Nursing Home Red Flags
A concise, litigation‑ready reference for identifying systemic failures, clinical warning signs, and documentation patterns that signal neglect.
Our Approach
Nursing home cases often hinge on patterns — not isolated events. The Nursing Home Red Flags Sheet highlights the most common indicators of neglect, systemic breakdowns, and deviations from standards of care. These red flags help attorneys quickly assess case strength, identify missing documentation, and focus their litigation strategy where it matters most.
This resource is built from real‑world litigation experience and the clinical‑legal methodology Lexcura Summit uses in active cases nationwide.
What This Resource Helps You Identify
Clinical warning signs that indicate poor care
Documentation patterns that suggest concealment or neglect
Systemic failures that contribute to resident harm
High‑value issues to explore during depositions
Early indicators of case strength or facility liability
Key Red Flag Categories
1. Pressure Injuries
Rapid progression of wounds
Missing or inconsistent wound assessments
Lack of repositioning documentation
Late entries after deterioration
Wound photos missing or withheld
2. Falls & Supervision Issues
Repeated falls within short timeframes
Missing incident reports
Bed/chair alarms not documented
Contradictory staff statements
Delayed physician notification
3. Nutrition & Hydration Concerns
Sudden or unexplained weight loss
Incomplete meal intake records
Missing hydration logs
Dietitian notes absent or inconsistent
Recurrent dehydration
4. Infection Control Failures
Recurrent UTIs
Delayed treatment for infections
Missing vital signs during illness
Lack of isolation or precautions
Inconsistent nursing notes
5. Medication & Treatment Errors
MAR/TAR inconsistencies
PRN medications given without documentation
Missed doses
Medication error reports missing
Late entries after adverse events
6. Staffing & Operational Red Flags
Chronic understaffing
High turnover
Agency staff reliance
Missing assignment sheets
Gaps in CNA flow sheets
7. Documentation Gaps & Irregularities
Copy‑and‑paste patterns
Contradictory entries
Missing assessments
Retrospective charting
Records that don’t match clinical outcomes
Why These Red Flags Matter
Red flags reveal more than isolated mistakes — they expose systemic failures that increase liability and strengthen your case. Identifying these patterns early helps you:
Build a stronger causation argument
Target deposition questions
Identify missing records
Support punitive damages arguments
Strengthen expert review
Nursing Home Red Flags Identify Early Warning Signs of Neglect, Abuse, and System Failure
Nursing home liability and regulatory exposure often develop through recognizable warning signs long before a serious adverse event occurs. The Nursing Home Red Flags tool highlights indicators such as repeated falls, unexplained injuries, weight loss, dehydration, pressure injuries, medication issues, staffing deficiencies, delayed physician notification, and documentation inconsistencies. Our clinical-legal team applies this framework to records and facility practices to identify patterns of neglect, compliance failures, and escalation breakdowns relevant to early case valuation, regulatory review, and litigation strategy.
Submit Records for Nursing Home Red Flag Review