New Mexico Nursing Home Abuse Neglect Statistics

New Mexico nursing home negligence can have traumatic and life-changing consequences for both elders and their families. While no one would knowingly endanger a family member by exposing them to abuse and neglect, the reality is that nursing homes in America do not always provide the compassionate care we expect them to.

New Mexico lawyers are all too aware that abuse statistics paint a troubling picture of life in nursing homes. At Carabin Shaw, our attorneys are committed to protecting the rights of the elderly citizens of New Mexico. Nursing home residents deserve to be treated with dignity and care at all times. If your family member has been harmed in a nursing home, our law firm can help you pursue justice in a court of law.

New Mexico nursing home abuse neglect statistics suggest that elders in residential care facilities are a vulnerable population. In the year 2000, there were 472,913 incidences of abuse reported nationwide. The most common types of abuse are physical, emotional, sexual, and financial. For every incident of abuse and neglect that is reported, there are five more that go unreported. If you believe your loved one may be experiencing some form of abuse or neglect, don’t hesitate to contact an attorney.

New Mexico nursing home negligence is highly preventable in most cases. For example, elders experience 1.9 million adverse drug events on average each year, with most of these being preventable. As many as 86,000 of these adverse drug events are fatal or life-threatening. Individual employees may be held responsible for these negligent errors. Ownership may be liable for failing to take the necessary steps to ensure a safe environment for residents.

Not all nursing homes and assisted-living facilities provide the same standard of care. A relatively small percentage of facilities are responsible for the majority of incidents of abuse and neglect. By holding these repeat offenders accountable for their actions, our New Mexico elder abuse lawyers believe we can reduce injury and negligence in nursing homes.

Between July 2000 and January 2002, 20% of nursing homes nationwide were cited for patient safety violations. Many of these violations resulted in serious injuries, and some resulted in fatalities. During roughly the same period, more than half of all nursing homes did not have any lawsuits filed against them.

Nursing home ownership is one factor that clearly contributes to the prevalence of New Mexico nursing home negligence. Nearly 70% of the nursing homes in America are for-profit businesses, while the rest operate on a not-for-profit basis. This distinction is critical. Extensive research shows that residents of not-for-profit facilities enjoy better health outcomes when compared to residents living in for-profit facilities.

Our lawyers know from experience that elderly residents are endangered when nursing homes focus more on profits than providing excellent care. The numbers don’t lie: for-profit facilities have 32% fewer nurses on average and 47% more deficiencies compared to non-profit nursing homes.

Nursing home negligence affects a vulnerable population of Americans. The experienced and compassionate New Mexico elder abuse lawyers of Carabin Shaw are committed to serving the needs of nursing home residents.

The population of elderly residents of New Mexico will grow significantly in the coming decades. Every nursing home negligence lawyer in New Mexico on our team wants to contribute to creating a safer future for individuals living in nursing homes. We do this by aggressively pursuing justice for those that have been abused or neglected.

For a free consultation with a lawyer, call us toll-free at 1-800-862-1260. You can also reach our office serving New Mexico at 915-779-2301.