According to the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987, those individuals residing in nursing homes have the right to live in an environment that is conducive to either the improvement or maintenance of both their physical and mental health. When the environment of a nursing home fails to meet these requirements, the individual residing in the nursing home may be the victim of nursing home abuse. Nursing home abuse can take several forms, and elderly abuse victims may be unable or unwilling to communicate the type of abuse they are experiencing at the hands of their caregivers. Nursing home abuse can be physical abuse, mental abuse, emotional abuse, or medical abuse. Neglect is a form of abuse that elderly individual may experience while living in an institution such as a nursing home as well.

If an elderly individual living in a nursing home is intentionally caused harm or pain by those employed by the nursing home, the elderly individual may be the victim of nursing home abuse. Intentional harm or pain may include things such as physical or sexual attacks, rough handling, cursing or threatening, corporal punishment, seclusion, or other forms of substandard care. Substandard care can lead to bed sores, depression, malnourishment or dehydration, and other physical, mental, or emotional ailments. Families may oftentimes be unaware of the abuse their elderly one is suffering; therefore, it is imperative that families understand what constitutes nursing home abuse and the sign commonly associated with abuse.

Elderly individuals are often afraid to report abuse due to fear of retaliation by their caregivers or they are unable to report abusive behavior due to an illness or disability. For these reasons, it is extremely important that the families of these vulnerable and susceptible individuals understand those actions and behaviors that comprise abuse. When families either suspect or have evidence their elderly loved one is being abused, they need to report this information to the proper authorities. In addition, families will want to retain the services of a skilled nursing home abuse attorney to represent their loved one. Nursing home abuse may be more prevalent than most would like to believe, and families have to make certain their loved one is receiving the proper care and treatment they deserve.