The Experienced Nursing Home Abuse Injury Attorneys at Ron Bell Fight to Protect Your Rights

Discovering your loved one has become a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect can feel like a complete breach of trust, and finding justice can be a complicated process. Nursing home abuse attorneys in New Mexico fight for victims’ rights to ensure that they get the compensation they deserve for the injuries caused by nursing home neglect or abuse.

What can Ron Bell Injury Lawyers do for victims of nursing home abuse or neglect in New Mexico?

  • File claims on your behalf
  • Conduct investigations on the nursing homes and staff
  • Help you and your loved ones understand your rights
  • Collect evidence, medical documents, and witness statements.

New Mexico Nursing Home Abuse Injury Lawyers You Can Trust

  • You Don’t Pay Until You GET Paid

    Hiring our team doesn’t cost you a penny, unless we get you a settlement or win your case and get YOU money.

  • We’re Here Every Step of the Way

    We’re ready to answer your questions to help you understand your rights as a personal injury victim.

  • Helping New Mexico Victims Since 1982

    Our team has served victims in Albuquerque, New Mexico for over 40 years, and we’re ready to help you.

You Don’t Pay Until You GET Paid

Hiring our team doesn’t cost you a penny, unless we get you a settlement or win your case and get YOU money.

We’re Here Every Step of the Way

We’re ready to answer your questions to help you understand your rights as a personal injury victim.

Helping New Mexico Victims Since 1982

Our team has served victims in Albuquerque, New Mexico for over 40 years, and we’re ready to help you.

What is Adult Protective Services in New Mexico?

Adult protective services is a part of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department in New Mexico. They investigate nursing home abuse allegations as well as neglect and elder exploitation for anyone 18 and over who cannot protect themselves.

What is the mandatory reporting law in New Mexico?

In New Mexico, anyone who has reason to believe that an adult is a victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation must report it. According to NM Stat § 27-7-30 (2024), “Any person, including financial institutions, having reasonable cause to believe that an incapacitated adult is being abused, neglected or exploited shall immediately report that information to the department.” Reporting can be made in writing or verbally to Adult Protective Services.

What are the odds of winning a lawsuit against a nursing home?

Ultimately, fighting a nursing home can be very difficult if you don’t have a nursing home abuse lawyer on your side. Some things you can do to prove your nursing home abuse case include:

  • Filing reports in writing
  • Documenting all instances of abuse (photos of injuries or documentation of changes in behavior)
  • Collect medical records from before and after the alleged abuse started
  • Contact a nursing home abuse and neglect attorney

What are red flags in a nursing home?

When looking for the best nursing home for your loved one, make sure to visit the facilities to get an understanding of how they operate and the overall look and feel of the nursing home.

Red flags can include:

  • Understaffing: If nursing homes cannot keep employees, they may be facing a systematic issue that goes beyond how they run everyday operations. Additionally, understaffing can lead to serious neglectful behaviors.
  • Long Call Responses: If incapacitated patients call for assistance, and they have to wait too long, there could be an issue with staffing or staff mentality.
  • Dirty Facilities: If you see that floors aren’t clean, smells aren’t disinfected, and nothing is sanitized properly, you are only getting a glimpse at what your loved one may experience at the nursing home.
  • Rude Staff: If you are met with rude or non-responsive staff members at the nursing home, chances are they will be rude and non-responsive to their residents. While everyone has a bad day, documenting rude behavior can help you understand if the nursing home is right for your loved one.
  • Poor Food Quality: Your loved one deserves to have food that is served at the proper temperature and is edible. Food quality at a nursing home can help you understand how the facility is run.

If you see red flags like this at a nursing home, consider finding an alternative for your loved one. If your loved one is already a resident at a nursing home with red flags, be sure to document everything, talk to your loved one about how they’re treated, and report any allegations of abuse or neglect.

What are the signs of nursing home abuse?

Some signs of nursing home abuse can include:

  • Bed sores
  • Broken Bones
  • Malnutrition
  • Dehydration
  • Dirty rooms or common areas
  • Severe, repeated, or unreported injuries
  • Falls
  • Infections

To learn more about the signs of nursing home abuse, this article goes into greater detail on how you can spot nursing home abuse and what to do if you suspect your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse.

