Posted: July 18, 2017
New Jersey boasts dozens of highly rated nursing homes and assisted living facilities in which families entrust the care of their elderly loved ones. When searching assisted senior care for an older or infirm relative, many people rely on their state’s regulatory agencies for crucial information about licensing, inspection reports and regulatory actions. Given the alarming rates of elder neglect and abuse in our nation’s long-term care facilities, it’s more important than ever to thoroughly research prospective centers for quality assurance.
More than 15 years ago, A Place for Mom was created to empower families with the knowledge to make these decisions wisely, helping them choose the best assisted living community for their loved one. This service is provided free of charge and gives families access to extensive reports on senior care options within their community that are in good standing and are in line with desired amenities, medical care and financial requirements.
Each family is partnered with a Senior Living Advisor at A Place for Mom who supports and guides them through the complex journey of finding the right match for their particular needs. Perhaps even more importantly, A Place for Mom performs a licensing review and violations audit process two times every year, giving a full picture of each option – whether a nursing home or independent living care facility.
Risks of nursing home abuse
By most estimates, there are nearly 3.4 million seniors currently living in long term care facilities in the United States. Under law, nursing homes and care providers are obligated to treat their residents with dignity and provide the medical and daily care needed. However, statistics suggest that abuse of our elders has no boundaries, and is prevalent across all socioeconomic and racial lines. A recent congressional report indicated that as many as one in every three elderly are abused in nursing homes.
Elder abuse can take many forms, from violent physical mistreatment to sexual misconduct and emotional intimidation. In its most simple yet disturbing manifestation, elder neglect is a catastrophic failure by a caregiver to satisfy the senior’s most basic needs, leading to malnutrition, dehydration, preventable accidents, and life-threatening injuries.
Under New Jersey’s Nursing Home Bill of Rights, residents should receive a certain standard of care in regard to nutrition and hydration, personal hygiene, therapy, and quality of life. However, reports of improper use of physical restraints, medication errors and rampant understaffing have become norm for many government-sponsored facilities, as well as private nursing centers.
The risk of nursing home abuse, according to studies, rises significantly among patients who suffer from dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or other types of cognitive impairment. In 2010, researchers found that nearly 50 percent of study participants with dementia had been mistreated or abused by their caregivers.
Empowering families with knowledge and support
Eisbrouch Marsh believes that families should never have to worry about the safety of their loved one in a nursing home or other long-term care facility. A Place for Mom has evolved into the largest senior living referral service in the United States, proving invaluable to families in search of quality assisted living in New Jersey.
If evidence exists that elders have been subject to any form of emotional, physical or sexual abuse, or financial exploitation, the law affords victims the right to take legal action. Leveraging more than 25 years of experience, our nursing home abuse lawyers are committed to helping families pursue justice in the wake of a loved one’s mistreatment. If you suspect elder neglect, call our offices at 201-342-5545 to set up a free consultation.
Resources
- A Place for Mom, http://www.aplaceformom.com/assisted-living/new-jersey
- National Center on Elder Abuse, Statistics/Data http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/library/data/#problem
- ABC News, Elderly Abused at 1 in 3 Nursing Homes: Report http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=92689&page=1
