Nursing home abuse is an unfortunate reality that affects many vulnerable nursing home residents across Los Angeles. It can result in severe physical, emotional, and financial harm to elderly loved ones who depend on caregivers for proper care.
Abuse can take many forms, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, and nursing home neglect.
For victims and their families, seeking legal help from an experienced Los Angeles nursing home abuse lawyer is essential to hold these facilities accountable and pursue justice.
A qualified nursing home abuse attorney from Nursing Home Law Center can investigate your case, gather evidence, and file a nursing home abuse claim to recover financial compensation for medical bills, pain, and suffering. If you suspect abuse, it’s crucial to act quickly to protect your loved one’s rights and ensure they receive the proper care they deserve.
At Nursing Home Law Center, our priority is to achieve justice and fair compensation for victims of nursing home abuse. Our seasoned legal team has a strong record of handling nursing home abuse cases with care and obtaining substantial settlements and verdicts.
We thoroughly investigate each case to address every aspect of abuse, including medical costs, emotional suffering, and other damages. With extensive nursing home abuse claims knowledge, we manage the legal process efficiently and work relentlessly to safeguard your rights.
Throughout the case, we offer clear and compassionate support, ensuring you and your family stay informed, protected, and confident.
Nursing home abuse refers to any intentional harm or neglect inflicted on a nursing home resident, causing them physical, emotional, or financial suffering.
At Nursing Home Law Center, our Los Angeles nursing home abuse attorneys handle a variety of nursing home abuse cases, ensuring that victims receive the justice and compensation they deserve. Below are the different types of nursing home abuse we address:
Physical abuse occurs when nursing home staff members inflict bodily harm on nursing home residents. This includes hitting, slapping, or improper use of restraints, which can lead to severe injuries like broken bones, bruises, or even permanent disability.
In understaffed nursing homes, the misuse of physical restraints is a common form of abuse, which can cause long-term physical pain and suffering.
Mental and emotional abuse involves actions that cause psychological harm to a resident. Examples include verbal threats, humiliation, or isolating the resident from others. Emotional distress from nursing home abuse can lead to anxiety, depression, and a decline in the resident’s overall well-being.
Sexual abuse in a nursing home is any unwanted or non-consensual sexual contact with a nursing home resident. This is an incredibly horrific form of abuse, often occurring when nursing homes fail to vet or monitor staff members properly.
Victims may be unable to speak up due to fear or cognitive impairments, making it vital to recognize the signs. Victims may suddenly be fearful of certain people, have unexplained bruising, or have a mysterious STI.
Medical malpractice includes negligent medical care that harms residents, such as improper medication administration, misdiagnosis, or failure to treat conditions like bedsores. Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, are a common sign of neglect when nursing home residents are not properly moved or cared for.
Negligence in nursing homes includes failure to provide primary care needs, such as hygiene, nutrition, and hydration. Residents may suffer from poor hygiene, malnutrition, or dehydration, which can lead to severe health complications. In extreme cases, negligence can result in elopement, where residents wander off and are placed in dangerous situations.
Financial abuse involves the exploitation of a resident’s assets by caregivers or staff. This may include theft, forging signatures, or coercing the resident into altering financial documents. Elderly residents in nursing homes are often targeted due to their vulnerability and lack of oversight from family members.
In the most tragic cases, nursing home abuse or neglect can lead to the wrongful death of a nursing home resident. When nursing homes fail to provide proper medical care or protect residents from harm, surviving family members may file a wrongful death claim to hold the facility accountable for their loss.
Nursing home residents are entitled to numerous federal and California state protections to ensure they receive proper care and are free from abuse or neglect.
The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 is a critical federal law that establishes fundamental rights for residents, including the right to live in a safe environment, access appropriate medical care, and be free from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
Under this act, nursing homes that receive Medicaid or Medicare funding must provide services that meet specific standards, including ensuring residents’ dignity and promoting their well-being.
In California, residents are further protected by state-specific regulations under California’s Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (EADACPA), which safeguards elderly residents in nursing homes from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
This law empowers victims of nursing home abuse and their families to file lawsuits and pursue financial compensation for physical injuries, emotional suffering, or financial exploitation.
A nursing home abuse claim can be filed by the victim themselves, a legal guardian, or a family member acting on behalf of the nursing home resident. In cases where the resident has passed away due to abuse or neglect, surviving family members may file a wrongful death claim.
Additionally, claims can be initiated by individuals with power of attorney, depending on the resident’s condition and legal circumstances.
In nursing home abuse and neglect cases, multiple parties may be held liable for the harm caused to a nursing home resident. Abuse and neglect can stem from a range of issues, including poor staffing, lack of proper training, or intentional misconduct.
Holding the responsible parties accountable is crucial for protecting residents and preventing future abuse. Below are some examples of who can be held liable in a nursing home abuse case:
At Nursing Home Law Center, our experienced Los Angeles nursing home abuse attorneys have a proven track record of successfully handling nursing home abuse cases. We understand the complexities of these cases and work tirelessly to hold nursing homes and their staff accountable for the harm inflicted on nursing home residents.