How to prove neglect in a nursing home

Evidence, evidence, evidence. Collecting evidence can help you prove that a loved one was neglected in a nursing home. Visit your loved one frequently to see if any changes are made in their mood or behavior. Let your loved one know that it is safe to talk to you, and that you are documenting everything that is happening. Take pictures, write down anything that seems out of the ordinary. Additionally, file reports with Adult Protective Services and the police to ensure that you have documentation of what is happening.

How hard is it to sue a nursing home for neglect?

It can be difficult to sue a nursing home for neglect. That’s why it’s so important to get a nursing home abuse lawyer who will fight for you. At Ron Bell, we will conduct investigations on the nursing home, collect evidence, and help you form your case. We know how important your loved one’s safety and security is to you, and if they’ve been abused, neglected, or exploited, we want to help.

What constitutes neglect in a nursing home?

Neglect in nursing homes can come in many forms. Including medical neglect and neglect of basic needs. Types of neglect also include:

  • Isolation
  • Lack of supervision
  • Safety hazards
  • Medication errors
  • Untreated illnesses
  • Improper wound care
  • Unsanitary living conditions
  • Malnutrition
  • dehydration

How to report nursing home abuse in New Mexico

If you believe abuse is occurring and you have not already filed a complaint, you can:

  1. Report the Abuse to the Department of Health: You can report potential nursing home abuse by calling the New Mexico Health Facility Complaints Hotline at 1-800-752-8649. Alternatively, you can fill out and download this complaint form and email or mail it. The email address is [email protected]. The physical address is Harold Runnels Building, 1190 S. St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87505
  2. Report the Abuse to the Aging and Long-Term Services Department: If you suspect a resident is being abused, neglected, or exploited, call Adult Protective Services Statewide Intake, toll-free at 1-866-654-3219.
  3. Address Immediate Concerns with Police: If you believe a long-term care facility resident is in immediate danger and the nursing home administration fails to act, do not hesitate to call Albuquerque police at 505-242-COPS (or 911 in an emergency). The police can ensure the resident gets prompt medical care, as well as file a complaint and possibly arrest the abuser.

Contact Ron Bell Injury Lawyers to Learn More About Your Next Steps: If the abuse victim is your family member or loved one, call as soon as possible at 505-898-BELL. We may be able to help you collect evidence to prove the abuse occurred and to hold the nursing home liable for your loved one’s damages.

Articles About Nursing Home Abuse

  • While visiting your loved one in a New Mexico nursing home, there are things to look for.

    5 Things to do When Visiting Loved Ones in Nursing Homes

    November 26, 2025

  • Nursing home staff requirements are a part of New Mexico law, and should be enforced to avoid issues with nursing home neglect and abuse.

    New Mexico Nursing Home Staffing Requirements

    February 13, 2025

  • Two nursing homes in New Mexico have been in the spotlight for abuse.

    Elderly Abuse in Our Own Backyard: When to Call a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

    January 9, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Home Abuse Injuries

A 2018 ProPublica analysis ranks New Mexico’s nursing homes as the worst in the nation. While there are a few truly excellent long-term care facilities in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico’s nursing homes overall do not fare well under scrutiny. As a matter of fact, Families for Better Care ranks New Mexico the 47th state for nursing homes in the country.

According to the analysis, inspectors found “serious deficiencies” in 36 of the 74 Medicare and Medicaid facilities they inspected between January 2015 and April 2018. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also reported more than 2,200 infractions in these healthcare facilities. A violation can range from a relatively minor incident to a confirmed case of physical abuse at the hands of staff members or other residents.

If you’ve noticed that a loved one is suffering due to negligence or abuse in a nursing home, a nursing home abuse attorney can help you understand your rights and whether or not you deserve compensation for the injuries or death that occurred.

While we cannot tell you how much your family member’s nursing home abuse case might be worth, we offer free consultations and will conduct a full investigation to get a better understanding of your unique situation. However, the maximum compensation value of the case and any subsequent punitive damages awarded will depend on:

  • • The type of abuse he or she suffered
  • • The treatment he or she required
  • • The evidence we have against the liable parties
  • • The severity of his or her pain and suffering damages

We can, however, help you understand the types of damages we may be able to recover if we can negotiate a settlement or win an award for your family member in court.

