Breaking a bone can be a traumatic experience at any age, but the health concerns are often far greater when an elderly adult breaks a bone. The ability of an elderly adult to heal from a broken bone may not be nearly as great as that of a younger person. Often accidents that result in broken bones are avoidable. This is especially true if a caretaker's negligence results in a broken bone or other serious injury. These situations cannot be overlooked or taken lightly because of the real impact that this type of injury can have on the health of an elderly adult.

Placing your elderly family member in an assisted living facility or retirement facility can be a challenging decision for a family to make. Whether your family member requires care that you are unable to give or they live away from anyone who could provide them with care, an elderly care facility may be the best option for your family. Though this decision may be in the best interest of an elderly family member, there are real risks that should be considered and acknowledged when making this decision. Theft and fraud does occur to elderly adults and often by a close caretaker or assisted living facility employee.

Many of the complaints lobbied against nursing homes fall under the category of resident neglect. Resident neglect and abuse accounted for nearly 20% of the substantiated complaints that were filed between 2005 and 2007. One of the pressing types of neglect and abuse that is demonstrated in nursing homes is involuntary seclusion, often referred to as isolation.

If you are responsible for administering care to a loved one who is growing older and increasingly dependent on the assistance of others, you may consider placing him or her in a nursing home. While assisted living facilities are a popular solution for many, you should be careful about the establishment that you choose. Sadly, many nursing homes are understaffed or fail to adequately train their staff members, resulting in gross negligence and mistreatment.

According to the National Institute on Aging, there were an estimated 1.5 million nursing home residents in 2004 alone. In the last couple of years, these numbers have increased significantly.