the industry into the hands of a few nationwide for-profit nursing home operators has left our most vulnerable older adults facing unprecedented risk of neglect and abuse.
Nationwide, about 1.3 million older adults reside in 26,000 nursing homes or long-term care facilities. Thousands more live in assisted-living facilities or retirement communities as the U.S. population continues to age.
That number is expected to increase to 30 million in the coming years, as an estimated 70 percent of the population seek long-term care options. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 70 percent of these facilities are being operated as for-profit corporations. Meanwhile, the Center for Medicare Advocacy reports for-profit nursing homes are consistently found to have lower levels of staffing, a lower level of care, a higher number of deficiencies and poorer outcomes, compared to the dwindling number of facilities operated as non-profit.
Meanwhile, the industry cited COVID as a driver of $34 billion in revenue losses and the closing of a record 1,800 facilities, according to the American Health Care Association. The industry reports 94 percent of nursing facilities are unable to provide a staffing ratio of 4:1 as it continues to lobby against staffing mandates; it lobbied for federal funding throughout the pandemic amid what it claimed was a shortage of nearly 200,000 nurses and nursing aides.
Visitors to most nursing homes and assisted-living facilities are the only line of defense for our most vulnerable older adults. The rule, “If you see something, say something,” is vital to ensuring senior residents can live out their days with the peace and dignity they deserve.
Seeking the advice of a nursing home neglect lawyer in Denver can not only help ensure your loved one does not continue to be victimized, it can help many residents who have no one to voice concerns on their behalf.
Many residents are dealing with chronic health conditions, including arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. But the fact remains that we make the difficult decision to place loved ones in a professional care environment precisely because they need such care to prevent avoidable accidents and injuries.
Still, the number of nursing home neglect and abuse cases in Colorado continues to rise. Common signs of neglect or abuse include:
While facility improvements can be welcome, fresh paint or other signs of sudden improvements, particularly around the holidays, can be warning signs. Make an effort to visit at different times of the year and different times of the day or week. Take the time to listen to residents.
If you see something, say something.
Ken Fiedler Injury Law provides passionate, principled and proven representation to victims and families looking for an experienced nursing home neglect lawyer in Denver or the surrounding areas, including Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Ken Caryl, Columbine, Golden, Lakewood, Broomfield, and Arvada.
If you’ve been injured in a Colorado or Illinois truck accident, contact Ken Fiedler Injury Law to discuss your options in a free initial consultation. You can send us an email by filling up the form below or call our Denver office at 720-996-0871 and our Chicago office at 312-788-2600.
If you or a loved one is injured, contact Ken Fiedler Injury Law at 720-706-6039 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.
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