Common damages our clients collect in Albuquerque nursing home abuse cases include:

  • Medical care and related expenses when physical injuries occur
  • The cost of therapy and counseling
  • Repayment of any stolen money or other assets
  • Damages for physical pain and emotional suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Other emotional losses

Once you help move your family member into a nursing home, keep an eye out for signs of nursing home abuse and document anything that may point to a failure of duty of care. This can play a crucial role in proving your case later.

While it is true that falls are common among nursing home residents, and many may suffer minor bumps and bruises regularly, watching for a pattern of abuse is essential to ensuring your loved one’s health and safety. This may include:

  • Unexplained injuries such as bruises, cuts, and burns
  • Broken bones with no known cause
  • An unexplained change in alertness, usually becoming less alert
  • Sudden changes in behavior, such as withdrawal, depression, anxiety, or agitation
  • A sudden personality change unrelated to a medical condition
  • Bruises or other signs of sexual abuse around the breasts and genitals
  • Fear or reluctance to be alone with certain staff or person
    • Inconsistent explanations by staff members for injuries or changes in a resident’s condition
    • Weight loss or malnutrition
    • Dehydration
    • Chronic and untreated bedsores
    • Soiled clothes or sheets and other hygiene issues
    • Delayed medical care
    • Medication errors, including skipped medication or providing too much medication
    • Missing cash or valuable assets
    • Unauthorized use of checks, bank cards, or credit cards
    • A sudden change to a will or other estate planning document
    • Caregiver refusal to leave during family visits

If you notice one or more of these signs of neglect or abuse, we encourage you to document them and then bring them to the attention of the nursing home administration. If they cannot give you a satisfactory answer, call 911 to get your loved one out of immediate danger or file a complaint in a non-emergency situation.

  • Chronic issues with staff retention
  • Lack of supervision for staff

Emotional Abuse

When looking for signs of abuse and neglect, many people may not consider emotional abuse since it does not cause any physical harm to the resident. However, it causes mental anguish, suffering, and emotional harm. Emotional abusers may also engage in physical, sexual, or financial abuse. Emotional abuse often includes:

  • Threats and harassment
  • Intimidation
  • Humiliation and embarrassment
  • Isolation

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse covers a vast array of actions. This may include:

  • Inappropriate comments
  • Unnecessary nudity
  • Unwanted touching or fondling
  • Unwanted sexual activity
  • Rape

Financial Abuse

Financial exploitation commonly includes:

  • Stealing cash from the senior’s room
  • Stealing valuables to pawn, sell, or keep
  • Using the senior’s credit card or checks to buy things for themselves
  • The nursing home or caregiver billing for services the senior does not receive
  • Forcing, coercing, or tricking the senior to change his or her will

Elder abuse can be prosecuted in New Mexico through the criminal justice system or civil courts. The following are the distinctions between criminal and civil charges in a nursing facility abuse case.

  • Depending on the victim’s age and the intensity of the abuse, elder abuse can result in a variety of penalties. Fines and imprisonment may be imposed.
  • Anyone who inadvertently or intentionally causes harm or death to a dependent adult, or the elderly is subject to penalties and imprisonment.
  • If you are caring for an elderly person and you choose to abuse or disregard their needs, you may be breaking federal and state laws. You may face criminal and civil penalties.

The distinction between a civil and a criminal matter is self-evident. An attorney with experience in nursing home abuse handles civil matters. Typically, the family employs an attorney and files a lawsuit against the nursing home. Abuse that is more violent is dealt with in criminal courts.

Nursing home abuse is illegal in the state of New Mexico, according to Title 7, Chapter 9 of the New Mexico Administrative Code. The agency responsible for this specific NMAC enforcement is the NM Department of Health. Civil and criminal laws protect those who are most vulnerable. These rules prohibit not just physical or mental abuse but also neglect or lack of care for the elderly. Abuse can be classified as psychological, physical, financial, neglect, isolation, abandonment, or sexual assault. All adults are protected by the law.