What Are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse may involve intentional harm, neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or financial exploitation. Sometimes the signs appear suddenly. In other cases, you may notice a pattern over several visits.
While not every injury or illness means nursing home abuse is occurring, you know your loved one better than anyone. Even small changes in your relative’s health or behavior could be nursing home abuse red flags.
Common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect include:
- Bedsores that worsen
- Emotional changes like fear or agitation
- Malnutrition and dehydration
- Repeated falls
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Unexplained injuries like broken bones or bruises
- Untreated infections or illnesses
Women may be at a higher risk for any type of nursing home abuse. More than 65% of elder abuse victims are older women, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
If you’re concerned about possible signs of nursing home abuse, it’s important to take action quickly to protect your loved one’s safety. Reaching out to a nursing home’s upper management team, an ombudsman, or even law enforcement in emergency situations can help stop abuse or neglect.
At Her Case Matters, we’re here to help you explore your legal options if you notice nursing home abuse red flags. Get a free case review now to learn more.
Signs of Different Nursing Home Abuse Types
Nursing home abuse and neglect can take different forms. As a result, there are many potential signs of nursing home abuse to watch out for.
Here are signs of nursing home abuse by type:
- Nursing home neglect signs: Bedsores, dehydration, malnutrition, soiled or dirty clothes and bedding
- Physical nursing home abuse signs: Broken bones, cuts, scrapes, or other injuries
- Sexual nursing home abuse signs: STDs, injuries around the genitals, or inappropriate relationships
- Emotional nursing home abuse signs: Confusion, fear, agitation, and other changes
- Financial nursing home abuse signs: Loss of valuables or cash and changes to financial documents
Explore potential nursing home abuse red flags and signs in more detail below to get a better idea if your loved one is being mistreated.
Physical Signs of Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes
Physical abuse involves intentional force that causes injury. One accident does not always mean abuse occurred. However, repeated injuries that aren’t properly explained by staff shouldn’t be ignored.
Signs of physical abuse or assault in a nursing home include:
- Broken bones or sprains
- Bruises
- Burns
- Cuts or scrapes
- Flinching or pulling away when touched
- Injuries around wrists or ankles (signs of restraint)
- Repeated emergency room visits
- Welts
In the most severe cases, physical abuse can cost a resident their life. In 2025, an 89-year-old Holocaust survivor was allegedly beaten to death by her aggressive roommate, who had dementia, in a New York nursing home. The roommate was arrested on murder charges and the facility may face a civil suit.
Seeing a nursing home abuse injury on your mother, grandmother, wife, or another family member in a nursing home can be deeply upsetting. You may need to step in quickly to protect them.
If you’re concerned that a nursing home resident you love is in immediate danger, always call 911.
Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect occurs when staff members fail to provide essential medical care, food, water, hygiene, supervision, or assistance.
Potential nursing home neglect signs can be harder to recognize because they often develop gradually. You may first notice that your loved one looks thinner, less clean, or unusually tired.
Common signs of neglect in a nursing home include:
- Bedsores or worsening pressure wounds
- Dehydration
- Dirty clothing or bedding
- Malnutrition
- Poor hygiene
- Medication errors
- Frequent falls
- Unsafe or unsanitary living conditions
- Untreated infections
- Unexplained weight loss
“If your loved one has experienced any of these injuries, it could mean the nursing home failed in its legal duty to protect them. These are usually preventable harms, and families have every right to demand answers.”
– Ricky LeBlanc, nursing home abuse attorney
Neglect may also make a resident’s current health conditions worse. People with diabetes, dementia, heart disease, or limited mobility may be especially at risk.
Long-term care facilities have a duty to keep residents happy and healthy. When neglect leads to serious health complications, nursing homes can be held legally liable.
Signs of Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes
Over 93% of elder sexual abuse victims are older women, according to the U.S. National Institute of Justice. Sexual elder abuse includes any unwanted sexual contact or activity.
In nursing homes, other residents or even staff members may commit sexual abuse against women with physical or mental impairments. Roughly 70% of women who experienced sexual nursing home abuse had dementia, according to the Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect.
Warning signs of sexual abuse may include:
- Anxiety during bathing or dressing
- Bleeding or unexplained injuries
- Bruising around breasts, thighs, or genitals
- A new sexually transmitted infection
- Sudden fear of being touched
- Panic around a specific caregiver
- Torn, stained, or bloody undergarments
- Unexplained changes in sexual behavior
- Withdrawal, depression, or agitation
Take any concern about sexual abuse seriously. Your loved one deserves privacy, immediate medical care, and protection from further contact with the suspected perpetrator.
Emotional Signs of Elder Abuse in a Nursing Home
Not every form of nursing home abuse leaves a visible injury. Emotional nursing home abuse can change how a resident acts, communicates, and responds to others.
Emotional or psychological nursing home abuse may involve threats, humiliation, intimidation, yelling, insults, or deliberate isolation to control a resident’s behavior.
