Get the Facts You Need
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) compiles and organizes nursing home abuse statistics, which show who is most at risk and what can be done if someone is being abused. Use these statistics to get answers to questions and learn how you can help your loved ones.
How Common Is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse affects thousands of families each year, with over 14,000 complaints about abuse or neglect filed with nursing home ombudsmen in 2014. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, up to 5,000,000 people are affected by elder abuse each year.
Who Is at Risk?
According to the NCEA, women are more likely than men to be abused in nursing homes, and poor mental and physical health may also increase the risk of abuse. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are particularly vulnerable to abuse, according to the NCA and NCOA.
Who Does the Abusing?
Family members and nursing home staff are some of the most common perpetrators of elder or nursing home abuse. Mental health and substance abuse issues may increase the risk of elder mistreatment. In-home caregiving is an alternative to nursing care, but it can also lead to abuse.
Environments That Can Lead To Abuse
Elder abuse is more likely to occur in poor-quality nursing homes and eldercare facilities, which lack proper resources and trustworthy staff. The more people who live in a household with an older person, the higher the risk of elder abuse. Elders are more likely to be abused if they don’t have relatives checking in on them on a regular basis.
Nursing Home Abuse Statistics by Type
Nursing home abuse can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse, and it isn’t always obvious. Learn more about the different types of nursing home abuse, including physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse, in the statistics below.
Physical Nursing Home Abuse Statistics
Physical nursing home abuse occurs when a patient is harmed by force (such as a shove, punch, or slap). It can result in long-term health issues such as concussions and broken bones. From 2002 to 2016, the rate of assaults against men aged 60 and older increased by 75%.
Emotional Nursing Home Abuse Statistics
Threats, intimidation, social isolation, and other forms of emotional abuse can be used against elders. According to the NCVC, 60% of self-reported elder abuse cases involved verbal or emotional harm, and nearly one-third of nursing home staff admitted to emotionally abusing residents.
Sexual Nursing Home Abuse Statistics
In a 2020 WHO study, sexual abuse was the least commonly reported form of abuse, with less than 2% of nursing home residents or their representatives reporting cases of sexual abuse. According to a 2015 study, the vast majority of those who commit sexual abuse in nursing homes are men.
Financial Nursing Home Abuse Statistics
Financial abuse occurs when an individual’s financial resources are exploited or withheld, and elders are more likely to report financial abuse than any other form of abuse. According to the National Council on Elderly Affairs (NCOA), family members are the most likely to financially abuse elders.
Statistics About Nursing Home Neglect
According to a WHO report, 12% of nursing home staff reported neglecting residents’ basic needs, such as food, housing, health care, or hygiene. Not every state has the same definition for elder or nursing home neglect.
Health-Related Consequences
According to the National Elder Abuse and Neglect Equity Association (NCEA), victims of elder abuse are 300% more likely to die than those who have not been abused. Victims of elder abuse are three times more likely to be hospitalized, and they are four times more likely to end up in a nursing home.
Economic Consequences
Each year, at least $36.5 billion is lost due to elder financial abuse, with violent crime injuries among the elderly accounting for $5.3 billion in annual medical care costs, according to NAPSA. These figures do not include financial losses due to other types of abuse.
Why Aren’t Elder and Nursing Home Abuse Cases Reported?
Families can work with nursing home abuse lawyers to pursue financial compensation and justice for every case of elder abuse that is reported. Mental or physical impairments can make it difficult for nursing home residents to report.
Nursing Home Abuse Is a Growing Danger
Elder and nursing home abuse is likely to become more common, but loved ones can take steps to protect their loved ones. Review the nursing home statistics above to see if you or a loved one is at risk, and if you need legal help, get a free case review from our team.
How many elderly go into nursing homes?
The majority of older adults (93.5 percent, or 33.4 million) live in the community, with only 4.5 percent (about 1.5 million) living in nursing homes and 2 percent (1 million) in assisted living facilities.
What percentage of elderly go into care homes?
According to the Laing and Buisson survey from 2016, approximately 418,000 people live in care homes, accounting for 4% of the total population aged 65 and up and 15% of those aged 85 and up. 167,000 people receive specialist dementia care in care homes, accounting for roughly 40% of the total care home population.
What is the average age people enter nursing homes?
Almost half of all nursing home residents are 85 years old or older, with only a few residents under the age of 65.
What are the odds of going into a nursing home?
According to a study conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research, a 50-year-old has a 53 to 59% chance of entering a nursing home during his or her lifetime.
Why do elderly not like nursing homes?
Seniors are adults who have been responsible for raising their families, supporting their spouses, developing a career, and so on, and their self-image is difficult to change comfortably.
Should elderly be sent to nursing home?
Nursing homes with professional in-house nurses are able to provide residents with assistance in their daily tasks, which can be a good option for your elderly loved ones so that they can get the care they deserve in their golden years.
What is a residential care home for elderly?
Residential care, also known as “personal care” or “assisted living,” is a term used to describe the general care and support provided in a standard elderly care home. It typically includes assistance with basic needs such as washing, dressing, mobility assistance, and so on.
What age is considered elderly in UK?
The term “older” refers to people aged 65 and up unless otherwise stated; the UK’s population is aging (ONS, 2018k).
What is the average percentage of care home residents who have dementia?
Approximately 80% of those living in nursing homes have dementia or severe memory problems.
At what age are you considered elderly?
According to the Social Security Administration, 9 out of 10 people over the age of 65 are eligible for Social Security benefits, and 65 is the legal age at which U.S. citizens are considered seniors.
What is the average age of someone in long-term care?
2.5 years: Average number of years women will need long-term care. 1.5 years: Average number of years men will need long-term care. 80: Average age of admission for women in long-term care settings.
How do I know if I need to go to a nursing home?
What are the signs that it’s time to put my parents in a nursing home?
- Declining ability to handle basic day-to-day activities.
- Walking is becoming a problem.
- They’ve gotten lost a couple of times.
- Increased emotional outbursts.
- Your loved one has become isolated or withdrawn.
What is the average length of time a person spends in a nursing home?
The average length of stay among nursing home residents was 485 days, according to a 2019 report from the Department of Health and Human Services on long-term care providers and users in the United States.
How do you avoid ending up in a nursing home?
Let’s look at some of the best ways to avoid going to a nursing home and instead stay in the place where you feel most at ease.
- Prepare your home.
- Take advantage of special services.
- Pay attention to your health.
- Prepare for emergencies.
- Stay socially connected.