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Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Nursing Home abuse takes many different forms, but the most common forms of abuse are:

Neglect

Neglect is one of the most tragic forms of abuse. Neglect can be defined in many ways, but I define it as the failure to meet the resident’s care needs. In fact, it has been shown that failure to fulfill a caretaking obligation constitutes more than half of all reported cases of nursing home abuse. Neglect, whether intentional or unintentional, is unacceptable.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is the non-accidental use of force against a nursing home resident that results in physical pain, injury or impairment. Such abuse includes not only physical assaults such as hitting and shoving, but also includes the inappropriate use of drugs, restraints, or confinement.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is caused when a person speaks to or treats a nursing home resident in a manner that produces emotional pain or psychological distress. Emotional abuse can be either verbal or non-verbal. Verbal abuse includes yelling, screaming and/or humiliating a nursing home resident. Non-verbal abuse includes ignoring, isolating and/or terrorizing a nursing home resident.

Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Sexual abuse is any sexual contact with a nursing home resident with or without the resident's consent. Such abuse can include unwanted physical acts, but may also include forcing the nursing home resident to undress or view pornographic material or other sex acts.