Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

While the most common form of nursing home abuse is physical, another prevalent type of abuse is neglect. Whether the act is accidental or intentional, nursing home neglect can be significantly harmful. Common causes of neglect include inadequate staffing (e.g., not enough staff to take care of residents and impossible workloads, negligent hiring practices (e.g., not hiring qualified workers or conducting background checks), and poor training.

The following are the common forms of nursing home neglect:

• Medical neglect – When a staff member fails to fulfill a resident’s healthcare needs. Common examples include failure to provide the resident with medication in a timely manner, not regularly moving residents with mobility issues, improper medical care for existing conditions, and failure to report signs of illness or infection.
• Neglect of basic living – When a staff member fails to maintain a safe and clean-living environment. Common examples include not providing adequate food and water, not cleaning the residents’ rooms or common areas on a routine basis, and failing to keep the nursing home at a normal temperature.
• Neglect of personal hygiene – When a staff member fails to clean or maintain a resident’s personal hygiene. Neglect of personal hygiene can lead to serious health issues. Common examples include failing to properly bathe residents, not changing residents, and not regularly checking on residents.
• Emotional neglect – When staff leaves a resident alone for a long period of time or fails to provide him/her with enough emotional care or social activity.

If you are worried about a loved one’s quality of care from a nursing home or assisted-living facility, there are several signs that indicate nursing home neglect. However, neglect can still be difficult to detect, especially if your loved one suffers from dementia or Alzheimer's disease.