Released on: November 30, 2007, 4:25 am

Press Release Author: Martin Lock

Industry: Law

Press Release Summary: Abuse and Neglect in Nursing Home Facilities Caused Largely
by Staffing Shortages

Press Release Body: When families place an elderly loved one in a nursing home, they
expect that he or she will experience quality care in a safe, nurturing environment.
But reality paints a much different picture. According to a recent report by the
National Center on Elder Abuse, 20,673 complaints of abuse, gross neglect and
exploitation on behalf of U.S. nursing home and board and care residents were
investigated in 2003 alone. Of these complaints, physical abuse was most commonly
reported.

"Sadly, these numbers only skim the surface," says Attorney Jim Sokolove, founder
and principal of the Law Offices of James Sokolove (LOJS). "For every reported case
of abuse or neglect, an estimated five more go unreported. Nursing home abuse is a
growing and very serious problem, and it's happening in facilities all across the
country."

The term "elder abuse" describes any intentional or negligent act by a caregiver or
other person that causes harm or risk to a vulnerable adult. Common forms of nursing
home abuse include inadequate medical care, dehydration, untreated bedsores,
inadequate sanitation and hygiene, and malnutrition. Nursing home abuse may also be
sexual, emotional, or exploitative in nature.

In a Senate Finance Committee hearing in 2002, leading long-term care expert
Catherine Hawes emphasized that the root causes of nursing home abuse and neglect
lie with severe workforce shortages that lead to staff burn-out. She also indicated
that since many elderly people rely on Medicaid reimbursement instead of paying for
their own care, their choice of nursing home facilities is usually limited to those
providing a lower caliber of services.

As the "baby boom" generation ages, the demand for nursing home care will continue
to grow. Experts predict that the number of Americans aged 65 and older will reach
71 million by the year 2030. By 2050, the number of individuals living in nursing
home facilities is expected to soar to 6.6 million.

"It's important for people to understand that residents of nursing homes do have
rights under the law-the right to be treated with dignity, and most importantly, the
right to live free of mistreatment and neglect," Sokolove says. "The Law Offices of
James Sokolove works with these victims and their families on a daily basis to help
them protect these rights and hold the responsible parties accountable for their
actions."

Those interested in learning more about recognizing, reporting and preventing
nursing home abuse and neglect can visit the Nursing Home Abuse section on the LOJS
website.

About The Law Offices of James Sokolove

The Law Offices of James Sokolove (LOJS) is the nation's largest and fastest growing
marketer of legal services, providing qualified law firms, with the most cost
efficient and highly qualified case leads. For over 30 years, the LOJS has
endeavored to reinvent how people obtain legal services, in order to provide
everyone, irrespective of ethnicity or income, equal access to our civil justice
system and within it, superior quality of representation and service. Working with
an affiliate network of over 300 law firm throughout the US, the LOJS generates over
200,000 leads and 12,000 signed cases annually, translating into over one quarter
billion in revenue dollars for its affiliates. As the legal profession continues to
experience unprecedented and dynamic change, the LOJS business model is a proven
success as it strategically matches specific client needs with particular law firm
expertise.


Web Site: http://www.jimsokolove.com

Contact Details:
The Law Offices of James Sokolove
1340 Centre St # 102, Newton Center,
Massachusetts MA 02459
Phone: 617-742-0696 Ext 413
Fax: 617-964-4336
Email: mlock@jimsokolove.com