There are over 17,000 nursing homes in the United States with over 1.6 million residents. Over 5,000 of these facilities have been cited for neglect or abuse violations.That number is expected to quadruple to 6.6 million over the next 40 years. Unfortunately, along with these census figures, reports of nursing home neglect and abuse are also on the rise. Over 5,000 of these facilities have been cited for neglect or abuse violations. Some of the contributing factors to this neglect and abuse of our elderly include stressful work conditions due to staff shortages, and inadequate training. Experts fear that here also is significant underreporting of violations as either not detected or just not reported reported. If you suspect neglect or abuse of your elderly loved one, there are some measures you can take. Visit frequently and vary the times and days of your visits. Speak to the professional caregivers about your concerns. Contact your state's state survey agency in the Department of Health. You can even file of complaint with state Licensing and Certification. If neglect or abuse continues, or if the well being of your elderly loved one is threatened, you should seek immediate legal representation.