Nursing Home Neglect

What Is Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home neglect is a form of abuse committed against residents in nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care facilities. Nursing home negligence involves poor care or breaches of duty that cause residents to suffer.

Examples of nursing home neglect include:

• Failing to call a doctor or nurse for treatment when needed
• Ignoring a resident’s injuries or illnesses (bedsores, infections, etc.)
• Leaving residents with mobility issues in their rooms for long periods
• Neglecting to bathe or change a resident’s clothes or bedding regularly
• Withholding food or water, leading to nutritional deficiencies

Although nursing home negligence may not seem as aggressive as other forms of nursing home abuse, it can be just as harmful to the physical and mental health of vulnerable residents.

The Nursing Home Abuse Center partners with experienced nursing home neglect lawyers across the country who can help families in all 50 states.

As of 2026, our legal partners have recovered over $318 million for those impacted by nursing home abuse and neglect. Get a free case review right now to find out if we can help your family.

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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 to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Neglect

1. Document what you see: Write down concerns, dates, and changes in your loved one’s condition. Photos can help.
2. Raise concerns with the facility: Ask for a written response through the nursing home’s complaint process.
3. Contact a long-term care ombudsman: These independent advocates work on behalf of residents and can step in on their behalf.
4. Call a state agency: File a complaint with the office that inspects and regulates nursing homes, often your state’s public health department.
5. Take legal action: If there was an injury or a tragic loss, a nursing home neglect lawyer can explain if the facility can be held responsible.

If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911 right away.

Types of Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing home neglect can take various forms, posing significant risks to residents’ health and well-being. Learn more about common types of nursing home neglect below.

“Severe bedsores are one of the clearest signs of nursing home neglect. These wounds take time to form and are almost always preventable with routine care.”

– Ricky LeBlanc, Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

Medical Neglect

Medical neglect occurs when a facility fails to provide proper medical care or follow accepted standards. It could be considered nursing home malpractice when a doctor, nurse, or medical provider’s actions fall below professional standards and cause harm.

Examples of medical neglect include:

• Delayed treatment for infections, injuries, or sudden changes in health
• Missed or incorrect medications
• Poor wound care that allows pressure injuries to worsen
• Unmanaged pain or ignored medical complaints

“Evidence has mounted over decades that some facilities wrongly diagnose residents with schizophrenia or administer antipsychotic drugs to sedate them, despite dangerous side effects that could include death,” the Associated Press reports.

Basic Care Neglect

This form of nursing home neglect happens when residents are deprived of the daily support they depend on to live safely and with dignity.

Common examples include:

• Dehydration from not getting enough to drink
• Lack of hygiene, such as infrequent bathing or soiled clothing
• Malnutrition caused by skipped or irregular meals
• Unsanitary living conditions, like dirty rooms or bedding

These are not minor oversights. They signal systemic breakdowns in care, and can cause your loved one to suffer serious injuries.

Neglect of Resident Safety

Safety neglect involves preventable dangers inside the facility.

It often appears through:

• Burns from hot water, heating pads, or improperly handled equipment
• Falls caused by a lack of supervision or mobility assistance
• Restraints used for staff convenience rather than resident safety

When these risks go unaddressed, injuries that should never happen become routine.

What Are the Warning Signs of Nursing Home Neglect?

If you’re concerned about the quality of care your loved one is receiving, look for red flags that may be signs of neglect in a nursing home.

This report suggests that even well-regarded sources can miss or gloss over serious problems. Therefore, it is crucial to know what to look for to keep your loved one safe.

Learn about the top 7 warning signs of nursing home neglect below.

1. Loss or Lack of Mobility

High-quality nursing homes have programs and policies in place to keep residents physically active and mobile.

Neglectful nursing homes may leave residents sitting in their beds or wheelchairs for long periods, causing them to develop mobility issues.

When residents sit in wheelchairs or lie in beds without being repositioned, pressure ulcers can easily progress into incredibly dangerous advanced bedsores.

