Types of Nursing Home Abuse

There are many different kinds of nursing home abuse, and just as many possible contributing factors that may lead to the abuse or neglect of elderly nursing home residents, including: poorly qualified or inadequately trained staff, understaffing, staff with a history of violence, the isolation of residents at a nursing home facility, and the reluctance of abuse victims to report their injuries out of fear or embarrassment. While physical abuse is typically the most obvious type of nursing home abuse, the abuse of elderly nursing home residents can take on a variety of forms, including:

• Physical abuse – The use of physical force or violence that causes bodily harm, pain, injury or impairment to a nursing home resident.
• Psychological/emotional abuse – Any action by a caregiver that causes psychological distress or emotional pain to a nursing home resident.
• Sexual abuse – Any unwanted sexual conduct against a nursing home resident, including manipulating or coercing an elderly individual into undesired sexual contact, or engaging in sexual contact with an elderly person who is unable to consent, due to a medical condition.
• Financial abuse/financial exploitation – A nursing home owner or caregiver improperly or illegally using a resident’s funds, assets or property, including cashing a resident’s checks without permission, forging a resident’s signature, or stealing a resident’s money.
• Neglect – A caregiver neglecting the needs of an elderly individual, possibly resulting in bedsores, dehydration, malnutrition, and other serious injuries.