Signs of emotional nursing home abuse include:
- Acting unusually submissive
- Agitation or unexplained anger
- Anxiety around certain caregivers
- Asking to leave the facility
- Avoiding eye contact
- Crying spells
- Depression or sudden sadness
- Fear that she will be punished
- Loss of interest in hobbies
- Refusal of food or medication
- Refusal to speak in front of staff
- Rocking, mumbling, or other unusual behaviors
- Trouble sleeping
- Unusual quietness during visits
- Withdrawal from family or activities
Roughly 1 in 3 nursing home staff members admitted to committing emotional abuse, according to the World Health Organization.
Emotional mistreatment often coincides with other forms of nursing home abuse. If you notice sudden and negative changes in your loved one’s mood or behavior, it may be a sign to keep a closer watch for something more serious.
Signs of Financial Nursing Home Abuse
Financial exploitation involves taking or misusing a nursing home resident’s money, property, benefits, or legal authority.
While it may not leave physical marks, it can be devastating to your loved one’s financial well-being if not caught and addressed promptly.
Warning signs of financial abuse in a nursing home include:
- Bills that suddenly go unpaid
- Changes to a will, deed, or power of attorney
- Checks written to unfamiliar people
- Missing jewelry, cash, or personal belongings
- New credit card charges
- New names added to financial accounts
- Pressure to sign documents
- Sudden confusion about finances
- Unexplained bank withdrawals
A Texas nursing home owner allegedly stole $75,000 from a resident with dementia over a 3-month period. The resident’s life savings were drained and she died penniless, according to ABC13 Eyewitness News. The nursing home owner was later arrested.
Families who are concerned about financial nursing home abuse can speak to their loved one’s bank, police, or even the FBI to get help on next steps, according to the American Bankers Association.
How to Spot the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
To protect older adults that you love, it’s crucial to spot potential signs of nursing home abuse quickly and address them. This is particularly true when a nursing home resident can’t advocate for themselves due to impairments like dementia.
Here are tips to spotting signs of elder abuse in nursing homes:
- Document your concerns. Record dates, injuries, behavioral changes, unapproved financial transactions, staff explanations, and photographs when appropriate.
- Report the issue to facility management. Ask for incident reports, medical records, and a clear response plan.
- Seek medical care. Have injuries, bedsores, dehydration, malnutrition, or possible sexual abuse evaluated and documented by health care professionals.
- Contact Adult Protective Services. APS investigates elder abuse, neglect, abandonment, and financial exploitation.
- Call a long-term care ombudsman. An ombudsman can explain resident rights and help resolve facility complaints.
- Contact law enforcement. Call 911 for immediate danger or report suspected crimes to local police.
- Consider relocation. Move your loved one if the facility cannot keep them safe.
- Speak with a nursing home abuse lawyer. An attorney can investigate the harm and explain your legal options.
Sometimes, you may notice changes in your loved one’s appearance, mood, or health, but you might not be sure if abuse or neglect are occurring.
In these cases, don’t wait: Trust your gut and report the abuse you may be seeing. Nursing home abuse can quickly lead to serious injuries or complications if not addressed.
Taking Legal Action for Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
If a nursing home failed to protect a woman you love, your family may have the right to pursue legal action. Nursing home abuse lawyers can assess possible signs and determine if you can pursue compensation and justice through a lawsuit.
Nursing home abuse lawyers help by:
- Assessing and collecting evidence related to signs of abuse or mistreatment
- Determining whether the facility ignored warning signs
- Evaluating the nursing home’s care policies
- Filing civil lawsuits on your behalf
- Pursuing strong payouts through nursing home settlements or verdicts.
“You do not need to have proof before speaking with a nursing home neglect lawyer. If you’re concerned that something is wrong, that’s enough to start the conversation. Experienced nursing home neglect lawyers can investigate, gather evidence, and determine whether the facility failed in its duty.”
– Ricky LeBlanc, nursing home abuse attorney
The nursing home abuse lawyers in our network have recovered over $332 million to date for families impacted by nursing home abuse or neglect.
Get a free case review now to connect with lawyers who can review signs of nursing home abuse and pursue payouts on your behalf, if eligible.
Get Help for Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Seeing signs of nursing home abuse can make you question whether you should have noticed sooner. Please remember that the abuse is not your fault. What matters now is protecting your loved one.
At Her Case Matters, we’re here to support women and families like yours who have recognized possible signs of nursing home abuse or neglect.
We’re ready to help you:
- Better understand signs of nursing home abuse
- Explore options to keep your loved ones safe
- Get legal support needed to move forward
Get a free case review or call (877) 814-3168 now to speak with our caring and compassionate patient advocates about nursing home abuse red flags.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse FAQs
What are the red flags of nursing home abuse?
Common nursing home abuse red flags include injuries like broken bones, emotional changes like fear of certain caregivers, strange financial transactions, worsening bedsores (pressure ulcers) or malnutrition, and sexually transmitted illnesses.
Because there are different types of nursing home abuse, it’s important for families to keep an eye out for many possible signs of mistreatment and promptly address them.
