Lowest of the Low: Nursing Home Abuse in Tennessee

Hearing about any type of abuse causes us to become angry and upset. Whether it is animal abuse, child abuse, or spousal abuse, it is just plain wrong. When we entrust the care of our aging and medically dependent loved ones to a care facility, we expect the personnel to be highly trained, skilled, and, above all, caring and compassionate. 

Unfortunately, this is not always the case in Tennessee nursing homes. Elderly residents can suffer many psychological and physical abuses, and just how many are abused is difficult to discover. Even though the laws in most states require doctors to report suspected abuse of their patients, some studies estimate that only two percent are actually reported nationwide.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

There are many types of abuse and neglect in nursing homes all over the country. Some of the most common are:

• Withholding food and/or access to water
• Mistakes in medication and overmedication
• Neglect of daily needs, including toileting, personal grooming, and companionship
• Emotional abuse, including yelling, belittling, and humiliation
• Physical abuse, including hitting, shoving, and unwanted sex
• Financial misappropriation of the resident's personal funds

Because it is expensive to house an elderly loved one, we hope that the money goes to providing the very best care. But, in far too many facilities, the bottom line wins out over proper care. Understaffing and lack of supervision can lead to horrific daily living for residents.

Nursing Home Abuse Warning Signs

How can you tell if your loved one is being abused? There are some warning signs that should be taken very seriously:

• There are sudden changes in the way your loved one behaves.
• The staff delays and even denies your visitation when you arrive at the facility.
• A staff member is always present in the room when you visit.
• There are unexplained injuries, including any type of cut, burn, sprain, and infection.
• You notice the presence of bedsores, soiled bedding, and/or constant thirst.
• There is constant hunger and weight loss.
• There is a change in emotional health, including anger, fear of being left alone, sadness, or crying.
• You notice arguments between the resident and staff or rude staff comments.
• You hear insistent and frequent complaints by the resident.
• The resident's possessions go missing or are "misplaced."
• The resident's banking statements reveal changes or unexplained withdrawals.
• A will or financial document is changed or altered with no explanation.

As horrible as it seems, Tennessee's growing elderly population is matched by the growth of nursing home abuse. Relatives and friends need to visit the home frequently with unannounced arrivals and keep their eyes and ears open for warning signs.

What to Do?

There is no excuse for the abuse of our elderly. Tennessee law protects their rights even when they become unable to fight for themselves. And, when abuse occurs in a facility meant to assure comfort and care, the family should not hesitate to seek legal help.
If you have a loved one that has been abused in a Tennessee nursing home, please call Bailey & Greer in Memphis toll free at 888-470-9143 for a free consultation. We want to help you fight for the rights of those unable to fight for themselves.


Bailey & Greer represents people with personal injury claims in Tennessee and Mississippi, including Memphis, Germantown, Bartlett, Cordova, Collierville, Arlington, Lakeland, and all of Shelby, Fayette, and Tipton Counties.We have also handled cases in Arkansas, Georgia, and Missouri.