Toledo Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are expected to provide proper medical care and ensure the safety and well-being of their residents. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is a distressing reality that affects many vulnerable residents in Toledo and across Ohio.

Seeking legal help from an experienced Toledo nursing home abuse lawyer is essential to protect your loved one’s rights and hold responsible parties accountable. Taking legal action not only helps your family but can also prevent abuse in nursing homes and create safer environments for all residents.

Why Hire Nursing Home Law Center

At Nursing Home Law Center, we are dedicated to helping victims of nursing home abuse secure justice and fair settlement. Our Ohio nursing home abuse lawyers have extensive experience handling nursing home abuse cases with care and achieving significant settlements and verdicts for our clients.

We conduct detailed investigations to address every aspect of the abuse, including medical expenses, emotional distress, and other related damages. With our in-depth knowledge of nursing home abuse claims, we handle the legal process efficiently and advocate tirelessly to protect your rights.

Types of Cases Handled by Our Toledo Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Nursing home abuse occurs when residents in nursing facilities or assisted living facilities are harmed through negligent acts, abuse, or a failure to provide the necessary care. Abuse can take many forms, all of which can cause significant physical, emotional, and financial harm or even death. 

At Nursing Home Law Center, a nursing home lawyer handles various abuse cases to protect victims and their families, including:

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse involves intentional physical harm to a nursing home resident through actions like hitting, shoving, or inappropriate use of physical or chemical restraint.

Mental and Emotional Abuse

Psychological abuse includes actions that cause mental and emotional harm to a nursing home resident, such as verbal insults, threats, humiliation, or isolating them from other residents.

Sexual Abuse

Sex abuse in nursing homes involves any form of non-consensual sexual contact, such as inappropriate touching, coercion, or assault. Elderly residents, particularly those with cognitive impairments, are especially vulnerable to this form of abuse.

Medical Malpractice

Malpractice in nursing homes occurs when residents are harmed by inadequate or improper care provided by medical professionals. Common examples include bedsores resulting from a lack of repositioning, medication errors such as incorrect dosages, and failure to treat infections.

Negligence

Negligence happens when nursing home staff fail to provide the care necessary to maintain a resident’s health and safety. Examples include poor hygiene, which can lead to infections, malnutrition from insufficient food, or dehydration due to inadequate fluid intake. 

Another severe example is elopement, where a resident wanders away unsupervised, potentially resulting in injury or harm.

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse involves exploiting a resident’s assets or finances, often by nursing home staff or others with access to the resident. Examples include forging checks, unauthorized use of bank accounts, or pressuring the resident to alter financial documents, such as wills or powers of attorney.

Wrongful Death

Wrongful death occurs when a resident passes by neglect, severe abuse, medical errors, or other failures in care. Families of the deceased can seek justice and compensation by holding the responsible parties accountable for their loss.

Understanding Your Legal Rights

Federal and state laws protect nursing home residents, ensuring their safety, dignity, and access to proper care. These laws establish specific rights for residents and hold the assisted living facility accountable for providing a safe and supportive environment. If these rights are violated, the resident or family member can take legal action to seek justice and compensation.

The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 sets minimum standards of care for nursing homes receiving Medicare or Medicaid funding. 

This Act guarantees residents the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and unnecessary restraints; to receive proper medical care in a timely manner; to participate in decisions about their care, including refusing treatment; to have privacy in personal and medical matters; and to live in a safe, clean environment. 

In Ohio, state regulations overseen by the Ohio Department of Health provide additional protections. 

These laws require nursing homes to maintain adequate staffing levels to meet residents’ needs, report suspected abuse or neglect to state authorities, conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance with care and safety standards and take immediate action to address any complaints or incidents of mistreatment. 

Nursing facilities that fail to uphold these standards may face penalties and legal consequences.

Eligibility to File a Claim 

When nursing home abuse or neglect occurs, several parties may be eligible to file a claim. Residents who experience mistreatment can pursue a personal injury claim to seek compensation for their damages. 