Our team has helped numerous victims and their families pursue financial compensation for the abuse, neglect, and emotional trauma endured in nursing facilities. Here’s how we can assist you through every step of the legal process:
We offer a free consultation to review the details of your nursing home abuse claim. During this evaluation, we’ll discuss your situation, gather initial information, and help you understand your legal rights and options.
Our legal team conducts a thorough investigation into the abuse or neglect, collecting medical records, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing the nursing home’s history. We leave no stone unturned in proving nursing home abuse, ensuring that all responsible parties are identified and held accountable.
Once we have gathered all the necessary evidence, our team will file a nursing home abuse lawsuit on your behalf. We handle all aspects of the filing process, ensuring that all legal requirements and deadlines are followed.
We can often negotiate a fair settlement with the nursing home or their insurance company. We use our experience and legal knowledge to secure maximum compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages while always keeping your best interests at heart.
If a settlement cannot be reached, our attorneys are fully prepared to take your nursing home abuse case to court. We have extensive trial experience and will advocate fiercely on your behalf to ensure that justice is served.
There are 300 Medicare-approved nursing homes in Los Angeles, and a significant portion of these facilities are struggling with their overall ratings and inspections. Specifically, 178 of these homes, or 59.3%, have received an overall rating of below or much below average.
Health inspections are a critical concern, as 227 facilities, or 75.7%, scored poorly in this category. This suggests widespread issues related to compliance with state and federal health regulations, potentially affecting residents’ well-being.
Staffing levels also present challenges, with 159 nursing homes (53%) receiving below-average ratings. These staffing deficiencies may reflect difficulties in providing consistent, adequate care for residents, impacting their day-to-day well-being and long-term health.
However, the situation is more optimistic regarding quality measures, as only 13 nursing homes (4.3%) received low ratings in this area. This indicates that while staffing and inspections are problematic, most facilities still perform reasonably well in maintaining residents’ overall quality of care. [1]
Recognizing the signs of elder abuse in a nursing home or assisted living facility is crucial for protecting your loved ones from harm. Abuse can take many forms, and some signs may be subtle, so it’s important to stay vigilant.
Below are some of the most common indicators of nursing home abuse:
If you notice any of these signs, it is essential to take immediate action to ensure the safety of your loved one and investigate the situation further. Nursing home abuse can escalate quickly, and timely intervention can prevent further harm.
If you suspect nursing home abuse, it’s critical to take immediate action to protect the nursing home resident from further harm. Below are the essential steps you should follow:
By following these steps, you can help protect your loved one from further harm and hold the nursing home accountable for any abuse or neglect.
Victims of nursing home abuse and their families may be entitled to various forms of compensation, known as damages, in a nursing home abuse lawsuit. These damages are typically categorized into three main types: economic, noneconomic, and punitive. Below are examples of each type of damage that you can recover in a nursing home abuse case:
These damages cover the quantifiable financial losses suffered due to the abuse. Examples include:
Non-economic damages compensate for intangible losses that don’t have a direct financial value but impact the victim’s quality of life. Examples include:
Punitive damages are sometimes awarded to punish the responsible party for particularly egregious behavior and deter similar future actions. These damages are typically awarded in cases where the abuse was intentional, malicious, or demonstrated gross negligence, such as:
By pursuing these damages, nursing home abuse victims and their families can seek justice and hold nursing homes accountable for the harm done. A skilled nursing home abuse attorney will work to maximize the compensation you receive and ensure that all aspects of the abuse are fully addressed.
At Nursing Home Law Center, we understand the financial stress that nursing home abuse victims and their families may face, which is why we work on a contingency fee basis.
You won’t have to pay any upfront legal fees to hire a Los Angeles nursing home abuse lawyer. Our law firm only gets paid if we successfully recover financial compensation for your case through a settlement or trial verdict.
This arrangement ensures that you can pursue justice without worrying about the cost of legal representation. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing—allowing you to focus on seeking justice and protecting your loved one.
If you suspect nursing home abuse in Los Angeles, it’s essential to act quickly due to the statute of limitations, which limits the amount of time you have to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit.
In California, the general statute of limitations for nursing home abuse cases is two years from the date of the injury or the discovery of the abuse. This time limit applies to most personal injury cases, including those involving nursing home neglect, medical malpractice, and wrongful death claims.
If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to pursue financial compensation for the harm caused. It’s crucial to consult with a Los Angeles nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your claim is filed within the legal time frame. Acting promptly not only preserves your legal options but also helps protect your loved one from further harm.
At Nursing Home Law Center, our experienced team of Los Angeles nursing home abuse attorneys has successfully represented countless victims and their families in nursing home abuse cases. We are dedicated to holding nursing homes and assisted living facilities accountable for their negligence.
We fight tirelessly to secure financial compensation for victims of elder abuse, neglect, and wrongful death. Our comprehensive legal knowledge and proven track record make us well-equipped to handle your case from start to finish.
If you or a loved one has suffered abuse or neglect in a Los Angeles nursing home, don’t wait to take action. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and explore your legal options. We are here to protect your rights and ensure that justice is served. Let our law firm help you seek the compensation and closure you deserve.
Call us at (800) 926-7565, or fill out our contact form
References: [1] Medicare