In recent years, nursing home abuse lawsuits have increased dramatically due to a rise in the incidence of violent attacks among nursing home residents. Many of these acts of violence are perpetrated by criminal offenders and mentally ill residents housed in our nation’s nursing homes.
A nonprofit nursing home residents’ advocacy group based in Oklahoma has indicated that there are more than 1,600 registered sex offenders in nursing homes. The advocacy group has also documented over 60 rapes, murders, and assaults in nursing homes, all perpetrated by criminal offenders residing in these institutions.
Furthermore, a report put out by the Associated Press indicates that almost 125,000 non-elderly mentally ill adults lived in nursing homes in 2008. It appears that many nursing homes across the country are going to great lengths to fill empty beds. As a result, they are accepting residents that pose a threat to other residents, particularly those that are elderly and in poor health.
There are also quite a few elderly people in nursing homes with violent tendencies. Many of them suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, magnifying the danger posed by these individuals to other residents. Several months ago, a resident of a Minnesota nursing home in his 90’s body-slammed another resident, leading to his wrongful death. The man was a former professional wrestler who suffered from Alzheimer’s, a combination that clearly puts the safety of other residents in jeopardy.
Nursing homes have an obligation to maintain a safe environment for their residents. When staff members fail to protect the safety of residents, they are guilty of nursing home neglect and must be held accountable for their actions. It is unacceptable for our elderly loved ones who need additional daily care to become victims of violent rapes, murders and assaults because the nursing home failed to properly screen their residents or staff members failed to prevent a violent outburst from a resident.
If you have a nursing home abuse claim in Tulsa or Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, please contact Carr & Carr, Attorneys at Law today to schedule an initial consultation.
