Q&A with Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer Ricky LeBlanc

The Nursing Home Abuse Center often hears from families unsure if a loved one’s decline is natural or caused by nursing home neglect, one of the most common and misunderstood forms of mistreatment in long-term care facilities. Neglect often starts quietly, with small oversights that lead to serious harm or tragedy.

To help bring clarity to this issue, we were fortunate enough to speak once again with Attorney Ricky LeBlanc of Sokolove Law, a nursing home lawyer dedicated to helping families access justice since 1991.

Sokolove Law has fought for victims of nursing home abuse and neglect for more than 45 years and was among the first firms to hold long-term care facilities accountable on a national level.

As of 2026, Sokolove Law has recovered over $318 million for victims of nursing home abuse and neglect nationwide.

In this conversation, Ricky explains what to watch for, how to report nursing home neglect, and when to contact a lawyer to help protect your loved one.

Q: What is considered nursing home neglect?

A: Neglect happens when a nursing home doesn’t provide the care a resident needs to stay safe and healthy. That includes help with eating and drinking to prevent dehydration, bathing, and moving around safely.

When these needs are overlooked, residents can suffer serious harm. I’ve seen residents develop advanced bedsores because staff didn’t reposition them as often as they should, and others who experienced preventable falls when safety measures weren’t followed.

Nursing home residents can grow weak or disoriented from missed meals or suffer serious harm when medication errors cause dangerous side effects or even death.

Neglect isn’t always intentional, but it’s always unacceptable. All of this comes down to attention and accountability. Every resident deserves care that protects their health and dignity.

Q: What injuries or illnesses are commonly caused by neglect in nursing homes?

A: Nursing home negligence can lead to a wide range of preventable injuries and illnesses, many of which develop quietly at first. Residents may suffer from infections if wounds aren’t cleaned or catheters aren’t changed. They may lose weight rapidly if meals and nutritional fluids are missed.

Some injuries are sudden and severe. For example, we helped a California family whose mother choked to death during lunch despite being on an assisted-feeding plan. A staff member should have been there to help. Through a lawsuit, her family recovered $1 million and got justice for their preventable and tragic loss.

These types of nursing home neglect examples show how fragile residents’ health can be and how quickly neglect turns deadly when basic care is ignored.

Q: What warning signs of nursing home neglect do families often miss?

A: Families often miss the small things at first. You might notice your loved one seems groggy, confused, or isn’t eating like they used to. Maybe they’ve lost weight, are wearing the same clothes, or their bedding hasn’t been changed. An empty water pitcher is another common red flag of nursing home neglect.

I always tell families to trust their instincts. Unexplained weight loss, looking overmedicated, or lapses in hygiene can all be signs of nursing home neglect. It often starts slowly, and by the time it’s obvious, real harm may have already occurred.

Q: Does understaffing lead to nursing home neglect?

A: In many cases, understaffing in long-term care facilities directly contributes to nursing home abuse and neglect. When there aren’t enough caregivers, residents don’t get the attention they need. Problems like missed medications, untreated bedsores, and falls then start to happen.

I understand many nursing homes struggle to hire and keep staff. In fact, it’s a national crisis, but it’s still not an excuse for neglect and abuse. Families trust care facilities to provide safe care.

If a facility accepts residents, it has a legal duty to have enough qualified staff members to care for them properly.

Q: What should I do if I suspect nursing home neglect?

A: If you think your loved one is being neglected, trust your gut and do not wait. Start by making sure they are safe. If it’s an emergency, such as when they are in danger or need immediate medical help, call 911 right away.

Next, reporting nursing home neglect to the facility’s administrator is often the best place to start if you’re comfortable doing so. You can also contact your state’s health department or long-term care ombudsman. These agencies can investigate and help make sure neglect is addressed.

I also tell families to keep records. Write down what you saw, when it happened, and who was involved. Take photos if you can, but be mindful of privacy laws if other residents appear in the background.

