Most of us have already heard or read news stories regarding the growing population of older people in the United States. The population of people over the age of 65 across the country is expected to explode during the next 20 years assuming that most of them live to their life expectancy. While this may seem like a slow-moving problem, it has already created dangerous situations for too many residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities who are forced to deal with staff members who may not always be qualified for the work that they do and with facilities that may be stretched thin in terms of their available resources.
When we see and hear stories regarding abuse that occurs in these facilities, we tend to react with outrage. Anyone would become angry when they see an older person being mistreated, as most of us tend to want to see them enjoy the retirement that they have earned. In addition, many families feel that given what they are paying to access these services, they should never have to worry about how their loved one is being treated.
THE LONG-TERM COST OF ELDER CARE
The issue of cost is also one that is gaining attention these days. That's because a series of reports have recently been released that detail what families should expect to have to pay if or when their older loved ones encounter the need for this type of living. Those who may not have planned yet for this eventuality will need to take some time to discuss these costs with loved ones even though it may not be a pleasant conversation.
The story that's linked above reports the following in terms of costs associated with assisted living for older Americans:
- Nursing home costs have increased by a factor of 25 percent over the past five years.
- The median annual cost for a private nursing home is $83,950.00.
- The median annual cost for a semi-private nursing home is $75,405.00.
- The average annual cost for an assisted living facility is more than $41,000.00 per year.
- The average annual cost for a professional in-home caregiver is approximately $44,000.00 per year.
These are large numbers to digest, particularly if a person is going to need this type of care for 10, 15, or even 20 years. It may seem harsh to view the situation from a financial standpoint, but these costs need to be paid and people have every right to expect proper treatment in consideration for these funds.
PROTECT YOUR LOVED ONES - GIVE US A CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
We have been serving the public as Las Vegas nursing home abuse lawyers for 30 years, and some of the most shocking situations we have ever seen have involved the abuse of older people. If you suspect that this is happening to a loved one, you should not hesitate to get the help you need. <a