Nursing Home Abuse

Last updated on November 12, 2025

Choosing to place a loved one in a nursing home was likely a very difficult decision for your family. You expected that your loved one would be treated with dignity, respect and proper care. Yet many elderly residents of nursing homes are not treated with the care that is promised and that they deserve. Speaking up now will not only stop the abuse or neglect of your loved one, but will likely save other vulnerable people.

We Can Help Right A Wrong

If you have a loved one who was injured or who died due to the negligence of nursing home staff, turn to R. Steve Bowden & Associates to speak with our experienced nursing home injury lawyers today. With decades of experience, we handle cases involving:

• Bedsores (pressure ulcers)
• Dehydration or malnutrition
• Failure to provide appropriate medical support
• Failure to secure residents
• Infections and diseases
• Injuries from falls
• Medication errors

There is a deadline for personal injury claims. It is three years from the date of the accident or injury. For wrongful death claims, the deadline is only two years. You should reach out to us soon so we can meet these statutes of limitations.

Common Causes Of Abuse Or Neglect

Through our experience representing families in nursing home abuse and other personal injury lawsuits, we have found common problems that often result in injuries to residents. These include:

• The nursing home is overcrowded
• The nursing home is understaffed – especially on weekends and holidays
• The workers are inexperienced or not properly trained

Signs Of Nursing Home Neglect

Falls

While largely preventable with proper supervision, falls account for the vast majority of injuries in people 65 years and older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 35 percent of adults ages 65 and older fall at least once each year, making it the “leading cause of injury death” among the elderly. The CDC also reports that between 10 and 20 percent of all falls in nursing homes are serious or even fatal. In some nursing homes that can mean one out of every five falls.

Studies indicate that falls account for the vast majority of fractures in older adults, and can lead to serious medical issues if not treated promptly. Approximately 1,800 elderly patients die each year as a result of nursing home falls. Many of these falls could have been prevented with proper care and attention to the resident.

Signs Of Neglect

Nursing home residents who spend much of their time in bed may also be prone to developing bedsores, which are also referred to as “pressure ulcers.” In their early stage, they are merely a red inflammation that can heal quickly. However, when bedsores are neglected and appropriate action is not taken to relieve them, the result can be an injury that penetrates the patent’s muscle and skin, and proceeds to infect the bone.

In a facility that lacks appropriate nutritional plans, customized for each resident, it is quite possible that malnutrition will result. This can lead to weakening of the bones, resulting in falls and fractures. In such cases, the patient’s immune system may also be compromised, which can result in a wide range of consequences. Pressure sores are the number one preventable injury to elderly people. No resident should be left alone for hours or days on end. This is also neglect.

Signs Of Abuse

If your loved one has suddenly lost weight, is frequently groggy from over-medication, has unexplained bruises or is withdrawn or fearful of the nursing home staff it may be time to get outside help. It only takes one “bad apple” on the staff to make your loved one’s life miserable. By speaking up and getting a professional involved you are doing your part to make certain any abuse ends. Calling attention to the issue can also ensure the safety of not only your loved one, but all residents.

Taking Legal Action

If you suspect nursing home neglect or abuse do not hesitate to speak with an attorney. Make certain you document the injuries with detailed and dated notes and photos. An attorney can consult with the facility’s medical staff and review the pertinent information related to the case.

Nursing Home Abuse Representation

If a nursing home facility has fallen below the standard of care for that community and thereby caused injury or wrongful death, it should be held liable for that negligence. At R. Steve Bowden & Associates, our elder abuse attorneys utilize all means necessary to ensure justice is served. Our goal is to stop the abuse and ensure that you are properly compensated.

We utilize nursing consultants and other experts to evaluate the issue for negligence, and one of our attorneys is also a doctor. This gives our firm the advantage of truly understanding the medical issues involved. Not sure if there is abuse or neglect? Know the signs.

Get A Professional Involved

If your loved one was injured or received substandard nursing home care, contact our North Carolina nursing home neglect attorneys for experienced representation. Call our Greensboro office at 336-285-0925. Evening and weekend appointments can be arranged.

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