What is the difference between nursing home abuse and elder abuse?

The main difference between nursing home abuse and elder abuse is that nursing home abuse is committed in a nursing home setting, while elder abuse can be committed in any setting. Nursing home abuse generally targets individuals who are living in a nursing home as residents. This type of abuse is usually inflicted by the staff or other residents at the nursing home. Examples of nursing home abuse include physical, verbal, and psychological abuse as well as financial exploitation and neglect of the nursing home’s residents. Elder abuse, on the other hand, refers to abuse in any setting that is inflicted on an elderly person, regardless of whether they are living in a nursing home or not. It is often committed by someone who is responsible for the care of the elderly person, such as a family member or caretaker. Examples of elder abuse include physical abuse, financial exploitation, emotional abuse, or neglect. In South Dakota, both nursing home abuse and elder abuse are illegal. If a resident of a nursing home is the victim of abuse, they have legal rights to seek out a criminal or civil action against the abuser. If a person outside of a nursing home is the victim of elder abuse, they have the right to file a complaint and seek help through a civil court action or through social services in their community.

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