What Is The Most Common Type Of Nursing Home Abuse?

On This Page

1. What Is Nursing Home Neglect?
2. Common Causes of Nursing Home Neglect
3. Other Types of Nursing Home Abuse
4. Let Berger and Green Help You Protect Your Loved One’s Health and Well-Being

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

February 02, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Neglect is the most common type of nursing home abuse is Pittsburgh, PA, and nationwide. Many people do not think of neglect when they consider types of abuse. However, neglect is a dangerous and deadly form of elder abuse.

Neglect may be intentional or unintentional, but it is abuse in either case. Aging seniors, especially those with chronic medical conditions, mobility issues, and cognitive deficits, rely on their caregivers for help with maintaining their health, well-being, and quality of life. When their caregivers fail to do this, the seniors can suffer significant health concerns.

What Is Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home neglect occurs when the caregivers fail to provide the necessary support and care residents need. This includes:

• Personal and hygiene care
• Adequate nutrition
• Clean clothes, sheets, and towels
• Medical care for chronic and acute conditions
• Proper support for physical and mental health needs
• Appropriate mobility support
• Protection from health and safety hazards
• Providing an acceptable quality of life

Neglect can lead to significant injuries and may even be deadly in some cases. Depending on the level of neglect, the resident’s needs, and other factors, neglect can cause:

• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Pressure sores
• Hygiene issues
• Unsanitary conditions
• Lice, body lice, and other parasites
• Worsening medical conditions because of missed medications
• Open wounds and infection
• Opportunistic infections
• Increased risk of falls

If you suspect your aging loved one is the victim of neglect in their nursing home or assisted living facility, it is important that you take action. Document the injuries your loved one suffers and take action to protect their health and well-being.

Common Causes of Nursing Home Neglect

While neglect can occur because a caregiver quits providing care or abandons the senior, there are often more complex reasons behind neglect. This is especially true in a nursing home or other long-term care environment. Some common reasons nursing home neglect is so common include:

The Facility Is Overcrowded

Many nursing home facilities have far more residents than they should. The demand outweighs the capacity, but unscrupulous administrators see only the money each new resident brings instead of considering how they can provide adequate care for each aging senior. When neglect occurs because of overcrowding, we may be able to hold the administration or facility owners liable.

The Facility Is Understaffed

Sometimes going hand-in-hand with overcrowding, understaffing is a major cause of nursing home neglect. The staff wants to take care of the residents in most cases, but they do not have enough time to provide the necessary care.

Staff may try to work out a system to ensure each resident gets some support, although it may not be adequate. Administrators may refuse to hire additional staff or pay such low wages they cannot keep the facility fully staffed.

The Staff Lacks Necessary Training and Support

Administrators fail to provide adequate training and support for staff, so the staff does not have the tools or knowledge required to provide the care seniors living in the facility need. This could include not putting proper protocols into place or not creating a system that prioritizes residents’ needs.

The Staff Is Not Qualified

To keep budgets down, administrators at many nursing care facilities hire less qualified staff when nurses with certain certifications or other specific training are necessary. While these staff members want to provide the needed care, they do not have the education or qualifications to administer medications and handle other types of specialized care.

Other Types of Nursing Home Abuse

In addition to neglect, there are also other types of nursing home abuse that can cause your loved one to suffer physically or mentally. If you suspect any of these types of nursing home abuse, take action to protect your loved one immediately. Other types of nursing home abuse include:

• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Financial abuse

Let Berger and Green Help You Protect Your Loved One’s Health and Well-Being

If you suspect your aging family member is the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse in Pittsburgh, you should take action immediately to protect their health and well-being. Reach out to Berger and Green today. A nursing home abuse lawyer can review your loved one’s case and go to work protecting your family’s rights.

We will help you report the suspected abuse to the proper agencies and ensure a thorough investigation. We will also launch our own investigation and collect evidence to document your loved one’s damages. The nursing home abuse team from Berger and Green can pursue compensation on your family’s behalf.

Call or text us today at 412-661-1400 for your free case evaluation and a consultation with a member of our team.