things nursing homes are not allowed to do

Things Nursing Homes are Not Allowed to Do

December 17, 2025

When families entrust their elderly loved ones to a nursing home, they expect safety, dignity, and compassionate care. Unfortunately, not every facility honors these expectations. Understanding the things nursing homes are not allowed to do helps families recognize warning signs of mistreatment.

By law, nursing homes are forbidden from engaging in abusive or neglectful conduct, including physical, emotional, or financial harm. These facilities cannot discriminate based on characteristics such as race, religion, or disability, and they are prohibited from pressuring residents to surrender their rights or control their finances without permission. Nursing homes must deliver necessary care regardless of payment source, cannot punish residents for raising complaints, and cannot impose medical treatment against a resident’s wishes.

At Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers, we understand the heartbreak families experience when a trusted facility violates these protections.

Prohibited Actions that Nursing Homes Can’t Do

  • Abuse and Neglect: Nursing homes cannot engage in or permit any form of physical, emotional, verbal, or financial abuse. Neglect includes failing to provide sufficient nutrition, hydration, medication, or medical attention.
  • Discrimination: Facilities are legally forbidden from denying admission or services based on a person’s race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or disability.
  • Fraudulent Billing: Falsely billing for services or giving residents misleading information about the care they receive is not allowed.
  • Improper Transfers and Discharges: Facilities are not allowed to remove or transfer residents without proper notice.
  • Forcing Rights Waivers: No facility may demand that residents give up their Medicare or Medicaid rights or sign assurances that they won’t seek those benefits.
  • Mandatory Financial Control: Nursing homes cannot force residents to let the facility handle their money; they may only offer optional financial services.
  • Restricting Resident Rights: Residents have the right to take part in their care plans, make treatment decisions, and share a room with a spouse if both agree.
  • Financial Coercion: Facilities cannot demand a third-party guarantee of payment for admission or continued stay, nor request extra gifts or donations as a condition of care.
  • Retaliation: No nursing home may retaliate against residents or their families for voicing concerns or filing complaints. 

These actions violate both ethical standards and state law. If your loved one experienced any of these situations, they may be entitled to legal protection and compensation for the harm caused. Knowing more about the things nursing homes are not allowed to do also helps families understand how Kentucky law protects their loved ones. 

The Importance of Ensuring Rights and Proper Treatment for Elderly Patients

Ensuring that older adults receive fair treatment begins with understanding the basic standards all facilities must follow. These principles define how residents should be cared for and respected in every Kentucky nursing home, and all staff members, from nurses to caretaker personnel, have a duty to maintain them.

  • Dignity and Respect: Every resident must be treated with dignity and courtesy at all times.
  • Equivalent Care: Residents covered by Medicaid are entitled to the same level of care and services as those paying privately. 
  • Accurate Information: All patients have the right to be fully informed about their medical conditions, medications, and care plans.

If you believe a nursing home is violating these principles, you can report concerns to Kentucky’s Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman or the state health department. Maintaining these standards prevents abuse and promotes accountability throughout the nursing home system.

When to Seek Legal Action in a Nursing Home in Kentucky

Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 209.030, any person, including healthcare providers, social workers, and facility staff, who suspects that an adult has suffered abuse, neglect, or exploitation must report it. This legal mandate reinforces how seriously Kentucky takes elder protection.

In practice, that means anyone who observes bruises, poor living conditions, medication errors, or financial irregularities in a nursing home has a legal and moral responsibility to act. Reporting concerns to local authorities or state investigators can trigger investigations that prevent further harm.

Pursuing legal action may be appropriate when a resident suffers preventable injuries, malnutrition, or infections, the facility ignores medical needs, fails to report abuse or neglect, or engages in financial exploitation or overbilling. 

Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney to Seek Justice Today

Protecting elderly loved ones from harm requires vigilance and swift action. When a facility violates the law or ignores its responsibilities, families need legal guidance to hold them accountable. 

At Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers, we provide support to Kentucky families navigating nursing home abuse and neglect cases. Understanding the things nursing homes are not allowed to do helps recognize mistreatment before it causes irreversible damage. When a family member has been harmed or abused in a care facility, contact us today at 800-800-4600 for a case evaluation.

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