Any statements made by nursing home staff that causes fear, distress, embarrassment, or emotional pain to a victim is considered verbal abuse. The most common ways nursing home staff may engage in verbal abuse toward residents include: Insulting a resident, Mocking a resident, Yelling, shouting, or screaming at a resident, Making critical remarks to the resident, “Talking down” to a resident, or speaking to him or her like a child, Discussing the resident negatively with other residents or staff members, Threatening the resident with physical harm, and Making false accusations against the resident.