Nursing Home Abuse

Canada Nursing Home Injury Attorneys

Millions of people over the age of 60 in Canada face daily challenges of providing care for the elderly. It is easily assessed that one in 20 senior citizens require assisted living. The most unfortunate thing is that elders are abused and neglected by those who are responsible for caring them. Due to lack of emergency staff providing urgent care nursing home staffs are reportedly overworked but underpaid. As a result they neglect our loving elders who are carefully placed in home.

Elder Abuse, Institutional Abuse, and Neglect

One of the frequently reported incidents is the elder abuse incident which is very often observed in the way of our citizens basic needs. With 1 million victims each year the second most common incident is the direct abuse of the elders. Statistically the number is getting so high that the citizens are expressing their concern over this. They are worried for their parents, grand-parents and great-grand parents.

If the abuses happen within the four walls of the nursing home then it is branded as “institutional abuse.” This kind of abuse can be range from physical to emotional and even sexual harassment. Physical forms of abuse may include hitting, drugging, unreasonably restraining, burning, refusal to transport and any other inappropriate physical contact.

Pure neglect of the elders is the saddest and most common elder abuse. Especially those who cannot take care of themselves are kept uncared. Food, water and assistance are not available to them. They remain confined in their deteriorating bodies and unable to attend their basic needs. In most of the cases neglect may occur in a situation where the caregiver simply neglects the elders. This situation of neglect may lead to serious health disorder including malnutrition, dehydration and kidney stone. The elders may take resort to elopement which could lead to physical and mental trauma.

While in residence of nursing home the elders may face mental abuse. With confinement in a small room they most often remain without any contact with the relatives, family members or care givers. Many suffer from depressions, anxiety and social disorder. They are also verbally harassed and intentionally ignored kept in isolation. Caregivers sometimes force sex, nudity and inappropriate photography. The abuser may be family members, friends and relatives.