How To Know Whether Your Parent Is Being Abused in a Nursing Home

 Posted on June 26, 2026 in Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

When you have to place your parent in a nursing home, you can’t be there to see what actually happens day in and day out. This puts an enormous amount of trust in nursing home managers and employees.

Unfortunately, abuse and neglect in nursing homes are widespread. It’s something nobody wants to think about, but when there are signs that your parent is suffering, you need to act. 

Our Hyattsville, MD nursing home abuse and neglect attorney Jason Kisner is experienced and cares intensely about what happens to his clients. Our firm has strong relationships with medical experts in fields like neurology, orthopedics, and geriatric care. We can help connect your family with the right specialists quickly when time matters. 

What Are the Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?

Abuse in nursing homes appears in many different ways. Physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and financial abuse can each leave different clues. Some signs are easier to see with your own eyes, while others only show up in your parent's behavior or finances. When you visit your parent, pay attention to all of the following:

• Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, or pressure sores

• Sudden weight loss or signs of dehydration

• Poor hygiene, unwashed clothing, or dirty rooms

• Withdrawal, depression, or unusual fearfulness, especially around certain staff members

• Frequent falls that staff cannot explain consistently

• Medications that seem to be given incorrectly or withheld

• Unexplained changes in bank accounts, missing belongings, or new financial documents your parent did not initiate

No single sign proves abuse is happening, but a pattern of these warning signs (or even one serious unexplained injury) deserves your attention.

What Should You Do if You Think Your Parent Might Be Suffering in Their Nursing Home?

If you think your parent might be suffering from abuse or neglect in their nursing home, you need to start preparing yourself to bring a case. You’ll need strong evidence, and of course you’ll need to get the relevant authorities involved. Start by doing the following: 

Write Down What You See

Take photos of any injuries, unsanitary conditions, or anything else that concerns you. Write down dates, times, and the names of any staff members involved in incidents you see or learn about. 

File a Report

In Maryland, suspected nursing home abuse can be reported to the Office of Health Care Quality, which licenses and oversees nursing facilities statewide. You can also contact the Maryland Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which advocates specifically for nursing home residents. If you believe your parent is in immediate danger, call 911.

Talk to Your Parent as Much as Possible

If your parent is able to communicate, speak with them away from where the staff can hear you. Some residents are afraid to report mistreatment because they fear retaliation. 

Contact an Attorney

Maryland law gives nursing home residents the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The law sets strict requirements for nursing home environments under the Code of Maryland Regulations 10.07.02. An attorney can help you determine whether you have a case for damages and, if so, help you bring that case from start to finish. 

How Can a Nursing Home Injury Lawyer Help Your Family?

Nursing homes and their insurance carriers don’t make abuse and neglect cases easy. Insurance companies know how to minimize claims and delay payouts, and of course the facilities themselves have legal teams. Having an attorney like Jason Kisner who has spent time on the insurance company’s side of these disputes means you’ll have someone who knows exactly how that process works and how to push back.

At Kisner Law, we believe every client deserves to feel informed, respected, and heard throughout this process. We handle every case on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. From filing the case to finding evidence to fighting in court when necessary, we provide our clients with the white-glove service they need during difficult times. 

Contact a Hyattsville Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today

If you believe your parent has been abused or neglected in a nursing home, contact a Maryland nursing home injury attorney at Kisner Law as soon as possible. Call 240-459-0097 for a free consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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