Nursing home abuse is a serious issue affecting vulnerable elderly residents in Cleveland and across Ohio.
Families trust nursing homes and assisted living facilities to provide proper care and a safe environment for their loved ones, ensuring dignity and well-being in their advanced age. Tragically, this trust is sometimes betrayed when nursing home residents suffer from elder abuse or neglect by caregivers or other staff.
Reaching out to a knowledgeable lawyer is the first step in protecting your loved one’s rights and securing the compensation they deserve. An experienced Cleveland nursing home abuse lawyer can guide families through the legal process, helping to identify abuse, hold responsible parties accountable, and pursue fair compensation for the harm caused.
Skilled legal help is vital not only for seeking compensation for your friend or family member but also for stopping abuse and ensuring that nursing homes maintain the standards of care they are legally obligated to provide.
At Nursing Home Law Center, we are dedicated to obtaining justice and fair compensation for victims of nursing home abuse. Our Ohio nursing home abuse attorney team has a strong history of managing Ohio nursing home abuse cases with care and securing meaningful settlements and verdicts.
We perform in-depth investigations to uncover every detail of nursing home abuse, covering medical expenses, emotional distress, and all relevant damages. With extensive experience in nursing home abuse claims, we tackle each case thoroughly and fight tirelessly to protect your rights.
Nursing home abuse occurs when staff members, caregivers, or other individuals harm residents through intentional acts or neglect, resulting in physical, emotional, or financial harm.
Nursing home abuse can take many forms, each with potentially serious consequences for residents. At Nursing Home Law Center, our skilled nursing home abuse lawyers handle a wide variety of abuse and neglect cases, providing skilled representation to help protect victims’ rights and pursue fair compensation.
This type of nursing home abuse involves inflicting physical harm on a resident through actions like hitting, shoving, or restraining without medical justification. Improper use of physical restraints, including tying or sedating residents, can lead to physical injuries, limited mobility, and emotional trauma.
Signs of physical abuse often include bruises, broken bones, or injuries with no clear explanation and can have lasting effects on a resident’s well-being.
Emotional abuse, also called psychological abuse, includes actions that cause psychological harm, such as verbal insults, threats, humiliation, or isolation.
This type of nursing home abuse can have long-term impacts on residents, leading to depression, anxiety, or withdrawal. Behavioral changes, sudden fearfulness, or reluctance to interact with certain staff members may all indicate mental abuse.
Sexual abuse in nursing homes involves any non-consensual sexual contact with a resident. This can happen with other residents, a care provider, or nursing home visitors. An elderly resident is especially high risk for this form of nursing home abuse due to potential physical and cognitive limitations.
Signs of sexual abuse can include unexplained bruising around sensitive areas, torn clothing, or sudden fear or discomfort around certain staff members. This form of abuse is deeply traumatic and requires immediate intervention.
Medical malpractice in facilities occurs when residents do not receive adequate or proper medical care, resulting in harm. Common examples include pressure sores from lack of movement, medication errors, and untreated infections. Bedsores can become severe health hazards, while incorrect medication dosing can lead to dangerous side effects.
Negligence in nursing homes happens when staff fails to provide the necessary care that residents need to maintain their health and safety. Signs of nursing home neglect include poor hygiene, unclean living spaces, malnutrition, dehydration, and even elopement (when residents wander away unsupervised).
For example, inadequate supervision can lead to fall injuries, hip fractures, and other severe harm. Nursing home neglect is often a sign of understaffing or inadequate training within the facility.
Financial abuse involves the exploitation or unauthorized use of a resident’s assets or funds. This can include unauthorized access to bank accounts, coercing a resident to change their will, or outright theft of valuables.
A family member might notice unusual transactions, missing personal items, or sudden changes in financial documents, all suggesting possible financial exploitation.
When abuse, neglect, or inadequate medical treatment leads to a resident’s death, families may be able to file a wrongful death claim. By filing this claim, family members can seek justice and compensation for their loss, helping to hold the liable parties accountable for their actions.
Federal and state laws protect nursing home residents, guaranteeing their safety, dignity, and the right to receive adequate care.
These laws hold nursing facilities and assisted living facilities accountable for providing a safe environment and protecting residents from abuse and neglect. When these rights are violated, residents and their families have the legal right to pursue compensation and justice.
The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 is a federal law establishing a nursing home “Residents’ Bill of Rights” to ensure individuals’ health, safety, and dignity in nursing facilities. Critical protections under this law include:
This law applies to all nursing homes receiving federal funding, such as through Medicaid or Medicare, and sets the minimum standard of care that facilities must meet.
