As the population of the United States ages, the demands placed on the medical system to care for the elderly are becoming overwhelming.

There are approximately thirty-four million people over the age of 65. Nearly one in twenty will require some form of assisted living. Unfortunately, our senior citizens are becoming victims of intentional abuse and neglect within nursing homes and assisted living facilities. While it is difficult enough to place a family member in a home, it is even more difficult to see that family member suffer under the care of an abusive, overburdened, and under trained nursing home staff.

The National Center for Elder Abuse and numerous nursing home abuse articles report that neglect of our senior citizens’ basic needs is the number one type of elder abuse. Physical abuse by caregivers ranks as the second most common form of elder mistreatment. Almost one million senior citizens are victimized each year.