Nursing Homes

The statistics on nursing home and elderly abuse are grim. Conservative estimates state that one of three homes in America will be affected in some way by abuse of an elder relative while in a nursing home. With the elderly population growing rapidly, nursing home residents nationwide number over 1.6 million. Currently, there are over 17,000 registered nursing home and elder care facilities. This number is expected to rise to 5 million in the next three decades. Sadly, as the number of nursing home residents increases, so does the frequency of abuse.

Because of the projected numbers and the problems associated with those numbers, nursing home care has become an area of public and governmental concern. As with every medical and care giving facility there are state and federal regulations that govern the "duty of care" for nursing homes. Many nursing homes attempt to squeeze more out more profit and therefore are using under trained and unqualified help, which puts the facilities and their members at a higher risk of cultivating abuse and neglect.

Not all types of abuse are physical, and not all abuse results in visible injuries. Common types of elderly abuse in nursing homes are:

• sexual abuse
• neglect
• abandonment
• extortion
• psychological and emotional abuse
• physical abuse

Families and friends of nursing home residents should be aware of the signs and indications of abuse. These include:

• any injury that cannot be promptly explained
• bedsores
• unusual bruises
• sexually transmitted disease
• out of the ordinary financial requests
• sudden changes in attitude or appetite

While these signs do not always mean there is nursing home abuse present, it is a good idea to investigate any unusual injuries or behavior in elderly people because nursing home abuse is growing at an alarming rate. If you suspect abuse, contact the Department of Social Services and then contact Behnke, Martin & Schulte, LLC for nursing home abuse advice.

Medicaid Planning

Medicaid is a combined federal and state program that assists persons unable to pay for medical care.  If an individual is eligible, Medicaid covers all necessary medical services, including long-term nursing care (for either skilled nursing care or custodial care).

With greater longevity and the high cost of care for prolonged illnesses such as Alzheimer's, more and more middle class families are being threatened with impoverishment due to nursing care costs.  For those who have not been able to secure long-term care insurance, Medicaid has become an important resource for the medical and nursing home expenses associated with long-term care. Medicaid is considered to be one of the most complex laws in the country, made even more so because each state has its own interpretation of the law and its own method of applying the law to its residents.  Thus, eligibility rules vary by state.

Note: All Ohio Medicaid offices can process an application for nursing home care benefits regardless of where the applicant resides in Ohio. Hence, the Behnke, Martin & Schulte law firm assists applicants throughout the state, even those applicants who do not reside within the general vicinity of our office.