Types of Nursing Home Neglect that Can Cause Serious Injuries

On August 7, 2025 by No Comments

Moving a loved one into a nursing home is never easy. You hope they’ll be treated with the care and dignity they deserve, especially when they can no longer care for themselves. These facilities are meant to offer support, safety, and compassion. But when that care turns into neglect, the impact can be devastating for both the resident and their family.

At Macaluso & Fafinski, P.C., we’ve seen how neglect in nursing homes can lead to serious, even life-threatening injuries. It happens more often than most people think. If your loved one has been harmed in a facility you trusted, speaking with a Bronx, NY nursing home abuse lawyer is an important first step. We’re here to help you understand your rights and take action. The law is on your side, and so are we.

What Is Considered Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home neglect occurs when staff fail to meet a resident’s essential needs, such as food, hygiene, mobility assistance, or medical care. It is not always intentional, but that does not lessen the danger. Neglect can result in serious injuries, illness, or even death. Common signs of nursing home neglect include:

• Not repositioning bedridden residents, causing painful bedsores
• Failing to provide enough water or food, leading to dehydration or malnutrition
• Ignoring hygiene needs like bathing or changing clothes
• Not helping with walking or mobility, increasing fall risk
• Leaving wounds untreated or infections unchecked

These issues are not just isolated mistakes. They often point to larger problems such as understaffing, inadequate training, or poor oversight within the facility. If you suspect neglect, speaking with a Bronx personal injury lawyer can help protect your loved one and begin the process of holding the facility accountable.

How Nursing Home Neglect Differs from Abuse Under the Law

Although both neglect and abuse can harm residents, the law defines them differently. Neglect usually involves a failure to act, often due to staff being overwhelmed or poorly trained. Abuse, on the other hand, involves deliberate harm, such as hitting, yelling, or purposefully withholding care.

Despite the legal distinction, both neglect and abuse can lead to severe physical and emotional consequences. They are both valid reasons to pursue legal action. A New York personal injury attorney can investigate the situation, determine the nature of the mistreatment, and build a strong case to hold the facility responsible for the harm caused.

Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers

One of the most common red flags for neglect is bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers. These are painful wounds that develop when a person is left in one position for too long. Areas like the hips, back, and heels are especially vulnerable.

According to the CDC, around 11 percent of nursing home residents suffer from pressure ulcers. These injuries are preventable. When they happen, it suggests that staff are not repositioning residents or checking for early signs of skin breakdown. These wounds can lead to serious complications, including infection and sepsis. If your loved one has developed bedsores, a New York nursing home abuse lawyer can help determine whether the nursing home failed in its duty of care.

Falls and Fractures

Falls are one of the most serious threats older adults face. The CDC reports that nearly 3 million seniors are treated in emergency rooms each year because of fall-related injuries, and many never fully recover.

When a loved one falls in a nursing home, it’s not always just an accident. Maybe no one helped them to the bathroom. Maybe there were no handrails or working call buttons. It’s heartbreaking and often preventable. If your family is facing this situation, a Bronx personal injury lawyer can help you find out what really happened and hold the facility accountable.

Dehydration and Malnutrition

Food and hydration are basic needs, but they are often overlooked in nursing homes with overworked or inattentive staff. Residents may be unable to feed themselves or communicate thirst. Without proper support, they become weak, confused, or even gravely ill. Signs of malnutrition or dehydration include:

• Rapid weight loss
• Dry mouth and lips
• Dizziness or disorientation
• Urinary tract infections

These conditions can make it harder for residents to recover from illnesses or injuries. If your loved one is not getting the care they need, a New York nursing home attorney can step in.

Infections from Poor Hygiene or Untreated Wounds

When nursing homes ignore hygiene, infections spread. Residents may be left in soiled bedding, go days without bathing, or receive no wound care. Minor injuries can turn into major health crises.

For example, untreated pressure sores may become infected. A simple cut can develop into sepsis. Urinary tract infections are common in nursing homes that fail to change bedding or assist residents with toileting.

A personal injury attorney in the Bronx can help uncover whether neglect contributed to an infection. Medical records, staff logs, and inspection reports often reveal patterns of carelessness.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse in nursing homes is a deeply disturbing form of mistreatment. It involves any unwanted or non-consensual sexual contact inflicted on a resident.
 Warning signs may include:

• Bruises around sensitive areas
• Torn or bloodied undergarments
• Sudden mood swings or emotional withdrawal
• Unexplained sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

These signs are often subtle but serious. Victims may be too afraid or ashamed to speak out, making early detection and legal action important.

Emotional and Psychological Neglect

You may notice your loved one becoming withdrawn, fearful, or sad. They may stop participating in activities or seem reluctant to speak. This kind of harm is deeply damaging and just as valid in the eyes of the law. A New York nursing home attorney can help address psychological neglect with the seriousness it deserves.

