Nursing homes often try to keep costs down by keeping their number of staff members down. Nursing facilities that are inadequately staffed can take away needed attention and services that are guaranteed under the regulations for nursing home reform.

Some of the more common occurrences of abuse in nursing homes include:
- Inadequate amounts of food or missed meals
- Insufficient amounts of fluids
- Not being taken to the restroom when necessary
- Uncomfortable and health body and pressure sores
- Over- or under-medicated
- Ignored or left in bed all day where not turned (one of the causes of bed sores)
- Attendant light not answered or ignored
- Not properly cleaned or groomed

Some other inadequacies include:
- Altered or obliterated records
- Unrealistic care plan goals
- Failure to follow physicians' orders
- Unexplained decline in weight, skin integrity or physical condition
- Failure to assess or report change of condition