Lies That Neglectful Caregivers Tell Families of Nursing Home Residents


If you are dealing with a nursing home and you suspect that your loved one is not being treated properly, you may wind up hearing excuses from the caregivers. After all, they may not want to admit to neglect or abuse. Here are some lies that they may tell you.

Residents May Harm Themselves

While it may be true that residents in nursing homes can be subject to accidents, you should be wary of any caregiver that gives you this excuse when you notice neglect or abuse. You should also not take it seriously if a caregiver tells you that a resident’s word is not trustworthy. A lot of vulnerable patients have their conditions taken advantage of because people may not believe them. It is important that you know the signs to look for.

Is your loved one malnourished? While it is possible that a person can appear this way due to a medical condition, you know your loved one’s medical conditions. You will know if he or she is looking malnourished or complaining about being hungry. In addition, make sure to monitor his or her medical health. Sometimes nurses leave residents in their beds for long hours when they might need help using the restroom or performing daily functions. In addition, you can normally spot it if your loved one is not practicing his or her normal hygiene. Neglected residents may appear disheveled, dirty and may act afraid of caregivers. You may witness a psychological change in your loved one.

Residents Without Contracts Cannot Sue

It does not matter if your loved one has a contract with a nursing home. When a resident is in a nursing home, he or she has an expectation of a high standard of care. This includes those that may not have contracts with the home itself. Not having a contract does not give the right to the home to care improperly for a person. If someone suffers neglect or abuse at the hands of a nursing home, they do not have to have a contract with the said home in advance.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home and you suspect that there may be abuse or neglect, it is crucial that you act on it. File a report and be careful to listen to any workers making excuses for what happened. To speak with a nursing home lawyer, like a nursing home lawyer in Maryland, set up your consultation as soon as possible.

Thanks to Brown Kiely LLP for their insight into what to be on the lookout for when it comes to abuse in a nursing home.