More than a million elderly people currently reside in nursing homes, and that number is expected to rise as the massive Baby Boomer generation continues to age. While families place a good deal of trust in these facilities and their ability to provide a dignified and enjoyable existence for their loved ones, it is an unfortunate reality that not all of these places earn the trust they’re given. Each year, many nursing home residents suffer injuries as a result of neglect and abuse in nursing home facilities. The most common victims of nursing home abuse are elderly women.
Here is a look at four of the factors that contribute to a higher rate of abuse among female nursing home residents. If your loved one has been injured as a result of nursing home abuse, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you understand the process of seeking compensation for the significant expenses and psychological impacts the abuse caused.
4 Factors That Contribute to Nursing Home Abuse In Elderly Women
The most common factors that contribute to elderly women experiencing nursing home abuse include:
1. Women Have a Longer Life Expectancy
As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the life expectancy for women is now slightly over 79 years, while it is only slightly over 73 years for men.
As women tend to live longer, they are more likely to become residents of nursing homes when they are no longer able to manage the daily tasks of living independently. Nursing homes are populated with a significantly higher number of female residents than males as well, meaning that elderly women are statistically more likely to unfortunately encounter abuse.
2. Women Are Less Likely to Report Abuse
Nearly all governmental and nonprofit organizations tasked with advocating for elderly nursing home residents note that there is a difficulty in getting residents to report abuse. Women are less likely than men to report abuse for a variety of reasons, including:
- Fear that if they tell someone of the abuse, their accusations will not be believed
- Fear that the abuser or others will retaliate if they report the abuse
- Unawareness of the resources that are available to assist them after they’ve incurred abuse
- Estrangement from family members and an overall lack of emotional support
- Fear of negative repercussions for the abuser
As explained by the National Domestic Violence Hotline, around one-third of all women will suffer a form of abuse in their lifetime.
3. Women Are More Commonly the Victims of Sexual Abuse in Any Setting
While sexual abuse occurs among both genders, women are more commonly the victims of sexual abuse in any setting, including in nursing homes. This is particularly true for female nursing home residents who are suffering from dementia and lack the ability in many cases to remember, report, or even understand what is happening to them.
4. Women Are Perceived as Weaker Than Men
Gender stereotypes that have long existed in this country also play a role in the increased incidence of nursing home abuse against elderly women. Women are commonly perceived as weaker and, in many parts of society, even expected to be submissive to men.
This, unfortunately, can cause many women patients to be abused as opposed to their male counterparts.
If Your Loved One was Abused in a Nursing Home, Contact Dalli & Marino, LLP
While nursing home abuse is an issue that affects both genders, and people of all ages, it is elderly women that are the most common victims of this abuse. If you suspect that your loved one has been abused, it is important to speak with an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer in order to receive information about resources that are available, along with the potential of filing a personal injury claim against the facility that allowed the abuse to take place.
Nursing home abuse cases require an intense focus on the details of how the abuse occurred and who could have prevented it. With over 25 years of experience, the Dalli & Marino, LLP legal team has helped nursing home abuse victims recover millions of dollars in compensation. For your free case evaluation with an experienced nursing home abuse attorney, contact us online or by calling (888) 465-8790. Our team also speaks Spanish.