2. Poor Personal Hygiene

Many nursing home residents need help with personal health care, such as brushing their teeth, getting dressed, and bathing.

Nursing homes without enough staff members often fail to keep residents clean and healthy.

3. Behavioral Issues

Nursing home negligence may lead to emotional issues for residents, such as fear of caregivers, a reluctance to open up to staff, or anger and resentment.

Constant neglect can cause anxiety or depression. Some residents may distance themselves from friends and family members as a result.

4. Dehydration and Malnutrition

Many residents who experience nursing home negligence are not getting enough food or water.

Loved ones should look for signs of dehydration and malnutrition, like tiredness or irritability, complaints of being cold, hair loss, and papery skin.

5. Sudden Weight Loss

Nursing homes that neglect proper care may fail to provide residents with adequate nutrition, leading to significant weight loss. This can indicate that residents are not receiving enough food or the right kind of food to meet their dietary needs.

6. Unexplained Injuries or Bruises

Nursing homes with staffing issues are less likely to prevent residents from accidentally or intentionally harming themselves or others.

Residents may suffer serious injuries like broken bones, bedrail injuries, and concussions. Additionally, fall-related injuries can occur due to a lack of supervision.

Staff members may not report nursing home injuries in a timely manner or even know how a resident was harmed.

7. Facility Issues

A nursing home should provide clean clothing, bedding, and living areas. Facilities should also be free from pests and mold. If a nursing home is dirty or smells bad, it could be a red flag that a resident you love is at a higher risk of neglect.

If your loved one is showing any of these signs of nursing home negligence, connect with our compassionate patient advocates now for a free case review.

Get a Free Case Review by

Fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect — start now with a free case review.

Start My Free Case Reviewor call (855) 264-6310

Top Causes of Nursing Home Neglect

There are many causes of elder neglect in nursing homes, but several chronic issues are often at the root of the problem. Below are several of the most common causes of nursing home negligence.

Staffing Issues

Understaffing is a top cause of nursing home neglect. Without enough well-trained and consistent staff, residents are at a higher risk of receiving poor care.

These are some of the staffing issues that plague many facilities:

• High turnover rates: Frequent changes in staff can disrupt care and result in the hiring of inexperienced workers or unqualified temporary help.
• Inadequate training: Staff members who are not properly trained may not know how to care for residents, leading to mistakes and neglect.
• Negligent hiring: Hiring unqualified or unsuitable staff can directly lead to neglectful care. For example, a lack of proper background checks could result in hiring staff with histories of violence.
• Understaffing: When there are not enough staff members to properly care for residents, neglect can occur. This leads to overworked employees and inadequate attention to residents’ needs.

When nursing homes cut corners on staffing, residents suffer. If your loved one was harmed by neglect, don’t wait.

Contact the Nursing Home Abuse Center at (855) 264-6310 right now or Click to Live Chat to see if we can help your family.

Inadequate Training

Nursing home staff are responsible for caring for residents with complex medical needs, mobility limitations, and cognitive impairment. When workers are not properly trained, the results can be severe.

Poor training in nursing homes may lead to:

• Delayed treatment for infections, injuries, or sudden decline
• Falls caused by poor supervision or mobility support
• Medication errors, such as missed or incorrect doses
• Missed emergencies like strokes or sepsis
• Unsafe transfers when residents are moved without proper help
• Worsening bedsores from lack of repositioning or wound care

Over time, the lack of care leads to facility-wide issues. Residents suffer not because a single worker made a mistake, but because the facility failed to prepare its staff to provide safe, competent care.

Poor Management and Oversight

Nursing home neglect often starts at the top. When leadership fails to supervise staff, enforce standards, or invest in basic operations, harmful conditions become routine.

Poor management shows up as weak oversight, unclear procedures, missing supplies, and cost-cutting that puts residents at risk.

