Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes

Our loved ones in nursing homes and assisted living facilities deserve to receive the highest standard of care. Unfortunately, they don’t always get it. The nursing home industry will argue that it is stretched thin because of poor staffing levels, untrained staff, and inadequate reimbursement from Medicare and insurance companies. Our lawyers at Shandell, Blitz, Blitz & Ashley, will argue that these excuses are simply that—efforts to avoid responsibility for the level of care they give their patients. Do not accept excuses if you believe an elderly relative is being abused or neglected in a nursing home, contact an experienced attorney immediately for advice about your options and rights.

More than 30 years of experience protecting the elderly and vulnerable

At Shandell, Blitz, Blitz & Ashley, our Manhattan lawyers help people injured by professionals and institutions in whom they placed their trust. In our more than 30 years practicing law, we have taken on large hospitals, nursing home chains, and state institutions. Known for our medical malpractice successes, we use our experience and knowledge in this area to help victims of elder abuse and nursing home neglect.

Elder abuse

It is hard to believe that staff at a nursing home could deliberately abuse elderly residents, but it happens. We have helped families whose loved ones have experienced:

• Injuries caused by aggressive patients preying on the more vulnerable
• Staff endeavoring to obtain money from patients
• Punishments such as inappropriate use of restraints and beatings
• Sexual abuse from staff or other patients
• Verbal abuse

We work to obtain the compensation needed to move the patient from the facility, and take the necessary steps to stop the often-criminal behavior by staff and the organization.

Nursing home neglect

A common form of abuse is ongoing neglect of patients. This typically shows in incidents such as:

• Failing to turn patients in bed or move them from wheelchairs, causing bedsores or decubitous ulcers
• Slip and falls because patients were unattended
• Failure to use bedrails, allowing patients to fall out of the beds
• Malnutrition and dehydration because staff did not monitor food and liquid intake

If your loved one demonstrates fear of the staff, physical signs of malnutrition or dehydration, or has unexplained injures such as a broken hip or bruises, he or she may be a victim of elder abuse or nursing home neglect. Seek advice from an experienced attorney right away. Contact Shandell, Blitz, Blitz & Ashley, to learn how we can help you and your loved one.