Signs of Nursing Home Neglect and What You Can Do About It

You did your research. You even consulted professionals. This nursing home promises quality care for your loved one. It wasn’t just a promise; it was their legal obligation. But now, every visit reveals a new problem. When you ask the staff, the answers are unsatisfactory, yet you can see your dad, mom, grandfather, grandmother, or other loved ones fading away. Is this just a consequence of old age? Or is someone failing at their job?

Nursing homes should be safe havens that provide care and safety to those who need it the most. Families trust these facilities to do what they can no longer manage alone—ensuring their loved ones are comfortable, well-fed, and treated with compassion. What happens when that trust is broken? When promises of “quality care” are nothing more than words on a brochure?

Understaffing, poor training, and outright negligence leave many vulnerable to mistreatment. This article will outline the most common types of nursing home neglect and what you should do if you suspect your loved one is at risk. Lawyers with experience handling nursing home neglect cases, such as attorneys at Duffy & Duffy, PLLC, can offer sound advice, listen to your concerns, and guide you through the legal process.

What Is Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home neglect happens when those entrusted with the care of elderly residents fail them. And it happens far more often than most people realize. Every year, thousands of elderly residents suffer in silence. Some are ignored when they cry for help, others are physically restrained, and many are financially exploited by the very people entrusted with their care. Here are the different types of nursing home neglect:

• Medical neglect: If your loved one was living at home and they skipped their heart medication or insulin shot, you’d rush to help. In nursing homes, residents may not always benefit from the same level of attention. Medical neglect happens when residents are deprived of necessary medications either due to staffing shortages, poor training, or outright negligence.
• Basic needs neglect: Your loved one once cared for you, ensuring you ate, your clothes were clean, and you had everything you needed. They rely on others to do the same at their most vulnerable stage. However, in nursing homes, they might fail to get that help. They might be left hungry, thirsty, and sitting in an unkempt room with unchanged sheets every day. Basic needs neglect strips people of their dignity, leaving them feeling abandoned and powerless.
• Personal hygiene neglect: Hygiene neglect often starts small—an unwashed shirt here, a skipped bath there. But if left unchecked, it becomes a serious health hazard. Without regular showers, residents are at risk for fungal infections, rashes, and even bedsores. Dirty clothes can trap bacteria and cause skin infections. Unbrushed teeth can cause gum disease and painful abscesses.
• Social neglect: Human connection is just as vital as food and water, yet many nursing home residents are deprived of it. Imagine spending every day in the same chair, staring at the same walls, with no one to talk to. Imagine hearing laughter from the common room but never being invited. Imagine relying on someone to push your wheelchair outside, but they never do. It’s not just loneliness; it’s a form of silent suffering that strips you of joy, connection, and even a sense of purpose.

What to Do if You Suspect Neglect

If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. If you see any of the warning signs of nursing home abuse, like misused medication, dehydration, unchanged clothing, or increased isolation, you need to take action. Here is what you should do:

• Observe and document: Neglect is hard to prove without evidence. Write down dates, specific incidences, and any concerning changes in your loved one’s condition. Photos and documented conversations with staff can be important evidence when action needs to be taken.
• Report to nursing home management: Next, report your suspicions to the nursing home’s management. Doing this in writing is ideal, as it creates a paper trail. Document who you spoke to and what they promised. If your concerns are dismissed, escalate the issue further—your loved one’s safety depends on it.
• File a complaint: If management fails to take satisfactory action, take the next step—file an official complaint. State health departments, elder abuse hotlines, and long-term care ombudsman programs can hold facilities accountable. And the more complaints they receive, the harder it is for neglect to go ignored.
• Contact an attorney: Taking on a nursing home can feel overwhelming. A nursing home abuse lawyer experienced in elder neglect cases can guide you through the process and fight for the rights of your loved one.

Conclusion

The silencing of suffering is unacceptable; everyone deserves the opportunity to share their struggles and find solace and support. If you suspect nursing home neglect, document what you see, report it, and take action. Your voice could be the difference between continued mistreatment and real change.