Dealing With Neglect In Nursing Homes

When neglect is happening, residents and families often feel torn between speaking up and fearing retaliation. The reality is that neglect rarely stops on its own. Taking action is often the only way to protect a loved one and prevent further harm.

If your loved one is in immediate danger, getting them to safety is the first priority. Once they are safe, the next step is understanding whether the care they received may have violated their rights.

Get a free case review right now to see if you can file a nursing home negligence claim.

Get a Free Case Review by

Fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect — start now with a free case review.

Start My Free Case Reviewor call (855) 264-6310

How to Report Nursing Home Neglect

If a loved one has suffered from poor care, make sure to report nursing home negligence to the authorities as soon as possible. Doing so can prevent further harm.

Neglect may mean other forms of abuse are also taking place. This could include physical abuse or sometimes even sexual assault. Left untreated, health problems stemming from nursing home abuse and neglect can lead to depression, disability, or death.

You can report suspected abuse or neglect anonymously in most states by contacting your local Adult Protective Services (APS), the state’s long-term care ombudsman, or the health department.

You do not need proof to make a report — just reasonable suspicion. Learn more about how to report nursing home neglect below.

Local Law Enforcement (Dial 911 in an emergency)

Police or paramedics can remove residents from a neglectful nursing home and deliver them to a safe location. They can also conduct a criminal investigation to see if the nursing home has broken any laws.

Adult Protective Services

The local APS office will generally be in charge of investigating non-urgent complaints of nursing home neglect. An agent can conduct a welfare check on a resident and recommend the next steps.

Nursing Home Ombudsman

Employees and volunteers at local ombudsman nursing home offices serve as advocates for adults in long-term care facilities.

They can address concerns an elder or their loved ones may have, investigate a nursing home for signs of neglect, and help victims take legal action if needed.

Social Workers

When investigating a complaint, APS may call on social workers they are partnered with to address a victim’s health and safety concerns.

Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers

If you think your loved one is the victim of nursing home negligence, experienced nursing home abuse attorneys may be able to help.

An attorney can pursue financial compensation to help you and your family cover expenses stemming from neglect. Money from a lawsuit can also help move your loved one to a safer facility where they get the care they deserve.

Remember, it’s important to act quickly. Each state has time limits for taking legal action called statutes of limitations. If you wait too long, these deadlines can prevent you from seeking justice and financial compensation.

Preventing Nursing Home Negligence

Taking a proactive approach is the best way to protect your family members from nursing home negligence. Here are some measures you can take to keep your loved one safe.

1. Believing Loved Ones

Always take complaints of neglect from older adults seriously and investigate them. Dismissing their concerns may discourage them from speaking up again.

2. Carefully Reviewing Nursing Home Facilities

Before choosing a nursing home or assisted living facility, make sure it is properly staffed and well-maintained.

CMS has a Nursing Home Care Compare tool that you can use to research facilities. You can also check U.S. News & World Report and read reviews online.

If possible, speak to other residents or their families and see how they like living at the facility.

3. Regularly Contacting Loved Ones

Frequently visiting loved ones in nursing homes may make seeing signs of poor care easier. If regular visits aren’t possible, keeping in touch through phone calls or other methods can help.

4. Watching for Signs of Neglect or Abuse

Simply being aware of the warning signs of nursing home neglect and abuse is key to detecting and addressing problems early on. Make sure to speak up if you think your loved one could be suffering.

Get Legal Help for Nursing Home Neglect

If you or a loved one experienced abuse and neglect in nursing homes, consider taking legal action. Filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit can help you pursue justice and potentially deter future neglect. A successful lawsuit also provides compensation for your loved one’s injuries.

No one should have to endure poor treatment during their most vulnerable years, especially when relying on and paying for care. If your loved one was the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, we’re here to help.

The nursing home neglect attorneys in our network have recovered over $318 million for families across the country for mistreatment in care facilities.

Call us right now at (855) 264-6310 or get a free case review to see if you or your loved one may be entitled to compensation.