Nursing home residents often encounter serious challenges, including inadequate care and poor facility conditions.
Family members and advocates regularly express concerns about the quality of care, often pointing to troubling issues like nursing home neglect, abuse, and unsafe environments.
Three of the most common complaints on nursing homes are:
- Insufficient staffing
- Substandard care and living conditions
- Abuse, neglect, or mistreatment
These issues are often interconnected, with one problem worsening another. Staffing shortages can result in missed care, such as medication management or assistance with daily tasks.
Poor living conditions expose residents to health risks, while abuse and neglect remain ongoing threats to safety and well-being.
If your loved one was harmed in a nursing home, you may be able to take legal action, and we may be able to help.
Find out right now with a free case review.
Fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect — start now with a free case review.
Start My Free Case Reviewor call (855) 264-6310
What Are the 3 Most Common Complaints Against Nursing Homes?
The three most common complaints in nursing homes center around inadequate staffing, poor living conditions, and abuse or neglect.
Learn more about the biggest complaints against nursing homes and what steps you can take if your family member is affected.
1. Not Enough Staff
When nursing homes are understaffed, residents may experience neglect, missed medications, and insufficient help with daily tasks.
Understaffed facilities often struggle to:
- Maintain proper hygiene in residents
- Offer social or intellectual engagement
- Provide timely medical care
Up to 94% of nursing homes face staff shortages, according to a recent report by the American Health Care Association.
This lack of staff contributes to a lower quality of life and increases the risk of harm to residents.
2. Unhealthy and Unsafe Living Conditions
Nursing homes are expected to maintain a safe, clean environment and meet the basic needs of all residents.
Unfortunately, some facilities fall short, resulting in:
- Inadequate safety measures: Poorly maintained equipment or unsafe walking areas increase the risk of nursing home falls
- Malnutrition or dehydration: Staff shortages can lead to inadequate help with eating or drinking, leaving residents at risk
- Neglected medical needs: Failure to monitor and treat conditions like wounds or infections can lead to severe complications, including stage 4 bedsores
- Poor hygiene: Unsanitary bedding, clothing, and living spaces contribute to infections, illness, and emotional distress
- Unclean facilities: Dirty common areas, bathrooms, and dining spaces can spread harmful bacteria like MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Nursing homes must ensure safe, healthy living conditions to protect residents from avoidable harm.
3. Abuse and Neglect
Nursing home abuse and neglect are among the most common complaints, often caused by understaffing, inadequate training, or caregiver misconduct.
In one study, 50% of nursing home staff admitted to mistreating residents, while 95% of residents reported witnessing or experiencing neglect.
The 5 most common types of nursing home abuse include:
- Physical abuse: Harmful actions like hitting, slapping, or using unnecessary physical restraints
- Neglect: Failing to provide essential care, leading to preventable conditions like bedsores or infections
- Sexual assault: Any unwanted or forced sexual activity imposed on a resident by staff members or other residents
- Emotional abuse: Verbal threats, intimidation, or belittling residents, causing distress and mental anguish
- Financial exploitation: Illegally or improperly using a resident’s financial resources for personal gain
Tragically, while these forms of abuse are widespread, many incidents go unreported, and the true scale of the problem remains hidden.
If your loved one is facing abuse or neglect in a nursing home, don’t wait to take action.
Call us right now at (855) 264-6310 or Click to Live Chat to find out if we can help.
How Do I Make a Complaint About a Nursing Home?
Depending on the state you live in and the specifics of your situation, there are several ways to file a complaint or report a nursing home.
Here are 3 tips for making complaints on nursing homes:
- Document the issues: Keep detailed records, noting dates, times, names, and specific incidents. Photos, videos, and other evidence can strengthen your case.
- Contact the facility: While not required, reporting the issue to the nursing home administration may provide a quicker resolution.
- Submit an anonymous complaint: Many state agencies and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) allow anonymous complaints.
If the situation involves immediate danger, call 911.
You can file complaints online, by phone, or in writing. Being thorough and detailed will help authorities investigate and address the issue more effectively.
Where to File a Complaint Against a Nursing Home
If you suspect neglect or abuse in a nursing home, it’s crucial to report it promptly. Multiple agencies and organizations can assist, depending on the severity and nature of the situation.
Here are 5 ways to file a complaint against a nursing home:
- Long-term care ombudsman: An ombudsman advocates for residents, addressing complaints about care quality, rights, and living conditions.
- State licensing and certification agency: These agencies ensure facilities comply with state laws and investigate violations and complaints.
- Adult protective services (APS): APS looks into claims involving elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, particularly in cases of harm or financial abuse.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: CMS investigates issues in Medicare/Medicaid-certified homes, focusing on care quality and staff conduct.
- Local law enforcement: For criminal cases like abuse or wrongful death, contact law enforcement to ensure resident safety and start an investigation.
Sometimes, working with a nursing home abuse lawyer is the best path forward. They can help you seek justice and compensation for your family’s pain, suffering, and financial losses.
File a Complaint Against a Nursing Home
If your loved one has suffered neglect, abuse, or inadequate care in a nursing home, filing a complaint is an important step toward justice.
Serious issues like poor hygiene, medication errors, and emotional abuse should never go unaddressed.
However, for many families, a complaint alone may not be enough to make up for the devastation of nursing home abuse or neglect.
Taking legal action can hold negligent facilities accountable and secure compensation for your loved one. It also encourages improved care standards, benefiting all residents.
An experienced nursing home abuse attorney can guide you through the legal process, protect your loved one’s rights, and hold the facility accountable.
Call the Nursing Home Abuse Center right now at (855) 264-6310 or get a free case review. We may be able to fight for the compensation and justice your family deserves.
