It is not always easy to determine how common nursing home abuse is. If we pull back for a moment and look at the overall statistics related to nursing home abuse, we can see some alarming data. According to the National Council on Aging, around one out of every 10 Americans over the age of 60 have experienced some form of elder abuse. However, these numbers are likely much lower than what really occurs. Studies also show that only around one out of every 24 cases of elder abuse are actually reported to the appropriate authorities.
Now, consider the situation for those inside nursing homes. Residents are typically those who are older and/or vulnerable due to their age and disability. Nursing home residents are much more likely than elderly people in the general population to experience abuse.