What Are the 3 Most Common Complaints About Nursing Homes?
Mission Personal Injury Lawyers | December 26, 2025 | Nursing Home Abuse
Families trust nursing homes and long-term care facilities to protect their loved ones. Residents often depend on staff for basic needs, medical care, and safety. When a nursing home fails to meet these responsibilities, the harm can be serious and sometimes irreversible.
Across California, state regulators receive thousands of complaints about nursing homes every year. Many of these complaints involve the same underlying problems. Families need to understand these common issues, recognize when legal action may be appropriate, and pursue accountability when a facility causes harm.
Below are the three most common complaints about nursing homes, what families can do about them, and how California law protects vulnerable residents.
1. Neglect and Inadequate Medical Care
Neglect is the most common complaint against nursing homes in California. Neglect occurs when staff fail to provide the basic care residents need to stay safe and healthy.
Common examples of neglect include:
- Missed or incorrect medications
- Failure to help residents eat or drink
- Dehydration or malnutrition
- Untreated infections
- Pressure sores (bedsores)
- Delayed medical attention
- Ignoring call buttons or requests for help
Many neglect cases stem from understaffing, inadequate training, or profit-driven cost-cutting measures. Residents may suffer worsening medical conditions, unnecessary pain, or preventable hospitalizations.
Under California law, nursing homes are required to provide care that meets professional standards. When a facility fails to do so, it may be legally responsible for resulting injuries.
2. Physical or Emotional Abuse
Abuse is one of the most disturbing nursing home complaints. Abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, or financial, and it can come from staff members or other residents when supervision is lacking.
Examples of abuse include:
- Hitting, pushing, or rough handling
- Verbal threats, humiliation, or intimidation
- Sexual assault or unwanted touching
- Use of restraints for punishment or convenience
- Isolation or emotional manipulation
Emotional abuse often leaves no visible injuries, but it can cause anxiety, depression, withdrawal, and fear. Physical abuse can result in broken bones, bruises, head injuries, or internal damage.
California law strictly prohibits nursing home abuse. Facilities must screen employees, supervise residents, and take immediate action when abuse is reported or suspected.
3. Unsafe Living Conditions and Poor Supervision
Unsafe conditions create constant risk for elderly and disabled residents. Many complaints involve hazards that facilities could have prevented with proper maintenance and supervision.
Common safety issues include:
- Slippery floors or trip hazards
- Broken handrails or unsafe stairways
- Poor lighting in hallways and bathrooms
- Unsecured exits leading to wandering or elopement
- Failure to monitor residents with dementia
- Lack of fall prevention measures
Nursing homes in California are required to maintain a safe environment. When unsafe conditions cause falls, injuries, or disappearances, the facility may face liability.
What Can Victims and Families Do About Nursing Home Mistreatment?
If you suspect neglect or abuse, trust your instincts. Families often notice warning signs before facilities admit there is a problem.
Steps families can take include:
- Documenting injuries, weight loss, or behavioral changes
- Taking photos of unsafe conditions or injuries
- Requesting medical evaluations outside the facility
- Reporting concerns to facility management
- Filing complaints with the authorities
- Seeking legal guidance to understand your options
Early action can protect your loved one and preserve critical evidence.
How to Pursue Compensation Against a Nursing Home in California
California law gives nursing home residents strong protections. This includes certain rights under California and federal law. Families may pursue compensation when a facility causes harm through neglect, abuse, or rights violations.
A legal claim may seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Costs of future care
- Relocation expenses
- Wrongful death damages, when applicable
In severe cases involving reckless or intentional conduct, California law may permit the award of enhanced damages, known as punitive damages. Speaking with a lawyer early helps to protect your rights and preserve crucial evidence for your case.
What Evidence Helps Prove a Nursing Home Case?
Strong evidence often determines the outcome of nursing home claims.
Useful evidence may include:
- Medical records and hospital reports
- Photographs of injuries or unsafe conditions
- Facility care plans and staffing records
- Incident and inspection reports
- Witness statements from staff or residents
- Expert opinions from medical professionals
Nursing homes often control much of this information. A lawyer can demand records and prevent evidence from being destroyed or tampered with. If the nursing home refuses to give up important information, your lawyer will take appropriate legal action to hold them accountable.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Nursing home cases involve complex laws, medical issues, and corporate defenses. Facilities and their insurers often deny wrongdoing or blame the resident’s age or health. They may argue that your loved one’s injuries are not severe, that the injuries are pre-existing, or that they are simply not to blame at all.
A personal injury lawyer can help families by:
- Investigating neglect or abuse thoroughly
- Working with medical and elder care experts
- Handling communications and negotiations with nursing home operators and insurers
- Calculating full damages, not just immediate medical bills
- Filing lawsuits and taking cases to court when needed
A lawyer helps to level the playing field and gives families a voice when facilities fail to protect vulnerable residents. Don’t let a nursing home or its insurer bully you into silence. Your loved one and your family can fight back against injustice.
Contact Our San Diego Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at Mission Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you believe a nursing home harmed your loved one, Mission Personal Injury Lawyers can help you understand your legal options and take action under California law. Holding negligent facilities accountable not only protects your family but also helps prevent harm to others. Contact our San Diego nursing home abuse lawyers today for a free, confidential consultation.
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We also serve the state of Texas. For legal assistance, contact our personal injury law office in El Paso today.
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