7 Types of Abuse in a Nursing Home
Nursing home residents have legally protected rights and deserve the best care possible. Sadly, far too many people suffer from different types of abuse in nursing homes.
Here are 7 types of nursing home abuse:
- Physical abuse
- Neglect of a resident’s basic needs
- Sexual assault
- Emotional abuse
- Financial exploitation
- Abandonment
- Self-neglect
All types of abuse in nursing homes can cause serious harm. Residents, family, and friends should understand the types of abuse in care homes and take early action to prevent harm or wrongful death.
The Nursing Home Abuse Center partners with a national network of experienced nursing home lawyers who can help families in all 50 states.
Our legal partners have recovered over $304 million for families affected by various types of abuse in nursing homes.
Get a free case review right now to connect with a top attorney near you, if eligible.
Fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect — start now with a free case review.
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Common Types of Resident Abuse in Nursing Homes
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), there are 5 types of abuse in a nursing home that are most commonly reported: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and financial abuse. Additional types of abuse in nursing homes include self-neglect and abandonment.
Learn about common types of abuse in nursing homes below.
Physical Abuse
Nursing home physical abuse occurs when a resident suffers bodily harm or injuries inflicted by a caregiver or another resident.
Over 9% of nursing home staff members admitted to physically abusing residents, according to 2024 data from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Examples of physical abuse in a nursing home include being punched, kicked, shoved, or put in restraints like straps or ties.
Common signs of physical abuse among nursing home residents include:
- Bruises and bleeding
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Spinal injuries
Physical abuse can be committed against any resident, but those with memory conditions like Alzheimer’s disease may be at higher risk.
Residents and their family members can file personal injury claims against negligent facilities and staff to receive compensation for elder abuse in nursing homes.
Compensation can cover medical expenses and emotional suffering for serious injuries or death linked to physical abuse.
For example, a 74-year-old nursing home resident died after being physically assaulted by a younger roommate, and the family was awarded $1.3 million in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Neglect in Nursing Homes
Nursing home neglect occurs when staff members fail to provide proper care. As a result, the resident’s physical and emotional well-being suffers.
Neglect is one of the most common types of abuse in nursing homes. It is often not deliberate, like physical abuse, but it can be just as deadly.
Rates of neglect often increase by understaffing, a widespread and chronic problem in nursing homes nationwide.
Examples of nursing home neglect include:
- Failing to quickly report injuries/illnesses to doctors/family
- Ignoring a resident’s complaints
- Leaving residents unattended for periods of time
Neglect can have horrifying results. For example, a woman living in a nursing home developed severe bedsores and was left to lie in her own feces due to neglect.
The woman also told loved ones she once wasn’t fed in two or three days and that the staff wasn’t giving her needed medications.
After filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit, she and her family received $407,000.
Medication Errors
Nursing home residents may rely on staff to receive medications. Unfortunately, staff members may make mistakes when giving medications to residents. This can cause serious or even life-threatening complications.
Poor Personal Hygiene
Nursing home staff members must maintain each resident’s personal hygiene by changing their clothes and helping to wash them. If they fail to do so, a resident may suffer from poor hygiene, like wearing dirty or soiled clothes for hours or days, and develop health problems.
Dehydration and Malnutrition
Nursing home staff members may not give enough food or water to residents. Residents may suffer from malnutrition, dehydration, or severe weight loss as a result.
If you or a loved one suffered from any of these types of abuse in nursing homes, you may have legal rights.
Get a free case review right now to find out your options.
Fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect — start now with a free case review.
Start My Free Case Reviewor call (855) 264-6310Sexual Abuse
This is one of the most appalling types of abuse in nursing homes, but it is unfortunately common.
Nursing home sexual abuse occurs when a resident experiences any form of unwanted sexual contact, touching, or groping. It can lead to physical harm like bruises, scratches, or sexually transmitted diseases, as well as emotional trauma.
Sexual elder abuse is often committed against residents with disabilities or who can’t give consent due to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
In a recent case, a female nursing home resident complained that a male staff member tried to sexually assault her before she screamed, and he fled. The resident also suffered neglect due to untreated bedsores and pneumonia.
With legal help, the resident and her family secured $175,000.
Emotional Abuse
Nursing home emotional abuse (also known as verbal or psychological abuse) occurs when someone insults a resident or uses threats to control them. It is one of the most common types of abuse in nursing homes.
Over 32% of nursing home staff members said they emotionally abused residents, according to WHO.
Examples of emotional elder abuse include:
- Controlling a resident’s activities against their will
- Insulting the resident’s appearance or intelligence
- Isolating them from family, friends, and other residents
- Making threats against residents or loved ones
Nursing home residents who suffer from emotional elder abuse can develop long-term mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Signs that a loved one has been emotionally abused include negative changes in their mood or behavior.
Financial Abuse
Nursing home financial abuse occurs when someone steals from an older person or uses manipulation to get money from them.
Examples of financial abuse include:
- Misusing power of attorney to change a resident’s will
- Preventing the resident from accessing their own bank account
- Stealing a resident’s cash, credit cards, or valuables
- Taking a resident’s financial records or bank statements
While there may not be physical harm involved, financial abuse can be just as damaging as the other types of abuse in nursing homes.
Not only can it cause severe anxiety, but it can also rob residents of the money they need to pay for their long-term care.
