Nursing Home News & Legal Updates

Latest from Nursing Home News & Legal Updates

Elder abuse laws by state help protect millions of older adults—any eligible adult or endangered person aged 60 years of age or older, or an impaired person of any age who relies on others for personal care services—from mistreatment each year. 

While laws vary considerably by state, these protections are backed by broader federal law, law enforcement agencies, and the National Center on Elder Abuse. Mandated reporters—including social workers, home health agencies, and family services staff—must follow state laws to protect elders wherever the person resides, from private homes to residential facilities.

With the help of an experienced elder abuse
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Risks of poor oral healthcare in nursing home residents are often overlooked, even though oral health plays a critical role in a resident’s overall health and quality of life. Without proper oral hygiene, nursing home residents are vulnerable to painful dental problems and serious medical complications. 

Poor oral healthcare can quickly lead to infections, difficulty eating, and a steep decline in well-being. Family members trust facilities to provide proper care, and when that trust is broken, legal options exist. A nursing home neglect lawyer can help families pursue compensation for harm caused by poor oral care.

Common Oral Health Conditions
Continue Reading Risks of Poor Oral Healthcare in Nursing Home Residents

Why is gastroenteritis dangerous for seniors in nursing homes? While often called the “stomach flu,” gastroenteritis can be far more dangerous for elderly adults than it is for healthy adults. 

Nursing home residents often have weaker immune systems and underlying health conditions that make them highly vulnerable to infectious diseases. Poor hygiene, contaminated food, and improper disease control practices in nursing homes can lead to dangerous outbreaks. 

When a nursing facility fails to protect residents, families have legal options. Contact a nursing home neglect lawyer if your loved one has suffered harm from gastroenteritis.

Understanding Gastroenteritis Symptoms 

Gastroenteritis is an
Continue Reading Why Is Gastroenteritis Dangerous for Seniors?

The Nursing Home Reform Act (NHRA) is a landmark federal law passed in 1987 as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA). It was created to address the widespread problem of substandard care in nursing homes receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding. 

For the first time, the federal government established a consistent national framework to ensure that nursing home residents receive adequate care and that their basic rights are protected.

The NHRA set minimum care standards, introduced a bill of rights, and required facilities to provide high-quality care as a condition for receiving federal funding. This legislation became a turning
Continue Reading Nursing Home Reform Act

Safety is one of the most important foundations of care in nursing homes. Nursing home residents deserve an environment that protects their health, dignity, and well-being. Unfortunately, safety concerns for seniors in nursing homes are far too common and can lead to serious injuries, illness, and even death. 

In some cases, unsafe conditions may amount to nursing home abuse or neglect. Family members need to recognize the signs of safety failures and know their legal options. If you believe your loved one has suffered harm, contact a nursing home neglect attorney for help.

Falls and Tripping Hazards

Falls are one
Continue Reading Safety Concerns for Seniors in Nursing Homes

Family members must stay alert to subtle warning signs of a bad nursing home before harm reaches their loved one.  A nursing home might look clean and friendly at first glance, but serious problems often hide beneath the surface. Substandard facilities can mask nursing home abuse, neglect, and unsafe conditions with a few well-timed tours and staged appearances.

Senior residents deserve quality care, dignity, and respect. If you notice nursing home red flags, you have legal options. Contact a nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer for a free consultation.

Unexplained Injuries Are a Major Warning Sign

Bruises, fractures, burns
Continue Reading Signs of a Bad Nursing Home

A nursing home administrator is a licensed professional responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a nursing home. This critical position blends leadership, compliance, and resident care duties. A competent administrator ensures that clinical teams, including nurses, support staff, and providers, work together to deliver safe, quality care. 

However, when an administrator fails to perform these duties, it can contribute directly to abuse and neglect, making them a key focus in many elder abuse investigations.

Managing Staff and Nursing Services

Nursing home administrators supervise hiring, training, and oversight of nurses, aides, and other care professionals. They lead employee meetings, manage
Continue Reading What Does a Nursing Home Administrator Do?

Our Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer team will walk you through how to report nursing home abuse in Illinois, including the proper authorities to contact, how to document your concerns, and what steps to take next. 

Nursing home abuse in Illinois remains a serious and widespread issue affecting elderly residents in long-term care. 

From physical to financial abuse and neglect, many forms of mistreatment continue to threaten the safety and dignity of Illinois nursing home residents. Sadly, abuse often goes unnoticed or unreported until significant harm has already occurred.

