Nursing Home Abuse Legal Help

How Can I Get Legal Help for Nursing Home Abuse?

You can get legal aid for nursing home abuse or neglect by connecting with a skilled lawyer. Ideally, it’s helpful to work with a law firm that specializes in nursing home abuse cases. With their past experience handling similar cases, lawyers at these firms can file a strong lawsuit on your behalf if you qualify.

Nursing home lawsuits may help families by:

• Awarding financial compensation to pay for medical treatments and other expenses
• Holding the abusers (such as nursing home staff) accountable for their actions
• Sending a clear message: nursing home abuse is unacceptable

You can also get nursing home abuse legal help from local authorities, such as the police department or the Adult Protective Services (APS). These agencies can catch abusers and bring them to justice.

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Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Attorneys can be a big help if your loved one has suffered nursing home abuse. You can work with skilled nursing home abuse lawyers to take legal action and determine your next steps.

While there are many personal injury lawyers, dedicated nursing home abuse attorneys can be the most beneficial in the long run. These lawyers often have proven track records of success when it comes to handling nursing home lawsuits.

A nursing home abuse lawyer can help you:

• File your lawsuit without errors
• Stay informed as the case progresses
• Possibly receive more compensation than working with a general lawyer

Nursing home abuse lawyers can be found at law firms that have years worth of experience handling these cases.

Connect with a nursing home attorney near you. Get a free case review.

Nursing Home Abuse Law Firms

Top nursing home attorneys work at law firms located throughout the country. Unlike general law firms, these firms specialize in nursing home abuse cases. As a result, they have the knowledge and resources to build a strong case on your behalf.

Nursing home abuse law firms have access to:

• Databases of resources to help strengthen claims
• Information from past cases
• The most recent nursing home abuse laws, including statutes of limitations

By working with a nursing home abuse law firm, you can rest assured knowing that a professional legal team will handle your case. With their help, you may receive financial compensation for your loved one’s nursing home injuries.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits

For those considering legal action for nursing home abuse, one of the most important options available is a lawsuit.

A nursing home abuse lawsuit is filed against the facility, on-staff caregivers, and/or other residents. These lawsuits seek financial compensation for the victim’s injuries.

These lawsuits may be filed if:

• A loved one was abused, injured, or neglected during their stay at a nursing home
• As a result of the injuries, the resident suffered from long-term or permanent disabilities
• The resident died as a result of abuse, mistreatment, or neglect
• The resident and/or their family now face extra health care expenses as a result

While suing for nursing home abuse cannot fully undo the harm done, it can help families navigate through life after the abuse has taken place.

Statute of Limitations on Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits

Those looking to take legal action against nursing homes must do so within the statute of limitations. Statutes of limitations prevent lawsuits from being filed after a certain period of time.

Statutes of limitations vary depending on:

• What state the incident took place in
• Certain exceptions that may extend the statutes in some cases

That said, most states set their limits at 3 years or less. For best results, file as soon as possible.

Families are strongly encouraged to work with experienced elder abuse attorneys to make sure their case is filed in time.

Legal Case Review

If you or a loved one has
suffered abuse or neglect,
we can help.

Get Justice.

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Nursing Home Abuse Laws

Nursing home abuse and neglect are crimes, and lawsuits are just one type of legal option available to victims. Other forms of nursing home abuse legal help may be available depending on state and national laws.

Elder abuse laws outline protections for residents of assisted living facilities, establish programs to help report nursing home abuse, and determine criminal punishments for those who abuse elders.

National Nursing Home Abuse Laws

One notable national nursing home abuse law is the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987. This law established new standards of care at nursing homes throughout the country.

Another important law is the Older Americans Act (OAA). Enacted in 1965, this law ensures all seniors are able to receive an adequate level of care.

As part of this act, older adults were given the right to access a network of free legal services to protect their quality of life and well-being. With over 1,000 OAA service providers nationwide, more than a million hours of legal services are accessed every year.

OAA can help seniors: 

• Access Medicare and Medicaid
• Connect with a guardian or conservator if needed
• Protect their rights as they live in a nursing home
• Take action against elder abuse

To supplement these laws, the federal government has set up several departments that help protect older adults from abuse.

Programs that fight nursing home abuse include:

• Administration of Aging
• Adult Protective Services
• Long-term care ombudsmen
• Medicaid
• Medicare
• Veterans Administration

Families can keep up with these laws and programs by contacting their local government representatives.

Nursing Home Abuse Laws by State

Outside of national laws, each state also has laws and regulations to protect nursing home residents from abuse.

Some of these state laws look to tackle the problem before it starts. For example, nearly a dozen states have laws that allow cameras in nursing homes. These cameras can help catch nursing home abuse and deter it as well.

Examples of notable state nursing home laws include:

• California: California has the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, which outlines who is legally required to report abuse. The state also has laws in place to punish abusive facilities. For example, one facility in the state received a $20,000 fine after police charged a staff member with attempted sexual abuse.
• Florida: Two notable Florida laws — statutes 400 and 429 — outline the rights of residents and rules that facilities must follow. Statute 429 also includes rules for adult day care homes and centers.
• Illinois: Illinois has passed a series of laws to combat elder abuse. The Illinois Elder Abuse and Neglect Act went into effect 1988 to help social workers and police respond more effectively to abuse and neglect. The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act, which passed in 2011, focused on improving the quality of life at nursing homes.

Get Legal Aid for Nursing Home Abuse

When choosing an attorney or law firm, families should consider the firm’s experience and reputation.

Here are questions to ask a law firm before working with them:

• How long have you and the firm been in practice?
• Do you have a focus on elder law?
• What percentage of your time is spent on nursing home abuse cases?
• Do you charge any upfront fees?

The best lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning they do not charge upfront fees and won’t get paid unless you win.

To learn more about your legal options, get a free case review today. Our team can help you find answers and advise you on next steps to take.