Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse
Legal Support & Advocacy
Protecting elderly dignity and rights through skilled advocacy
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At Donlon Brand, we are dedicated to defending the rights and dignity of nursing home residents who have suffered from neglect or abuse. Our experienced attorneys understand the heartbreak families experience when a trusted facility fails to provide proper care for their loved ones. We fight tirelessly to hold negligent facilities accountable and secure the compensation your family deserves.
What is Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse?
Nursing home neglect and abuse occurs when facilities or their staff fail to provide proper care, intentionally harm residents, or deprive them of their basic needs and dignity. These violations can take many forms—from physical assault and improper medication administration to neglect of basic hygiene and nutrition.
Approximately 1 in 10 Americans over 60 have experienced some form of elder abuse, with rates in nursing homes and care facilities often higher due to residents’ vulnerability and dependency. The National Council on Aging estimates that only 1 in 24 cases of nursing home abuse is reported to authorities, making this a significantly underreported problem.
The consequences can be devastating: increased risk of hospitalization, accelerated decline in health, psychological trauma, and even premature death. Residents in these facilities are entitled to certain standards of care under federal and state laws, including the Nursing Home Reform Act, which establishes the rights of all nursing home residents.
Common Examples of Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse Cases
Our firm regularly represents families in cases involving:
Severe Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers)
Developing and worsening due to staff failure to regularly reposition immobile residents.
Unexplained Injuries
Falls, bruises, or fractures occurring without adequate explanation or from lack of proper supervision.
Malnutrition and Dehydration
Residents losing significant weight or showing signs of dehydration despite being in a full-care environment.
Medication Errors
Administering incorrect medications, wrong dosages, or failing to provide prescribed treatments.
Emotional Abuse
Staff yelling at, threatening, or humiliating vulnerable residents.
Physical or Chemical Restraints
Unnecessary use of physical restraints or sedating medications to control residents.
If your loved one has experienced unexplained weight loss, sudden behavioral changes, unusual bruising, poor hygiene, or expresses fear of certain staff members, these may be warning signs of nursing home neglect or abuse requiring immediate investigation.
Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse Focus Areas
We provide specialized legal representation across the full spectrum of nursing home neglect and abuse:
Neglect & Failure to Provide Basic Care
Our attorneys handle cases where facilities fail to meet residents’ fundamental needs. We pursue justice for those who have suffered from malnutrition, dehydration, poor hygiene, and the development of preventable bedsores. We specialize in cases involving medication errors that lead to serious health complications or unnecessary suffering.
Physical Abuse
We vigorously represent elderly victims who have been subjected to hitting, kicking, slapping, or inappropriate restraint by nursing home staff or other residents. Our team investigates suspicious injuries, unexplained bruising, or situations where unnecessary physical or chemical restraints were used to control residents rather than providing proper care.
Emotional & Psychological Abuse
Our firm stands up for residents who face verbal threats, intimidation, humiliation, or isolation within nursing facilities. We understand the devastating impact of psychological abuse and work to hold facilities accountable for allowing toxic environments where residents are belittled, ignored, or deliberately isolated from social contact.
Sexual Abuse
We provide sensitive, compassionate representation in the most disturbing cases of nursing home abuse—those involving sexual assault or non-consensual touching. Our attorneys have experience handling these delicate matters with the utmost care while aggressively pursuing justice against perpetrators and the facilities that failed to protect vulnerable residents.
Financial Exploitation
Our team combats the growing problem of financial abuse in nursing homes, from unauthorized use of residents’ funds to coerced changes in wills or financial documents. We also address systematic financial exploitation through billing fraud, where facilities charge for services never provided to residents or their insurance.
Medical Negligence
We represent families when nursing homes fail to properly diagnose and treat conditions like infections, pressure sores, or injuries. Our attorneys work with medical experts to establish when delays in emergency response or failure to prevent preventable falls constituted negligence requiring compensation.
Unsafe Living Conditions
Our attorneys take action against facilities that maintain unclean, hazardous environments that threaten resident health and safety. We address cases involving pest infestations, mold, inadequate security leading to resident elopement, and violations of fire safety regulations that put vulnerable seniors at risk.
Need Help?
If you suspect your loved one has suffered neglect or abuse, don’t wait to get help.
Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll help you understand your rights and options for protecting your family member(s).
Why Donlon Brand?
Specialized
Expertise
Thorough
Research
Proven
Results
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& Care
- Specialized Expertise
- Thorough Research
- Proven Results
- Compassionate Representation
Nick Brand
Partner
Melissa Donlon
Partner
