Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

Elder abuse remains significantly underreported in the United States. Federal elder justice experts estimate that only a fraction of abuse cases are ever reported to authorities.

Around the nation, there are a large number of cases that involve nursing home abuse against caregivers and patients.

Here, we provide an overview of the most up-to-date nursing home abuse statistics (2026).

Elder abuse occurs when physical, emotional, sexual unwanted behavior happens to patients currently residing at a nursing home. The statistics are scary, to say the least, our nursing home abuse & neglect attorneys have gathered statistics concerning abuse within nursing homes.

Abuse and neglect in nursing homes happen for a wide range of reasons.

Often, the core problem is negligence on the part of the managers of the facility or the owners of the nursing home. Though abuse may not be intentional in every case, that is absolutely no excuse.

Even negligence can be considered nursing home abuse and this becomes partly due to the number of understaffed nursing homes.

At Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C., our top-rated Athens, GA nursing home abuse attorneys have extensive experience advocating for victims and their families.

If you have questions or concerns, or if you believe your loved one is a victim of abuse or neglect, please do not hesitate to contact our law office for immediate legal guidance.

Nursing Home Abuse is an Epidemic

Tragically, nursing home abuse is an epidemic in the United States. According to the most recent data from Nursing Home Abuse Justice, there are 5 million elder abuse cases every year. Approximately 10% of all people over the age of 60 report having been abused.

Older people and more vulnerable people face higher rates of abuse and neglect.

Abuse and neglect come in many different forms. In some cases, physical abuse is intentional and direct. It could come at the hands of a staff member or even another nursing home resident.

In other cases, abuse or neglect leads to physical injuries that could have easily been avoided with proper care. For example, falls are a common problem in nursing homes, with the average incidence of falls being 1.5 per resident each year.

Many nursing home falls happen, at least in part, because of abuse or neglect.

Beyond physical abuse, many nursing home residents suffer emotional and psychological harm. Emotional abuse may include intimidation, humiliation, threats, isolation, or other behaviors that cause fear and distress. Because emotional abuse often leaves no visible injuries, it can be especially difficult for family members to detect.

It is crucial that family members take action to protect their vulnerable loved ones at the first sign of abuse in a nursing home.

Medication errors are another common neglect-related issue in nursing homes. Polypharmacy, or the use of multiple medications, is a common problem in nursing homes.

Medication errors remain a serious concern in nursing homes. Older adults often take multiple medications, increasing the risk of adverse drug events, harmful drug interactions, and medication-related injuries. Proper medication management is essential to protecting nursing home residents from preventable harm.

Complaints are Common — But Nursing Home Abuse is Systemically Underreported

Complaints in nursing homes have long been a serious problem.

According to the Administration for Community Living’s National Ombudsman Reporting System, Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs worked to resolve 202,894 complaints in federal fiscal year 2023. These complaints involved issues such as resident rights, quality of care, staffing concerns, discharge practices, medications, and allegations of physical abuse.

Yet, even though complaints are extremely common, the experts believe that most nursing home abuse victims never file an actual complaint. Many do not even report the abuse at all — even to their closest family members.

They may be too scared to do so, or may not have the mental or physical capacity to talk about the problem. Some studies estimate that just one in fourteen nursing home abuse cases are reported. Though, that may be a low estimate.

The New York State Elder Abuse Prevalence Study found that just 4% — 1 in 25 — cases of elder abuse were reported.

Nursing Home Abuse Can Be Deadly

The statistics on nursing homes reveal just how serious this problem can be for families. In far too many cases, nursing home abuse is deadly. Nursing home residents are among the most medically vulnerable people in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.2 million people reside in nursing homes nationwide. Because many residents have significant medical needs and chronic health conditions, they depend on facilities to provide safe, attentive, and appropriate care.

Falls are one of the leading causes of injury among older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 14 million adults age 65 and older fall each year, resulting in millions of emergency department visits and approximately 1 million hospitalizations. In nursing homes, inadequate supervision, understaffing, unsafe conditions, and failures to follow care plans may increase the risk of preventable falls and serious injuries.

The quality of care can vary significantly from one nursing home to another. Factors such as staffing levels, employee training, facility resources, and compliance with safety standards can affect a resident’s well-being and quality of life. Families should carefully evaluate nursing homes and remain alert for signs of abuse, neglect, or inadequate care.

Nursing home residents often depend on caregivers for nearly every aspect of daily living, including mobility, hygiene, nutrition, medication management, and medical care. When facilities fail to provide appropriate care, the consequences can be severe. Preventable injuries, untreated medical conditions, dehydration, malnutrition, medication errors, and infections can place residents at serious risk of harm.

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Many Nursing Homes are Understaffed

Staffing levels play a critical role in the quality of care provided to nursing home residents. In 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized minimum staffing standards for nursing homes participating in Medicare and Medicaid. CMS noted that nearly 1.2 million residents live in Medicare- and Medicaid-certified long-term care facilities nationwide.

Analyses of federal staffing data have found that many nursing homes may face challenges meeting the new staffing requirements. Inadequate staffing can contribute to delayed care, medication errors, poor hygiene, resident falls, and other preventable injuries.

The Elderly Population is Growing — Problems Could Get Worse

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were approximately 14,700 nursing homes in the United States with about 1.6 million licensed beds and approximately 1.2 million current residents.

As the population ages, the demand for long-term care services is expected to remain significant in the coming decades. This is one of the most important things that Georgia families need to know about nursing home statistics going forward.

The number of older Americans is expected to grow substantially in the coming decades. According to the Population Reference Bureau, the U.S. population age 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050.

As the population ages, the demand for long-term care services is expected to increase. Families may face difficult decisions when selecting a nursing home or long-term care facility for a loved one. For this reason, it is important to carefully evaluate facilities, monitor the quality of care being provided, and remain alert for signs of abuse or neglect.

Family involvement can play an important role in protecting vulnerable residents. Frequent communication, regular visits, and prompt attention to changes in a resident’s physical condition, behavior, or living environment may help identify potential problems before they become more serious.

Contact an Experienced Nursing Home & Abuse Attorney in Georgia

At Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C., our Georgia nursing home abuse lawyers are committed to fighting for the rights of you and your family. We prosecute nursing homes and long-term care facilities for abuse and neglect. If you suspect your loved one has been a victim of abuse or neglect, you need to take immediate action.

To set up a free, no-obligation consultation, please contact one of our experienced nursing home abuse attorneys today. We handle nursing home abuse and neglect claims on contingency. No fee unless we recover money for you in your case.