The more details you have, the easier it is to protect your loved one and hold the facility accountable.

Q: How can you prove neglect if staff deny that anything is wrong?

A: It’s hard when you know something is wrong, yet nursing home staff insist everything is fine. I hear that from families all the time. Maybe your loved one is always thirsty, or you keep noticing the same problems, but staff members brush them off.

Experienced nursing home neglect lawyers look at care logs, patient charts, and medical records to see what was actually done and when. We also consult medical experts and speak with witnesses who may have seen what happened.

Neglect often leaves a trail. Even when staff deny it, the records tell the real story. Our job is to find that truth and make sure your loved one’s rights are protected.

Q: Can you sue a nursing home for neglect?

A: Clients can sue a nursing home for neglect if the facility’s actions or inaction caused harm to their loved one. These cases are about accountability and making sure families get the compensation and justice they deserve.

If you do decide to sue, the nursing home lawsuit process starts with an investigation. My team reviews records, interviews witnesses, and works with medical experts to understand what went wrong. Once we have strong evidence, we file the claim and begin settlement discussions.

In every case we take on, our goal is to secure the best outcome for the family and prevent others from being harmed.

Q: What is the average settlement for nursing home neglect?

A: At Sokolove Law, we’ve helped families recover hundreds of millions of dollars in nursing home neglect settlements and verdicts across the country. The amount generally depends on the severity of the harm, the level of negligence, and the impact on the resident’s life and family.

Many cases resolve through settlements, where the facility agrees to pay compensation without going to trial. When a fair settlement isn’t offered, a judge or jury can sometimes award more.

For example, in a 2025 Illinois case, a jury awarded $5.5 million after a nursing home failed to provide life-saving dialysis to an 85-year-old man. He went 13 days without a single treatment and died from toxic waste buildup in his body. The jury found the facility negligent for not providing essential care or communicating with his family.

Every case is different, and past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, but they show what can happen when families stand up and demand accountability.

Q: How do I know if my loved one’s death was caused by nursing home neglect?

A: Many nursing home residents are older, fragile, and already managing serious health issues. Death is often a matter of time, which makes it even harder for families to know if something went wrong. Families may not realize neglect played a part in their loved one’s passing until it is too late.

A nursing home neglect attorney can review medical records, care logs, and timelines to see if warning signs were missed. Sometimes that can lead to a wrongful death lawsuit — when evidence shows the loss could have been prevented, but instead ended in tragedy.

If you have that feeling that something was off, it’s worth looking into. Getting answers can bring peace of mind and help prevent future harm.

We all share a duty to protect our most vulnerable citizens, and holding facilities accountable through legal action is one of the strongest ways to make real change.

Q: What should I consider when hiring a nursing home neglect lawyer?

A: The most important thing is to find a nursing home neglect lawyer who truly understands these cases. Look for someone with proven experience, a record of success, and the compassion to guide your family through a difficult time.

There should not be any upfront charges or out-of-pocket costs for your family. With Sokolove Law, your legal team only receives payment from what we recover for you, so every family can access justice, no matter their financial situation.

It’s also important not to wait. Each state has a statute of limitations that decides how long you have to file a claim for what happened to you or your loved one. Once that deadline passes, your options may be gone.

The sooner you reach out, the sooner a lawyer can start gathering records, speaking with witnesses, and protecting your loved one’s rights.

Get Help From a Lawyer for Nursing Home Neglect

At the Nursing Home Abuse Center, our mission is to help families get the truth and the accountability they deserve.

We were glad to have Attorney Ricky LeBlanc back for another conversation. We appreciate his insight and experience in helping families understand and take action against nursing home neglect.

For more than 45 years, Sokolove Law has been fighting for victims of nursing home abuse and neglect, recovering over $318 million for families nationwide.

If you believe your loved one was harmed or passed away due to neglect, call us right now at (855) 264-6310 or fill out this form for a free case review. Our team is here to listen and help you take the next step toward justice.