03/10/2026
What if Someone Is Abused in a Nursing Home? Steps to Take Immediately
Discovering that your family member has been abused in a nursing home can be heart wrenching. You may feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to get help, yet there are important steps to take immediately to stop the abuse. You can also protect your ability to make a personal injury claim against those at fault.
Below, Washington personal injury lawyer Marlena Grundy explains what you need to know about nursing home abuse and how to get help.
Nursing Home Abuse Can Happen in Many Ways
When you choose a facility for your loved one, you trust that the staff and administrators will prioritize patient care above all else. When that doesn’t happen, it can be horrifying to discover someone has taken advantage of your family member’s vulnerability. Here are some of the more common kinds of abuse that occur in nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities:
-Physical: May include scratching, bruising, assaulting, slapping, kicking, or dropping your loved one.
-Neglect: Typically involves ignoring basic care and needs, leading to starvation, bedsores, illness, or injury.
-Sexual: This could include unwanted touching, r**e, assault, sexual innuendo, or other abuse by staff, visitors, or other patients.
-Emotional: May involve intimidation, threats, demeaning comments, or other actions that leave the patient with depression or anxiety.
-Financial: Could involve stealing money from a wallet or purse, using credit cards without authorization, or forcing the patient to withdraw money from bank accounts against their will.
When a facility fails to perform background checks or adequately train its staff, your family member could suffer abuse from those who are biased, aggressive, or have mental health issues that lead them to cause harm. They may cover their tracks or intimidate your loved one to hide the abuse.
How to Recognize Potential Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Your loved one’s personality and demeanor may change, indicating something is wrong. Depending on the type of abuse they’re suffering, these signs could indicate abuse:
-Asking to leave with you or change facilities
-Emotional withdrawal or depression
-Expressing fear of specific staff members
-Bedsores, bruises, and other signs of physical harm
-Unexpected injuries or illnesses that signify neglect
-Burns, rashes, or scr**es
-Injury to the teeth and jaw
-Urinary tract infections
-Soiled bedding or clothing
-Unwashed hair or clothes
-Unusual lack of personal hygiene
-Dehydration or malnourishment
-Missing cash, credit cards, or other valuable items from their room
-Unexplained transactions on bank accounts and credit cards
-Attempts to claim guardianship over your family member or switch the power of attorney
If staff members are intentionally abusing a patient, you may not receive notice about injuries or infections. Another confusing element is when your family member suffers from dementia or other memory issues, since it can be challenging to determine what’s actually happened to them and what’s imaginary.
Steps to Take Immediately When You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse in Washington
Here’s a checklist of what to do if you believe your loved one is suffering abuse in their nursing facility:
-Remove them from the facility right away if you believe they’re in danger.
-If you’re not sure if abuse is happening, talk to your loved one and ask whether they feel safe.
-Increase your visits and change the days and times you visit to potentially catch abuse.
-Speak with the caregivers about your concerns.
-Talk to facility administrators to discuss potential abuse and any actions they will take in response.
-If you witness abuse directly or have evidence of it, call local law enforcement, such as police or the county sheriff.
-Gather any available documentation of the abuse.
-Report the suspected abuse to the Washington Department of Social and Health Services.
-Take your family member to a doctor for a full medical exam to document any injuries or signs of abuse.
-Report the facility to the Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.
-Schedule a consultation with a nursing home abuse attorney to discuss your legal options.
Report the names and job titles of those you suspect are involved in the abuse to the authorities, along with any dates and other details. Your attorney can help you identify all liable parties and hold them accountable, in addition to any charges the abusers may face from government agencies. Your case may involve staff, visitors, other residents, managers, administrators, and facility owners.
Pursuing Nursing Home Abuse Claims in Court
The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 strengthened laws that entitled patients to reasonable care intended to “attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident.” On a state level, Washington Administrative Code 388-97-08010 further states a patient’s right to freedom from abuse, restraint (unless needed for their safety), physical punishment, or involuntary seclusion.
Even with these laws in place, demonstrating abuse in court can be difficult, since your case may rely on the patient’s testimony against that of facility staff who may protect one another. To make a powerful case, your attorney can gather evidence such as the following:
-Medical records and photos of injuries
-Testimony from witnesses, such as visitors or other patients
-Video footage from facility cameras
-Statements from your loved one and other family members
-Expert testimony
-Financial records showing unexplained transactions
-Records from therapists detailing emotional changes
-Employment and training records for those suspected of abuse
By compiling a preponderance of the evidence, your personal injury lawyer can demonstrate negligence or intentional harm to your family member. By drawing a direct link between the abuser’s actions and the patient’s harm, you have the right to claim compensation for any physical, emotional, or financial damages.
Why You Should Report Abuse Immediately
It’s vital that you take action right away to protect not only your loved one, but also others who may also suffer abuse at the same facility. Negligent staff and administrators may take advantage of a patient’s inability to communicate abuse, meaning someone could be a victim for months or even years. Speaking up and fighting back can bring these wrongdoers to justice and keep others from harm.
Unfortunately, nursing homes in Washington have a history of substandard care that can put patients in immediate jeopardy, according to reports from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Also, Adult Protective Services in Washington recorded over 52,000 allegations of financial exploitation, mental abuse, neglect, and physical abuse in the most recent reporting year. Reporting suspected abuse helps the government rein in these behaviors by imposing severe fines for violations.
If you don’t know where to start, schedule a free consultation with Marlena Grundy at PNW Strategic Legal Solutions to discuss what to do if someone is abused in a nursing home. She has been the victim of personal injury and understands your worries and concerns. She is ready to fight on your behalf.
More info on our website: 🔗https://pnwstrategiclegalsolutions.com/
*This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or establish an attorney-client relationship.