{"id":353481,"date":"2016-12-16T12:11:04","date_gmt":"2016-12-16T17:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ability-fl-prod.internetbrands.com\/ability-law\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/is-nursing-home-neglect-legal.html"},"modified":"2023-08-02T09:10:59","modified_gmt":"2023-08-02T14:10:59","slug":"is-nursing-home-neglect-legal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/is-nursing-home-neglect-legal.html","title":{"rendered":"Is Nursing Home Neglect a Crime?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Is Nursing Home Neglect a Crime?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Robert Rafii, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Yes, unlawful conduct that involves nursing home neglect can be subject to both civil laws and criminal laws. Sometimes, a private civil lawsuit with a personal injury lawyer is the only available legal action. Other times, government prosecutors might also file criminal charges.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When you think of nursing home abuse, you might recall tragic stories. That includes elderly residents being physically or psychologically abused. It also includes wrongful death, medical malpractice, and\u00a0financial abuse<\/a>\u00a0involving nursing home staff. These types of nursing home abuses are serious personal injury situations requiring immediate intervention.<\/p>\n

But there’s another form of abuse that often flies under the radar \u2014 neglect. Neglect cases can occur in nursing home facilities as a result of mistreatment by staff members. Nursing home negligence can also be caused by assisted living facilities whose policies fall below the\u00a0reasonable standard of care<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The understated problem of nursing home neglect poses a significant risk to many people and their family members. If you suspect neglect of your loved one, you may want to talk to a lawyer<\/a> about reporting the abuse and understanding your legal options.<\/p>\n

What Is Considered Nursing Home Neglect?<\/h2>\n

The legal definitions of nursing home neglect differ by state. But they usually describe the failure of caregivers to provide or ensure basic needs. These include:<\/p>\n