Contact us today if you’re unsure about what you’ve seen. Our compassionate team can provide support and help you understand your next steps.
What are the warning signs of an abusive person?
Abusive people may use manipulation, verbal threats, isolation, and physical harm to control their victim’s behavior. In nursing homes, staff members may resort to abuse to make residents easier to deal with.
Other residents, particularly those with mental impairments like dementia, may become aggressive or violent in part due to the nature of their condition.
There is never a good excuse for nursing home abuse. If you notice a staff member becoming aggressive or unprofessional to someone you love, it’s important to step in to stop things from escalating.
How do I recognize signs of nursing home abuse?
You can recognize the signs of nursing home abuse by closely monitoring your loved one’s overall health and behavior. If you’re able, regularly visiting them and checking up on any health issues they’re facing is a great way to spot elder abuse signs before they worsen.
Make sure to address any possible signs of nursing home abuse early by speaking with nursing home administrators, ombudsmen, your state’s APS agency, or law enforcement as relevant.
You can also call (877) 814-3168 to discuss possible signs of nursing home abuse with our team and learn if you can take civil legal action.
What signs of nursing home abuse or neglect do families miss?
Families may sometimes dismiss potential signs of nursing home abuse that don’t seem serious, such as emotional changes like confusion, weight and appetite loss, or wearing the same clothes.
In particular, nursing home neglect may slowly worsen over time — and in too many cases, by the time families become truly concerned, the resident has been seriously injured.
What should I do first if I suspect signs of nursing home abuse?
First, start by making sure your loved one is safe. Call 911 if they’re in immediate danger or need urgent medical care. Then write down what you observed, request medical records, report your concerns, and contact appropriate authorities and agencies.
In cases where immediate harm may not be apparent, working with nursing home management or ombudsmen can be a good first step to seeing if neglect or abuse is taking place.
From there, you may want to consider reaching out to a nursing home law firm to discuss your legal options. Get a free case review now to connect with our partner elder abuse attorneys.
What are some signs of a bad nursing home?
Signs of a bad nursing home may include poor online ratings, low staffing levels, previous violations or citations, and dirty common areas.
Before choosing a long-term care facility, always make sure to diligently research it. You can use Medicare’s Care Compare website to review each nursing home’s history of care violations and ratings.
Arranging a tour and speaking with other residents about their experiences are also good steps to ensure you’re choosing the right facility.
What are 5 signs of abuse in a nursing home?
5 signs of abuse in a nursing home include:
- Dirty clothing, bedding, or rooms
- Emotional changes such as withdrawal
- Physical injuries like bruises
- Strange financial transactions
- Wounds around genitals
If you notice any of these signs, it could mean that a resident you love is suffering. Make sure to keep a close watch on their overall health and report potential signs to management, ombudsmen, law enforcement, or a nursing home attorney to keep them safe.
You can also contact us now to learn about taking legal action against the nursing home for your loved one’s suffering. You may be eligible to seek compensation.
Written by: Her Case Matters
At HerCaseMatters, we believe women deserve to be heard — especially when it comes to their health and safety. Too often, harmful drugs, devices, and corporate wrongdoing impact women’s lives without proper warning, support, or accountability. We’re here to change that. We work with trusted legal partners who are deeply experienced in holding powerful companies accountable. But more than that, we’re here to remind women everywhere that their pain is real, their experiences matter, and they deserve justice.
- ABC 13 Eyewitness News. (2026, January 6). Katy group home operator accused of stealing $75K from resident with dementia. Retrieved from https://abc13.com/post/katy-group-home-operator-accused-stealing-75k-resident-dementia/18358732/.
- American Bankers Association. (n.d.). Protect Older Americans from Financial Exploitation. Retrieved from https://www.aba.com/advocacy/community-programs/consumer-resources/protect-your-money/elderly-financial-abuse.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (n.d.). Elder Abuse and Women’s Health. Retrieved from https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2021/03/elder-abuse-and-womens-health.
- Eyewitness News ABC7NY. (2025, September 17). 95-year-old charged with murder of Holocaust survivor at nursing home. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmhU-jzJXkE.
- National Adult Protective Services Association. (n.d.). Learning About Abuse. Retrieved from https://www.napsa-now.org/abuse/.
- National Adult Protective Services Association. (n.d.). Learning About Financial Exploitation. Retrieved from https://www.napsa-now.org/financial-exploitation/.
- National Adult Protective Services Association. (n.d.). Learning About Neglect & Self-Neglect. Retrieved from https://napsa-now.org/neglect-and-self-neglect/.
- National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Factors Affecting Mistreatment of the Elderly in Long-Term Care Facilities. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7551777/.
- National Institute on Aging. (2023). Elder Abuse. Retrieved from https://nia.nih.gov/health/elder-abuse.
- National Institute of Justice. (n.d.). Elderly Victims of Sexual Abuse and Their Offenders. Retrieved from https://nij.ojp.gov/library/publications/elderly-victims-sexual-abuse-and-their-offenders.
- World Health Organization. (2024, June 15). Abuse of older people. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abuse-of-older-people.