In addition to federal protections, Ohio law provides specific rights for nursing home residents. The Ohio Department of Health oversees nursing facilities and enforces state regulations to ensure proper care. These regulations address:
Ohio facilities are required to provide a safe environment, employ qualified staff, and address complaints promptly. If they fail to meet these standards, they can be held liable for abuse or neglect. Report concerns to the Ohio Department of Health to open an investigation.
In cases of nursing home negligence, several parties may have the legal right to file a claim:
At Nursing Home Law Center, our Cleveland nursing home abuse lawyers are dedicated to protecting the rights of elderly residents and holding facilities accountable for victims of nursing home neglect.
With years of experience handling complex nursing home abuse cases, our law firm understands the challenges families face when loved ones are mistreated in a nursing care facility. We use our knowledge and skills to investigate claims thoroughly, identify all liable parties, and pursue fair compensation for your loved one’s pain, suffering, and losses.
We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to review your case. In this meeting, an abuse lawyer will listen to your concerns, evaluate potential evidence of nursing home negligence, and discuss your legal options.
This consultation provides insight into the strength of your claim and allows you to make an informed decision about moving forward, all without an initial financial commitment.
A comprehensive investigation is essential for building a strong case. Our team gathers evidence, including medical records, personal accounts, facility documents, and witness statements, to uncover signs of nursing home neglect.
We also work with experts to verify medical evidence or assess conditions within the nursing home. This thorough investigation ensures we have all relevant information to support your claim and hold responsible parties accountable.
It is crucial to file a claim correctly and within Ohio’s statute of limitations to seek compensation. Our personal injury attorneys handle all necessary documentation and filing procedures, ensuring that each detail is addressed accurately.
This includes submitting your claim on time, identifying liable parties, such as an abusive caregiver, and building a solid foundation for the case. Proper filing is an essential step in establishing your loved one’s right to pursue compensation for abuse or neglect.
Many nursing home abuse cases are resolved through negotiated settlements. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators working diligently to reach a fair settlement with nursing home representatives and insurers. We strive to secure compensation that covers medical expenses, emotional distress, and other losses your loved one has endured.
Throughout negotiations, we keep your family’s best interests in mind, aiming for a resolution that holds the nursing care facility accountable and gives you a sense of justice.
Our team is fully prepared to represent you in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached. With experience in trying nursing home abuse cases, our personal injury attorneys present a strong case in front of a judge and jury, advocating tirelessly for justice on your loved one’s behalf.
We understand the emotional toll of elder abuse cases, and we work to make the trial process as smooth as possible while fighting for maximum compensation and accountability.
Out of the 137 Medicare-approved nursing homes in Cleveland, Ohio, a significant proportion have concerning ratings in key areas. Approximately 42% (58 facilities) have an overall score categorized as “below average” or “much below average.”
Health inspections reveal a similar trend, with 59 (43%) receiving poor ratings. Staffing is more alarming, with only about 84 facilities (16%) rated below average. However, quality measures are the least troubling, as only 7% (9 nursing homes) fall into the lowest scoring categories.
These figures highlight potential areas of concern for families seeking quality care in Cleveland’s facilities. [1]
Identifying elder abuse in nursing homes can be challenging, but knowing the warning signs can help protect your loved one.
The worst-rated nursing homes in Cleveland include:
| Aristocrat Berea Healthcare and Rehabilitation | Broadview Multi Care Center |
| Candlewood Healthcare and Rehabilitation | Eastbrook Healthcare Center |
| Embassy of Lyndhurst | Fairfax Health Care Center |
| Gardens of Mayfield Village | Grande Pointe Healthcare Commu |
| Heights Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, The | Hudson Elms Nursing Center |
| Kirtland Rehabilitation & Care | Legacy Mentor |
| Legacy Twinsburg | Normandy Manor of Rocky River |
| Rocky River Gardens Rehab and Nursing Ctr | Seven Hills Health & Rehab Center |
| Solon Pointe at Emerald Ridge | Suburban Healthcare and Rehabilitation |
| The Laurels of Chagrin Falls | The Pavilion Rehabilitation and Nursing Center |
| Tranquility of Richmond Heights | Wayside Farm Inc |
| Wesleyan Village | Willow Park Convalescent Home |
| Mentor Woods Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation |
At Nursing Home Law Center, we have extensive experience representing victims of nursing home neglect. Our skilled legal team is committed to holding negligent facilities accountable and securing fair compensation for victims and their families.
We understand the emotional and physical toll that elder abuse cases can take, and we provide compassionate, knowledgeable support every step of the way.
If you suspect your loved one has suffered nursing home negligence or potential abuse in a Cleveland assisted living facility, don’t wait—contact us today. Our Cleveland nursing home abuse lawyers offer a free consultation to discuss your case, review your legal options, and guide you toward justice and compensation.
Call us at (800) 926-7565 or fill out our contact form to protect your loved one’s rights and begin seeking the resolution they deserve.
References: [1] Medicare