What is Nursing Home Abuse?

According to the National Center for Elder Abuse, elder abuse means knowing, intentional, or negligent acts by a caregiver that cause harm—or a serious risk of harm—to a vulnerable adult. Elder abuse doesn’t discriminate. It affects people of all ethnicities, nationalities, and social statuses, both men and women.

Elder abuse is more than just a physical injury. In nursing homes, the abuse comes in many forms, including physical harm, mental anguish and even sexual exploitation.

Physical Abuse

Nursing home abuse can result in a wide range of injuries, including bruises, bed sores, broken bones and even death.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse can—and does—happen in nursing homes. Behaviors defined as sexual abuse include a wide array of injuries, from forced nudity to sexual assault. They include all non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.

Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing home neglect is the failure to provide a vulnerable person with food, water, medication, medical services, or other services necessary to maintain minimum physical or mental health. The duty to provide these essentials lies with anyone who takes responsibility for a vulnerable adult’s care.

The Law on Nursing Home Abuse

Vulnerable adults are protected by state and federal laws. The Arizona Adult Protective Services Act is designed to protect people who are substantially impaired or otherwise unable to protect themselves from abuse and neglect. The 1987 federal Nursing Home Reform Act also protects nursing home residents by establishing quality of care standards all nursing homes must meet.