This information sheet presents resident rights with regard to neglect and abuse, and steps to take if these rights are jeopardized. Neglect is the failure to care for a person in a manner, which would avoid harm and pain, or the failure to react to a situation which may be harmful. Neglect may or may not be intentional. For example, a caring aide who is poorly trained may not know how to provide proper care. Ignoring call bells or cries for help.
Abuse means causing intentional pain or harm.
This includes physical, mental, verbal, psychological, and sexual abuse, corporal punishment, unreasonable seclusion, and intimidation. This means the deliberate misplacement or misuse of a resident s belongings or money without the resident s consent. Nursing homes are required by federal law to have intervention strategies and regular monitoring to prevent neglect and abuse. The nursing home must reevaluate these measures on a regular basis. It is a violation of State and Federal law for any person, including facility staff, volunteers, visitors, family members or guardians, or another resident, to neglect or abuse a resident.