People are paying a bundle to keep a loved one in a nursing home these days. The average cost of an annual stay at a facility is $71,000 for a private room in the United States. What is appalling is that this estimate doesnt reflect the care and attention that patients deserve when submitted to these facilities. One of the reasons for this rise in substandard care is under-staffing. And Facilities that are understaffed usually have patients that suffer from abuse and negligence.

The majority of homes in the US are for-profit enterprises, usually operating with too few staff assigned to too many patients. The Department of Health and Human Services estimate that over 90 percent of nursing homes operating in the United States do not have enough staff to provide proper care. Staff also tends to be overworked and underpaid, which leads to a high turnover rate at most facilities. Replacement rates at some nursing homes approach 100 percent annually. With new staff coming and going, it is easy to see how a patients particular needs might not receive the special care that they deserve.

Over several decades, Washington has tried to pass legislation to force the nursing home industry to provide better care. Unfortunately for victims of abuse and negligence, legislators are not trying hard enough. Ultimately it is up to the families and friends of the patient to bring about real change. One step you can take to prevent abuse is visiting your loved one often. If a patient doesnt receive a lot of visitors, staff forgets that the patients are real people. Another step you can take if you suspect abuse is to talk to a nursing home negligence attorney.