There are currently over 1.7 million elderly persons in nursing homes in America. Because of their medical complexity, this group is prone to poor outcomes such as falls, accidents, pressure ulcers, infections and death. In recent years, damage awards by juries in negligence cases involving elderly persons have soared. This book is designed as a reference source for attorney and lay persons interested in the topic of neglect and abuse in nursing homes. Its goal is to provide a framework for understanding when a poor outcome is a result of negligence on the part of the caregiving facility and its personnel. It provides a source of information on basic medical aspects of nursing home care, with an emphasis on topics of medical-legal importance.