Nursing home abuse takes place every day and comes in many forms. At times, victims may feel hopeless in reporting and seeking legal help after experiencing nursing home abuse. However, these 5 recent examples show that justice is possible for those affected.
Have you or someone you love experienced nursing home abuse or neglect? Nursing Home Abuse Justice can connect you with lawyers who are ready to fight for you. Get started with a free case review now.
1. New York Attorney General Holds Nursing Home Accountable for Fraud and Neglect
New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against four nursing homes in the state operated by Centers Health Care in June 2023.
The lawsuit alleges the facility administrators misappropriated more than $83 million of Medicare and Medicaid funds, meaning the money meant to pay for residents’ care was not used.
These facilities have also been accused of subjecting residents to severe neglect and mistreatment, resulting in tragic outcomes and deaths.
Allegations include elderly residents suffering from:
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Untreated bedsores leading to infections and sepsis
- Life-threatening injuries from falls
This lawsuit is considered the largest action against nursing home fraud initiated by the Office of the New York State Attorney General. It underscores the need for accountability and improved care standards for the vulnerable residents in these facilities.
2. Illinois Facility’s Deliberate Understaffing Causes Neglect
In Chicago, nursing home operator Alden Group Ltd faced a class-action lawsuit filed in 2022 accusing the company of intentionally understaffing facilities. Alden Group operates more than 50 facilities in Illinois and Wisconsin.
The understaffing led to dangerous living conditions for over 1,000 residents included in the lawsuit. Many residents faced serious nursing home injuries due to insufficient nurses on staff, according to the lawsuit.
Some residents were even asked by staff to sign documents waiving their right to sue in court over injuries, which is prohibited by Illinois law.
3. Georgia Man Suffers Neglect and Verbal Abuse
After a tragic car accident left him partially paralyzed, one 50-year-old Georgia man required round-the-clock care and was moved to a long-term care facility.
With young kids to care for, he hoped for physical therapy and a chance to regain some mobility, but instead, he received inadequate care and abuse.
He told Atlanta’s 11Alive News, “I’ve been verbally abused…. They just shove food down my mouth. I have anxiety attacks all the time.”
In an effort to reveal the conditions he was living in — sometimes sitting in soiled clothes for 8 or 9 hours, putting him at risk of bedsores — he began sharing his story on social media.
He was not the only resident experiencing issues. More than 18% of the facility’s residents suffered from bedsores, and more than 30% were rehospitalized after being admitted to the home.
His story on social media quickly gained support, and he was able to finally receive the physical therapy he came to the facility for.
4. Physical Abuse Leads To Lawsuit in Pennsylvania
A Kingston, Pennsylvania, nursing home was fined $50,000 by the state’s Department of Health and Human Services after a nurse’s aide allegedly used excessive force against a female resident. The resident ended up with broken ribs and significant bruising.
After the state’s fine and citation, attorneys for the victim filed a nursing home abuse lawsuit in early 2020. The lawsuit alleged the woman was physically abused just days after being admitted into the nursing home. She sought compensation to cover her medical expenses.
5. Florida Home Neglects Residents Leading to Wrongful Death Lawsuit
One Florida nursing home failed to adequately supervise residents. As a result, one female resident was attacked by a fellow resident, causing “horrific head and body injuries,” according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Sadly, the attack resulted in the woman’s wrongful death a few days later. Her estate filed a lawsuit on her behalf to hold the nursing home accountable for their negligence.
According to the lawsuit, the facility should have been aware of the unpredictable behaviors of the man who attacked her, but it failed to take steps to protect all residents.
Find Help for Nursing Home Abuse and Get Justice
These examples of abuse and neglect in nursing homes show that anyone can be affected. Fortunately, there are ways you can reduce the risk of harm.
Here are some ways to keep your loved one safe:
- When choosing a nursing home, make sure it is of high quality
- Check in with nursing home residents as often as possible through in-person or digital visits
- Note any changes in a resident’s physical appearance (like bruising) or mood (like increased anxiety)
- Keep track of the resident’s bank accounts and other financial assets
If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, report nursing home abuse to local authorities right away. Reporting the abuse or neglect can help keep your loved one safe and ensure that others are not harmed.
You may also be able to hold nursing homes accountable for abuse or neglect through legal action — find out if we can help with a free case review right now.