Elder Abandonment
Elder abandonment often occurs when a caregiver leaves an older person who needs help from another alone to fend for themselves.
While it is one of the less common types of abuse in nursing homes, residents can also be abandoned by assisted living facilities.
The New York Times reported on a facility in California that kicked out a resident with dementia and dropped him off at a halfway house. The facility didn’t inform the victim’s family members, and he was found wandering the streets alone.
Self-Neglect
Self-neglect occurs when an older adult cannot take care of themself, leading to severe health issues.
Self-neglect may occur if an older adult lives alone in a house or apartment. However, nursing home staff members may be responsible if a resident is showing any signs of neglect while living in a facility.
Who Commits the Different Types of Nursing Home Abuse?
Various people could be guilty of committing different types of nursing home abuse. Common perpetrators include nursing home staff, administrators, other residents, and even family members.
Nursing Home Staff
Staff members may abuse residents out of frustration or anger. They may also neglect to care for a resident’s basic health needs if they haven’t been properly trained or if the facility is understaffed.
That said, there is no excuse for staff to harm nursing home residents. Any staff member who has abused or neglected an older person deserves to be punished for their actions.
Nursing Home Administrators
Administrators of long-term care facilities make decisions that affect the standard of care residents receive.
Unfortunately, administrators may put profits ahead of people by:
- Failing to keep the property safe
- Hiring poor-quality staff members
- Understaffing the nursing home
Administrative staff can also commit emotional or verbal abuse against residents. This can occur by delaying responses to serious problems and concerns or withholding information from them.
Other Nursing Home Residents
Other residents can also commit nursing home abuse. If nursing home staff members fail to keep dangerous residents from harming others, they might bear some of the blame, too.
Staff members at a Florida facility knew 3 of its residents were sexually abusive but took no action despite repeated incidents. The state banned the facility from taking new residents until it finally removed the abusers.
Family Members
Family members visiting older relatives in nursing homes can also commit abuse.
The nursing home is responsible for protecting residents from abuse — even when it’s carried out by a family member. Staff members must take note of interactions between family members and recognize possible signs of abuse.
Nursing home staff must also take all complaints seriously regarding their residents’ relationships with visiting family members.
Find Legal Help for Types of Abuse in Nursing Homes
All types of nursing home abuse are unacceptable, but there are steps you can take when they occur.
Here are steps to take for each of the types of abuse in nursing homes:
- Call 911 if a nursing home resident is in immediate danger
- Report abuse cases to your state’s ombudsman or Adult Protective Services (APS)
- Connect with a nursing home abuse attorney to pursue justice and compensation
For many families, filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit is the best path forward. A lawsuit can grant you the money needed to heal from abuse and allow you to hold negligent facilities and staff accountable.
The average nursing home neglect settlement is over $400,000 for severe harm, including wrongful death.
The Nursing Home Abuse Center has experienced legal partners who can help families in all 50 states. Together, they have secured over $304 million for many types of abuse in nursing homes.
Call us right now at (855) 264-6310 or fill out this form for a free legal case review.
Types of Abuse in Nursing Homes FAQs
What are the 7 main categories of abuse in nursing homes?
Nursing home abuse can take many forms, and it’s important to recognize each type to protect vulnerable residents.
These are the 7 types of nursing home abuse:
- Physical abuse
- Neglect of a resident’s needs
- Sexual assault
- Emotional abuse
- Financial exploitation
- Abandonment
- Self-neglect
Understanding these types of abuse can help protect nursing home residents, and taking immediate action can prevent further harm.
What is the most common mistreatment in nursing homes?
The most common mistreatment in nursing homes is neglect. This occurs when staff fail to provide basic needs such as proper hygiene, nutrition, medical care, or assistance with daily activities.
Nursing home neglect can lead to serious health issues, including infections, malnutrition, and stage 4 bedsores.
What are the warning signs of the different types of nursing home abuse?
Warning signs can vary depending on which types of nursing home abuse have occurred. However, a common red flag to watch out for is a noticeable change in mood or behavior that can not be explained.
Additionally, broken bones, bruises, and an overall decline in health can mean that abuse or neglect is occurring.
How can I get help for different types of nursing home abuse?
You can get help for different types of nursing home abuse by contacting authorities.
Local police, elder protective services, and nursing home abuse attorneys may all be able to help. Always call 911 in the event of a medical emergency.
If you want to connect with an elder abuse lawyer who can pursue compensation for you, we can help. Get started with a free case review right now.
What is the biggest complaint in nursing homes?
The biggest complaint in nursing homes is poor quality of care, often due to staff shortages. This leads to slow response times and unmet needs like hygiene.
Other frequent complaints include poor food quality, social isolation, and lost personal items.
What are some things nursing homes are not allowed to do?
Nursing homes must follow strict rules to protect residents.
Some of the most important things they cannot do include:
- Deny visitors during reasonable hours
- Force residents to accept unwanted medical treatment
- Manage a resident’s money without consent
- Neglect basic needs like food and hygiene
- Retaliate against resident complaints
- Use restraints without medical justification
- Withhold necessary medical care
These protections ensure residents receive proper care and respect. If you suspect a violation, it’s important to act.
Call (855) 264-6310 for help if you believe a loved one has suffered any type of nursing home abuse.
