Nursing homes are the cornerstone of elder care, but behind every resident’s comfort is a team of caregivers working long hours under pressure. Many North Carolina facilities have struggled to fill positions in recent years, creating serious risks for those who depend on them.
According to a 2024 North Carolina Healthcare Association report, the state’s nursing and residential care facilities have lost more than 15,000 workers since 2019, a decline more than twice the national average. That shortage leaves fewer caregivers for more residents, leading to missed meals, delayed care, and preventable harm.
At Lewis & Keller Injury Lawyers, our Winston-Salem nursing home abuse lawyers have seen how insufficient staffing affects resident safety.
Learn why facilities with too few caregivers see higher rates of neglect and what steps you can take to protect your loved one.
The Link Between Staffing Shortages and Nursing Home Neglect in North Carolina
Every resident needs regular attention for meals, medication, hygiene, and supervision. When a facility is short-staffed, completing daily tasks safely and on time becomes harder.
The impact often shows in subtle but dangerous ways, such as:
- Missed Meals and Dehydration: Staff may not have time to help every resident eat or drink enough, leading to weakness, confusion, or medical complications.
- Poor Hygiene and Infections: Bathing and changing schedules are often delayed or skipped, allowing bacteria and skin conditions to develop.
- Medication Errors: Nurses rushing between patients can misread instructions or give the wrong dose, causing dangerous side effects or worsening conditions.
- Falls and Injuries: Without enough supervision, residents may try to move on their own, fall, or go unnoticed after an accident.
Unlike some states, North Carolina does not require staffing levels above the federal minimum standard. The state ranks 43rd in the nation for daily hours of care provided to nursing home residents.
This low staffing level forces facilities to stretch workers thin and compromise resident safety.
How Burnout Can Lead to Mistreatment
When nursing homes operate with too few staff members, caregivers are often pushed past their physical and emotional limits. Long hours, skipped breaks, and constant pressure to keep up can turn exhaustion into irritability and, eventually, harmful or aggressive behavior.
A 2021 overview published in Cureus found that 40% of nursing home staff reported committing at least one act of psychological abuse within a year, including yelling, swearing, or isolating residents. It also noted that nearly half of caregivers admit to some form of mistreatment, from verbal aggression to physical contact such as pushing or grabbing.
Although stress is never an excuse for harming a vulnerable resident, it often grows out of impossible workloads and poor supervision. The real failure is not just with one caregiver, but the facility that allowed those conditions to develop.
A Systemic Problem, Not an Isolated One
Inadequate staffing is rarely the fault of a single employee. It is often a management choice tied to budgets, turnover, and hiring practices. Facilities that cut staff to save money put residents in danger and violate the trust families place in them.
Oversight agencies and legal action are sometimes the only ways to hold them accountable.
What To Do if You Suspect Abuse or Neglect
If you notice signs of abuse in a long-term care facility, act quickly but carefully. Take these steps:
| Action | What to Do |
| Document Everything | Note dates, times, and details of what you see. Take photos of injuries, unclean rooms, or unsafe conditions. |
| Gather Staffing Information | Ask how many caregivers were on duty during each shift and who was assigned to your loved one. Request copies of schedules or incident reports, if available. |
| Talk to the Facility | Report concerns to the administrator or nursing director and ask for written confirmation. Keep copies of all communication. |
| File a Complaint | If the problem continues or your loved one is unsafe, report it to the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation or North Carolina’s Adult Protective Services. |
The reporting and investigation process can be challenging to manage while caring for an injured loved one or finding them a safer place to live. A compassionate Winston-Salem nursing home abuse lawyer can guide you through each step and work to secure compensation for your family.
Find the Support Your Family Needs
When a nursing home fails to provide proper care, families are left to pick up the pieces. Whether your loved one suffered from neglect, medication errors, or poor supervision caused by understaffing, you have the right to demand accountability.
At Lewis & Keller Injury Lawyers, our team has helped families across North Carolina uncover the truth and secure justice for their loved ones. We understand how difficult it is to navigate complaints and investigations while keeping your family member safe.
We have years of experience working with local facilities and know what it takes to hold them responsible for unsafe staffing and inadequate care. With 24/7 support and a proven record of results, our lawyers will stand by your family every step of the way.
Don’t risk your loved one’s safety in a negligent facility; reach out today for a free, confidential consultation.
