While many of these care facilities provide good care, the sad truth is that many do not. Nursing home abuse and neglect happen more often than we realize.
At the Nash & Franciskato Law Firm, our lawyers believe in treating our elderly with respect and care and providing them with the best quality of life in their golden years.
Has Your Loved One Suffered Abuse and Neglect? Let’s Talk.
Baby Boomers’ Impact on Long-Term Care Facilities
Baby boomers began turning 65 in 2011 From 2024 through 2027, 4.1 million Americans will turn age 65 and by 2030 all Baby Boomers will be 65 or older. When aging in place in one’s own home is not possible, many turn to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and caretakers to provide the best quality of life possible for our elderly. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, demand for these facilities continues to rise.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that a person turning 65 today has a 70 percent chance of requiring long-term care services at some point.
What is Nursing Home abuse?
Simply put. Nursing home abuse is any form of mistreatment of older adults in assisted or long-term care living facilities, where the facility and its staff have failed to provide the appropriate standard of care, resulting in harm or injury to residents.
Factors such as understaffing, improper training, and staff burnout can lead to issues such as inadequate supervision, failure to provide necessary medical treatment, poor hygiene practices, and not attending to residents’ dietary requirements. Acts of negligence can lead to serious consequences, including physical injuries, emotional distress, and even wrongful death.
- 66% of nursing home staff members admitted to abusing residents in a 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) study.
- At least 1 out of 10 adults over the age of 65 suffers from at least one type of abuse each year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
- Physical Abuse: infected bedsores or pressure ulcers, unexpected falls, hitting, pushing, unnecessary restraints, unexplained injuries (broken bones, etc.)
- Emotional/Psychological Abuse: agitations, withdrawal or fear; verbal insults and threats, sudden personality changes, humiliation
- Neglect: malnutrition, dehydration, unsanitary or unclean conditions, medication errors or overdoses, poor hygiene
- Financial Abuse: stealing money, property or belongings
- Sexual Abuse: any unwanted sexual advances or inappropriate behavior
Have you trusted a nursing home, assisted living facility, or residential care facility in Missouri with the care of a loved one? Do you now suspect abuse or neglect?
Contact us at (877) 284-6600 for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
Families put their loved ones in a nursing home or other care facility to get the care needed. That means they are putting their trust in the facility, and the staff to provide support and care in a safe manner.
Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect are more common than we realize.It is a serious issue that affects many elderly residents.
Learn more about your options
A nursing home, convalescent home, rest home or long-term care facility can be held legally responsible when an act of negligence, neglect, or abuse on the premises ends up causing harm to a patient or resident.
If your loved one was harmed by neglect or abuse in a nursing home, you may be able to file a lawsuit and recover compensation to help pay for medical care, therapy, or other expenses.
Case Results
$185,000 Settlement for elderly woman who suffered from bedsores and wounds that were left untreated, requiring her leg to be amputated.
Contact us at (877) 284-6600 for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?
- Find blog articles related to Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
- Signs of Abuse & Neglect
- Types of Elder Abuse
- Physical and Emotional Abuse
Who is Responsible for Negligence in the Nursing Home?
As with any personal injury, the responsible party can vary. If it can be demonstrated that a care facility or its employees have acted negligently, the facility may be held liable. Examples include things such as:
- Negligent training and/or monitoring of staff
- Negligent hiring practices and understaffing
- Failure to maintain adequate health and safety policies
- Failure to keep the facility free of hazards
- Failure to provide adequate security
- Medical neglect
- Intentional abuse by staff members
There are times; however, when a third party may be held responsible for injuries suffered. For instance, when medical devices and equipment malfunction or are found to be defective, it could be the result of:
- An outside contractor may have improperly maintained the equipment
- A medical device, such as a wheelchair, may have been improperly designed
- Medication may have been improperly dispensed by automatic equipment
Experience Matters
Proving neglect and abuse can be challenging and building a case takes experience and resources. The lawyers and legal team at Nash & Franciskato Law Firm will use its extensive network of resources to investigate all aspects of abuse in nursing homes and other facilities, including staff training, staffing levels, and background checks for potential criminal records.
Nash & Franciskato Law Firm in Kansas City is your advocate and the voice for your elderly family member, fighting to stop his or her pain and suffering and obtain the compensation you both deserve.
Our personal injury legal team gives you:
- Over 80 years of combined experience
- Trusted legal advisor committed to your needs
- Free, no-obligation review of your case
- Super Lawyers for over 10 years
- The AV Preeminence Rating for Ethical Standards & Legal Ability
- Compassionate advocacy for you and your family
Case Results
Confidential Settlement for elderly client who fell at a nursing home, sustaining a brain injury that required surgery and ultimately resulted in her untimely death
Receive a Free Evaluation from Kansas City nursing home abuse lawyers
If your elderly loved one has been mistreated or suffered injuries as a result of nursing home abuse and neglect, help protect his or her rights by hiring the Nash & Franciskato lawyers in Kansas City. Contact us for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
Contact Us for a free Review of Your Case
Resources for You
- Long-Term Care Statistics 2025, Consumer Affairs
- How Will America’s ‘Silver Tsunami Impact Demand for Nursing Homes?, seniorliving.org
- Get the Facts on Elder Abuse, NCOA
- Nursing Home Statistics in 2025, The Senior List
- Elder Abuse Statistics, Nursing Home Abuse Center
- Nursing Home Abuse Statistics, Nursing Home Abuse Center
- National Institute on Aging, NIH
Editor’s Note: This page was originally written and published on April 16, 2015; it was reviewed for content and accuracy on January 14, 2025, and republished at that time.
FAQ
There are several warning signs that may indicate abuse or neglect. Some of the things we look for include:
- Repeated falls
- Dehydration
- Bed sores or pressure sores
- Sudden changes in the person’s behavior
- Excessive weight loss and malnutrition
- Medical conditions not taken care of immediately
- Broken or fractured bones
- Poor personal hygiene
- Overmedication