If the resident is unable to act due to physical or cognitive limitations, a legal guardian or an individual with power of attorney may file on their behalf. Family members may also file claims in cases of wrongful death or severe mistreatment to seek damages for their loved ones. 

Additionally, the estate representative, often the executor, can file claims on behalf of a deceased resident for issues such as wrongful death or financial exploitation.

How Our Toledo Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Can Help

At Nursing Home Law Center, our experienced nursing home abuse attorney team is dedicated to advocating for victims of abuse and neglect in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. With years of experience handling complex nursing home negligence cases, we understand the challenges families face when loved ones are mistreated in facilities they trust. 

Our legal team works tirelessly to uncover the truth, hold responsible parties accountable, and secure fair compensation for victims and their families.

Free Case Evaluation

We start by offering a free consultation to discuss your concerns. During this meeting, our attorneys will listen to the details of your case, evaluate potential evidence of abuse or neglect, and provide an honest assessment of your legal options. 

This initial consultation allows you to better understand your situation and the steps involved, all without any upfront costs or obligations.

Case Investigation

Our team conducts a thorough investigation to gather the evidence needed to build a strong case. This process includes reviewing medical records, interviewing witnesses, examining facility policies, and uncovering patterns of neglect or abuse. 

By identifying signs such as unexplained injuries, poor hygiene, or improper use of restraints, we can determine who is responsible and prepare a compelling case for justice.

Filing the Claim

Filing a nursing home abuse claim requires careful preparation and attention to detail. Our attorneys handle all aspects of the filing process, including gathering the necessary documents, meeting deadlines, and ensuring compliance with Ohio laws. 

Properly filing a claim is a crucial step in seeking compensation for medical expenses, emotional distress, and other damages caused by abuse or neglect.

Settlement Negotiation

Many nursing home abuse cases are resolved through settlements, which can provide timely compensation for victims without the need for a lengthy trial. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators who will advocate on your behalf to secure a fair settlement. 

We work to ensure the compensation reflects the full extent of your loved one’s suffering, including medical costs, emotional trauma, and punitive damages where appropriate.

Trial Representation

If a fair settlement cannot be reached, our legal team is fully prepared to take your case to trial. With extensive courtroom experience, we will present evidence and expert testimony to demonstrate how facility staff violated their duty of care. We are committed to achieving justice for victims and their families, even if it means pursuing litigation.

Common Signs of Elder Abuse Among Nursing Home Residents 

Toledo has 56 Medicare-approved nursing homes, and the data reflects notable issues in care quality across multiple areas. Of these, 23 facilities, around 41%, have an overall rating of below or much below average. Health inspections present a more significant concern, with 28 facilities, or 50%, receiving low ratings in this category. 

Staffing appears to be the most critical issue, as 32 nursing homes—approximately 57.14%—are rated poorly. In terms of quality measures, only five facilities, or about 8.93%, fall into the lowest rating categories. [1]

Elder abuse in nursing homes can be challenging to identify, especially since many victims are unable or unwilling to speak out about their mistreatment. Recognizing the warning signs is crucial to protecting your loved one from further harm.

• Unexplained injuries, such as bruises or broken bones
• Marks from restraints
• Bedsores (pressure ulcers)
• Behavioral changes
• Bruising in sensitive areas
• STDs or infections
• Rapid health decline
• Malnutrition or dehydration
• Untreated medical conditions
• Frequent falls or wandering (elopement)
• Sudden changes in finances
• Missing personal belongings

The worst-rated nursing homes in Toledo include:

Contact a Toledo Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today!

At Nursing Home Law Center, we have a track record of helping families seek justice for loved ones who have suffered abuse or neglect in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. 

Our skilled legal team is dedicated to holding negligent facilities and caregivers accountable while securing compensation for nursing home abuse victims and their families. We understand the pain and frustration that nursing home abuse causes, and we provide support at every stage of the process.

If you suspect a loved one has experienced abuse or neglect in Ohio nursing homes, don’t wait to take action. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case, understand your legal options, and begin the process of holding responsible parties accountable.

Call us at (800) 926-7565 or fill out our contact form.

References: [1] Medicare