Every year, thousands of vulnerable group home and nursing home residents are harmed and neglected behind closed doors, often without their families even knowing.
In this article, we’re breaking down the latest group home and nursing home statistics to help you understand the warning signs, ask the right questions, and take action before your loved one is seriously harmed.
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If you or someone you love has suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home or group home, contact Villari, Lentz, & Lynam today. Our nursing home abuse lawyers and group home abuse lawyers will fight to hold the facility accountable and pursue the compensation your family deserves.
What percentage of older adults experience abuse in U.S. nursing homes?
About 10% of older adults in U.S. long-term care settings experience some form of abuse or neglect. Millions of seniors remain at risk in facilities that are meant to keep them safe.
How commonly are deaths reported in youth group homes in the U.S.?
A majority of U.S. states reported at least one youth death in a residential group home setting in 2006, raising serious concerns about safety and oversight.
How common is physical abuse among group home residents?
More than 50% of group home residents have experienced physical abuse, showing that mistreatment is alarmingly common in these settings.
Are children with disabilities more likely to be abused?
Yes, children with disabilities are more than three times as likely to suffer sexual abuse and nearly four times as likely to experience physical abuse compared to other children, so group home residents are highly vulnerable to mistreatment.
How common is physical abuse in nursing homes?
Nearly one in four nursing home residents (24.3%) experience at least one incident of physical abuse while living in a facility.
What percentage of nursing home abuse cases involve physical force?
Physical force, including shoving, kicking, and striking, is involved in 29% of all nursing home abuse cases. Physical abuse is one of the most common and dangerous forms of mistreatment in nursing homes.
What is the least commonly reported type of nursing home abuse?
Sexual abuse is the least commonly reported form of nursing home abuse, reported by fewer than 2% of residents. This low reporting rate does not reflect low risk, but how difficult it is for victims to speak out or be believed.
How common is neglect by nursing home staff?
About 12% of nursing home staff have admitted to neglecting residents on the job. This puts seniors at risk for serious harm, including malnutrition, infections, and untreated medical issues.
How many nursing home staff admit to committing abuse?
About 64.2% of nursing home staff reported that they had committed some form of abuse within the past year, pointing to widespread safety concerns across these facilities.
What percentage of nursing home complaints involve gross neglect?
Roughly 15.3% of nursing home complaints involve gross neglect, meaning basic care needs were seriously ignored.
Does nursing home abuse increase the risk of death?
Yes. Older adults who suffer abuse are 300% more likely to die in nursing homes than non-victims.
How many nursing home abuse and neglect complaints are reported each year?
About 15,000 nursing home abuse and neglect complaints are reported each year in the U.S. This only represents a portion of actual incidents, as many cases are never reported.
How many health citations do U.S. nursing homes receive each year?
U.S. nursing homes received nearly 95,000 health citations in 2023 for violations tied to resident care and safety.
How much money are nursing homes fined each year for abuse and neglect in the U.S.?
In 2023, nursing homes in the U.S. were fined more than $150 million for abuse, neglect, and related safety violations.
How much money do older Americans lose each year to elder financial abuse?
Older Americans lose at least $36.5 billion every year to elder financial abuse. This exploitation can drain savings and leave seniors financially dependent and vulnerable.
Get Justice For Your Loved One with Villari, Lentz, & Lynam
You trusted a group home or nursing home to keep your loved one safe, and they failed you. At Villari, Lentz, & Lynam, we won’t let them get away with it. Our group home and nursing home abuse lawyers will hold them accountable for the harm they’ve caused and fight for the full compensation you’re entitled to.
Let us fight for the justice you deserve.
Sources
Casey.org. “What are the outcomes for youth placed in group and institutional settings?” June 29, 2022.
Kathryn A. Larin. “Abuse of Youth Placed in Residential Facilities.” United States Government Accountability Office. June 12, 2024.
Jessica L. Mattie. “Abuse of Special Needs Children.” NALA.
Julie Rivers, MBA. “Nursing Home Abuse Statistics.” Nursing Home Abuse Center.
Kelly Short. “Elder Abuse Statistics for 2026.” SeniorLiving.org.
Erica Bassett. “Abuse and Neglect against Elderly Adults in Nursing Homes in the United States.” Ballard Brief. 2021.