If you suspect a loved one is being mistreated in a
Continue Reading How to Report Nursing Home Abuse in Illinois

Finding the best care for your loved one can be difficult when the terminology used in the elderly care industry is confusing. To make it easier for you, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers assembled this glossary of important elderly care terms.  

For the families of loved ones who experienced abuse in a nursing home, you do have legal options that can help with the situation. Filing a lawsuit against the facility, for example, may provide compensation that can pay for damages like medical bills or relocating your loved one to a better facility.  

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Continue Reading Elderly Care Terminology Explained

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in nursing homes can be a life-threatening infection, especially for elderly individuals who have compromised immune systems. Healthcare facilities have a responsibility to implement proper infection control practices and protect vulnerable individuals from deadly diseases.

If your loved one contracted MRSA in a nursing home or other healthcare facility, you can pursue compensation to help cover their needs. Contact the Nursing Home Law Center for a free consultation about an MRSA transmission lawsuit. 

What is MRSA? (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)

MRSA is a staph infection that is resistant to most infection control measures, including common antibiotics and
Continue Reading MRSA in Nursing Homes

Alzheimer’s and other dementias can be a devastating diagnosis for a family, as they typically require skilled nursing care. However, Alzheimer’s patients are at increased risk of abuse in nursing facilities due to their cognitive impairments.

If your loved one has been mistreated by nursing home staff, you have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. An elder care attorney from Nursing Home Law Center can guide you through the legal process and advocate for your rights.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for
Continue Reading Alzheimer’s Nursing Homes Attorney

Pelvic injuries in the elderly cause a threefold increase in mortality rates, making them an extremely dangerous injury [1]. The pelvis protects the internal organs, including the reproductive organs, so fractures can lead to long-term complications like sexual dysfunction and chronic pain [2].

Unfortunately, pelvic fractures are common in the elderly and may be the result of nursing home neglect. If you or a loved one has suffered a pelvic fracture in a nursing home, contact the Nursing Home Law Center for a consultation about your legal rights. 

Common Types of Pelvic Fractures

Elderly adults are more likely to suffer
Continue Reading Pelvic Fractures in Nursing Homes

Choosing a nursing home should mean ensuring a loved one receives proper care. Unfortunately, some Wyoming nursing homes fail to meet basic standards, putting residents at risk for neglect and poor treatment. At Nursing Home Law Center, we are committed to holding negligent facilities accountable and helping families seek justice for loved ones harmed by inadequate care.

Our Methodology for Identifying Wyoming’s Worst Nursing Homes

We rely on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) data and state health inspections to determine the worst nursing homes in Wyoming. Medicare’s Five-Star Rating System evaluates staffing levels, health and safety violations,
Continue Reading Worst Nursing Homes in Wyoming

Choosing a nursing home for a loved one should mean ensuring they receive proper medical care. Unfortunately, some West Virginia nursing homes fail to meet health and safety standards, putting nursing home residents at risk for serious medical conditions, neglect, and abuse.

At Nursing Home Law Center, we are committed to protecting victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. Our nursing home abuse attorneys fight to hold facilities accountable for their failures, ensuring families get the justice they deserve.

Our Methodology for Identifying West Virginia’s Worst Nursing Homes

We rely on Medicare’s Five-Star Rating System and state health inspections to
Continue Reading Worst Nursing Homes in West Virginia

Choosing a nursing home should mean ensuring a safe, caring environment for your loved one. Unfortunately, some facilities in Washington State fail to meet even basic standards, leading to inadequate supervision, neglect, and serious deficiencies in medical care. At Nursing Home Law Center, we are committed to holding facilities accountable for their failure to provide safety and quality care.

Our Methodology for Identifying Washington’s Worst Nursing Homes

To assess the worst nursing homes in Washington, we rely on data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and state health inspections. Nursing Home Compare is a Medicare-operated website
Continue Reading Worst Nursing Homes in Washington

Families trust nursing homes to care for their loved ones, but some Virginia facilities fail to meet even the basic standards of resident care. CMS data and state agencies report serious issues in some facilities, including neglect, unsafe conditions, and safety violations. If your loved one has suffered in a long-term care facility, legal action may be necessary to protect their rights. Nursing Home Law Center is committed to holding negligent facilities accountable and helping families seek justice.

Identifying Virginia’s Worst Nursing Homes

Virginia nursing homes are evaluated using Medicare’s Five-Star Rating System and state health inspections conducted by the
Continue Reading Worst Nursing Homes in Virginia