Neglect does not have to leave a physical scar to be harmful. Emotional neglect can include ignoring residents, isolating them, or speaking to them in a dismissive or cruel manner. Over time, this treatment can cause depression, anxiety, or cognitive decline.

Medication Errors

Medication errors in nursing homes occur when residents receive the wrong drug, incorrect dosage, or miss doses altogether. These mistakes can lead to serious health complications, including allergic reactions, worsening conditions, or even death.

Such errors often happen because of staff shortages, miscommunication, or inadequate training. If your loved one has been harmed by a medication mistake, consulting a New York nursing home abuse lawyer can help you understand your options and pursue justice.

Wrongful Death

Wrongful death in a nursing home occurs when a resident dies due to neglect, abuse, or preventable medical errors. This can result from untreated infections, malnutrition, delayed emergency care, or unsafe living conditions. Often, families only realize something is wrong after a sudden or unexplained death.

A thorough investigation may uncover critical failures in care or systemic issues within the facility. If wrongful death is suspected, it is important to consult a personal injury attorney who can help seek justice and accountability.

Common Excuses Nursing Homes Make and Why They Do Not Hold Up

When families start asking questions about their loved one’s injuries or declining health, nursing homes often respond with familiar excuses. It’s frustrating and disheartening, especially when you trusted them to provide care. Many families hear lines like:

• We are short-staffed
• The resident refused care
• It was just an accident

While staffing shortages are real, they are not a free pass to deliver substandard care. Facilities are responsible for maintaining safe staffing levels. And if a resident refuses care, staff are trained to document it and attempt alternatives. A NY nursing home neglect lawyer can cut through these excuses by demanding records, speaking to witnesses, and showing patterns of negligence.

Facility Liability in Nursing Home Neglect Cases

Nursing home neglect is rarely the fault of a single staff member. In many cases, it reflects deeper, systemic problems within the facility itself.

• Low staffing levels: Cost-cutting reduces staff, leaving too few caregivers for proper care.
• Poor hiring and training: Unqualified or undertrained staff increase risks of neglect and errors.
• Ignoring care protocols: Failing to follow state rules puts residents in danger.

A Bronx nursing home attorney can uncover whether the root of the problem is systemic. Facilities that repeatedly violate safety standards can and should be held accountable.

Using State Inspection Reports to Strengthen Your Nursing Home Neglect Case

The New York State Department of Health routinely inspects nursing homes to ensure resident safety and quality care. Many of these inspection reports are publicly accessible and often reveal critical violations such as:

• Failure to maintain hygiene
• Medication errors
• Inadequate fall prevention
• Understaffing

These inspection results can support a personal injury case. A nursing home neglect lawyer will know how to find and use this data effectively.

Legal Rights of Non-Verbal or Incapacitated Nursing Home Residents

Many nursing home residents struggle to communicate due to dementia, strokes, or other medical conditions. But just because your loved one can’t speak up doesn’t mean they don’t have rights. Under New York Public Health Law Section 2801-d, every nursing home resident has the legal right to be protected from abuse, neglect, and substandard care.

If something feels wrong, trust your instincts. Family members have the power to act. A dedicated Bronx personal injury attorney from Macaluso & Fafinski, P.C. can step in, investigate signs of neglect or mistreatment, and help your family hold the facility accountable. Your loved one deserves dignity, safety, and justice, no matter their condition.

Steps Families Can Take to Record Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

If you suspect your loved one is being neglected in a nursing home, your observations can make a real difference. While you should never confront staff aggressively or try to investigate on your own, there are safe and effective ways to help build a case. Even small details can be powerful when placed in the hands of an experienced attorney. Here’s what you can do:

• Take dated photos of visible injuries: Bruises, bedsores, or other signs of neglect can fade quickly. Clear, dated photos create a strong visual record.
• Write down what staff say: Note any excuses, contradictions, or concerning remarks with date, time, and who said it.
• Save medical records and discharge papers: These documents show the treatment your loved one received.
• Keep a log of condition changes: Track weight loss, withdrawal, or fear around staff with dates and actions taken.

All of this information helps your attorney build a clear timeline and demonstrate a pattern of neglect. When paired with thorough investigation, your careful documentation can help bring the truth to light and hold the facility accountable.

Speak With a Bronx, New York Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer Today

No one should suffer from nursing home neglect, especially in a place meant to provide care and protection. If your loved one has been hurt in a New York nursing home, you don’t have to face it alone. The experienced nursing home neglect lawyers at Macaluso & Fafinski, P.C. can help you understand your rights, gather evidence, and take action to pursue justice and peace of mind.

Remember, New York law sets a statute of limitations, usually three years from when the injury was discovered, to file a nursing home neglect claim. Acting quickly is essential. Call (800) 762-9300 anytime or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a trusted Bronx nursing home neglect attorney.