Nursing Home Lawsuits Surge in North Carolina Amid Claims of Neglect and Profit-Driven Care

The nursing home industry is once again under a harsh spotlight, with lawsuits on the rise and troubling reports of systemic neglect. According to North Carolina Lawyers Weekly (Sept. 17, 2025), nursing home abuse lawsuits have surged by 30% since 2020, a trend fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic and longstanding failures in oversight, staffing, and accountability.

For families in North Carolina, the issue is particularly urgent. The state ranks 30th in the nation for nursing home quality, according to U.S. News & World Report, putting it near the bottom in terms of care standards. Attorneys, advocates, and families say that behind this ranking lies a pattern of neglect, underfunding, and profit-driven corporate models that place residents at risk.

Chronic Understaffing and Neglect

One of the most consistent themes in nursing home litigation is chronic understaffing. Residents are often left in bed or wheelchairs for hours at a time, leading to preventable injuries such as pressure ulcers (bedsores). These sores can progress to stage four, where muscle and bone are exposed—a clear sign of substandard care.

Attorneys across the Carolinas describe cases where residents did not receive adequate nutrition, skin care, or hygiene support. When facilities fail to provide basic assistance, residents face increased risks of infection, falls, and premature death.

The core issue, experts argue, is not just underfunding but where the money goes. As Cary-based attorney John McCabe explained, many nursing homes are owned by large corporate groups that siphon money away from facilities to parent companies. This leaves front-line staff stretched thin while executives profit—an arrangement that ultimately puts residents in danger.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Immunity Bills

The pandemic magnified existing problems while shielding facilities from accountability. North Carolina enacted broad immunity protections for nursing homes during the COVID-19 emergency, which remained in effect for more than two years.

While these protections were intended to shield facilities from lawsuits directly tied to pandemic-related care, their scope was much broader. As McCabe noted, homes were effectively immune from most lawsuits if they could link deficiencies to the pandemic. This meant that for more than two years, many facilities operated without meaningful oversight, creating a culture where poor care became entrenched.

Now, years later, families are seeing the devastating effects: preventable injuries, neglect, and widespread litigation.

Barriers to Justice

Even when families seek justice, they face steep barriers. Attorneys report that obtaining complete medical records from nursing homes is often a challenge, with facilities delaying or withholding information. Missing records can change the outcome of cases and make accountability harder to achieve.

Additionally, damage caps limit what victims and families can recover in lawsuits, discouraging attorneys from pursuing some valid claims. These caps disproportionately benefit corporate owners, insulating them from the financial consequences of their negligence.

Profit Over People

Across North Carolina, nursing homes often operate under a profit-first model. Attorneys and advocates argue that the industry prioritizes shareholders over residents, cutting corners on staffing and training to increase margins.

This profit-driven approach is not unique to North Carolina, but the state’s weak enforcement and lack of a strong Patients’ Bill of Rights make the problem worse. Advocates argue that North Carolina should follow federal programs and set higher minimum staffing levels to ensure residents receive adequate care.

Until then, families remain at risk of entrusting loved ones to facilities that are ill-equipped—or unwilling—to provide safe and dignified care.

How KBD Attorneys Helps Families

At Ketterer, Browne & Davani, we have seen firsthand how neglect and abuse devastate families. From preventable infections and falls to wrongful deaths caused by systemic understaffing, these cases are heartbreaking—and far too common in North Carolina.

Our firm represents families in nursing home abuse and neglect lawsuits, working to hold negligent facilities and their corporate owners accountable. We understand the barriers families face in obtaining records, navigating damage caps, and going up against well-funded corporations. That is why we fight tirelessly to secure justice, accountability, and safer care standards for vulnerable residents.

If your loved one has suffered from neglect, bedsores, unexplained injuries, or wrongful death in a North Carolina nursing home, you are not alone. Our attorneys are here to help you investigate what happened and pursue accountability.

Moving Forward

The surge in nursing home lawsuits reflects a deep and ongoing crisis in long-term care. North Carolina residents deserve better than a system that prioritizes profits over people and allows systemic neglect to persist.

Advocates call for stronger enforcement, more transparent records, and an end to profit-driven models that sacrifice care quality. Until those changes happen, litigation remains one of the most powerful tools families have to demand accountability.

At KBD Attorneys, we are committed to standing with families, exposing wrongdoing, and pushing for systemic change in North Carolina’s nursing homes. Contact us today if you need help for your loved one.

Sources:

• Kallie Cox, Nursing home lawsuits surge amid claims of neglect, profit focus, North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, Sept. 17, 2025.

• U.S. News & World Report Nursing Home Rankings.