Nursing homes and long-term adult care facilities are meant to be secure, supportive environments for elders and other dependent adults. If the premises are allowed to become unclean or unsafe, or if the staff is not properly vetted and supervised, your vulnerable family member could be seriously harmed.
At Hodes Milman, our attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of all our clients and their family members. This is especially true for the most vulnerable in our community, like the ill and nursing home residents. In pursuing justice for your case, we seek the improvement of safety standards in all long-term care homes.
Legal action could result in requiring the nursing homes to improve their policies and practices or remove negligent actors. By reaching out today, you could help improve the quality of your loved one’s life and the well-being of other patients or residents around them.
If you are ready for legal representation, contact us online or call us directly at (949) 640-8222 to learn how an Orange County nursing home abuse lawyer can support you and your loved one.
“I am from North Orange County, and most people up here only have the best things to say about Hodes Milman. They handle catastrophic personal injury, nursing home abuse, wrongful death, and fraud cases to fight against corruption. Based upon my personal experience, I highly recommend Hodes Milman to anyone who sustains injury and needs top-notch litigation and passion for justice on their side.”
– Alexander N.
California Nursing Home Statistics
Orange County is home to over 450,000 adults aged 65 or older, making up about 14% of the population. As more people reach retirement age, this number is expected to grow even more, reaching 17% by 2045.
With this increase, nursing homes in the area will see more residents, which also means there’s a greater need for vigilance when it comes to preventing and addressing neglect or mistreatment in care facilities.
Furthermore, California is one of the leading states with the highest numbers of residents in certified nursing facilities. Around 110,000 Californians live in about 1,300 licensed nursing homes, and about 150,000 people live in approximately 7,500 licensed residential care facilities for the elderly. In addition, another 150,000 or more people are believed to live in unlicensed assisted living facilities, which may not always have the proper care they need.
Nursing homes in California are closely monitored by state and federal agencies to ensure they meet strict standards for resident care and safety. The Department of Public Health conducts annual inspections of all licensed facilities, checking everything from daily operations to resident care, with multiple surveyors involved in the process. Facilities that accept Medi-Cal or Medicare must meet even stricter rules.
However, even with all these regulations, some cases of neglect or mistreatment can still slip through the cracks, leaving nursing home residents at risk.
What Types of Negligence Can a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Orange County Help With?
Nursing home abuse isn’t limited to just physical violence. It can take many different forms, from verbal mistreatment to financial exploitation. Neglect and abuse in nursing homes can show up in many ways you might not expect, so if you suspect anything is amiss with your loved one in a nursing home, you should consult with an Orange County nursing home abuse attorney.
Below are a few examples of how nursing home abuse can manifest:
- Verbal: Insulting or berating patients who cannot reliably report their abuse.
- Physical: Pinching, flicking, smacking, punching, burning, shoving, tripping, or any other form of physically injuring residents.
- Financial: Stealing or conning individuals out of their money or possessions.
- Sexual: Any sexual comments, touching, assault, or forms of humiliation involving nudity.
- Neglect: Failing to properly clean, medicate, and exercise patients in need of care is also abuse. Neglect in nursing homes can lead to infections, worsening conditions, bedsores, and other forms of injury that could lead to death if not caught in time.
Residents of nursing homes and adult care facilities do not only include those who are physically dependent. They often house people with cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and stroke survivors as well. Mental illness is also present in patients with diagnoses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Taking advantage of individuals who are already in need of care is an unacceptable breach of trust, professionalism, and humanity. Contact Hodes Milman to hold negligent nursing homes accountable and recover the financial resources your family needs to heal.
What Is the Most Common Abuse in Nursing Homes?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as many as 10,000+ abuse complaints are filed by or on behalf of nursing home residents each year. Here are the statistics on reported nursing home abuse incidents:
Psychological abuse has the highest percentage of reports, suggesting that there may be casual verbal harassment and torment from perpetrators. However, it’s important to understand that the true scale of nursing home abuse is likely much higher than what we see in studies.
For every case of nursing home abuse that gets reported, experts believe there are about 24 more that go unnoticed. This underreporting happens for many reasons, including seniors fearing retaliation from the person abusing them, feeling too ashamed to speak up, or even worrying about being moved to another facility.
Sometimes, physical or mental limitations make it impossible for residents to report what’s happening. So, while the numbers we see are concerning, they don’t tell the full story, and sadly, the nature of nursing homes means there are many opportunities for private, unmonitored interactions with residents.
Any indication of abuse or signs of discomfort in your family member should be fully investigated and reported. If you have reason to believe your loved one is suffering nursing home abuse, get in touch with Hodes Milman today online or by calling (949) 640-8222 for a 100% free case evaluation to see if an Orange County nursing home abuse attorney can help you and your family.
How Much Can a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Orange County Help Me Recover?
The settlement or damages awarded in nursing home abuse cases can help you move your loved one to a safer situation. It can also help pay for therapeutic care related to their injuries or replenish the funds that were robbed from them.
In a nursing home abuse settlement or verdict, compensation may cover:
- Medical costs for any hospital stays, ambulance transportation, medications, or specialist consultations.
- Lost income on the part of you and your family if you had to take time off work to investigate abuse suspicions, move your loved one out of a dangerous situation, or take on their care personally.
- Pain and suffering caused to the nursing home resident, like physical pain or psychological suffering that could impact their fragile health. This also could include the stress and grief you may have personally experienced while helping them.
- Financial repayment for missing funds or stolen property like jewelry, electronics, antiques, heirlooms, or medical equipment.
- Punitive damages, which are fees that a judge may order as punishment for the wrongdoers in your case and then award to you.
- Another area of compensation could come from a wrongful death claim if the abuse or injuries led to your loved one’s death.
Not only can an Orange County nursing home abuse lawyer help you in calculating the full extent of damages for your loved one and you, but they can also improve your chance of success in a claim.
For example, a 2016 Martindale-Nolo study discovered that over 90% of readers with legal representation secured a settlement or award, while only roughly 50% of those who managed their injury claims independently achieved the same outcome.
A study found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing home abuse surged by 83.6%, affecting roughly one in five residents.
Taking advantage of individuals in need of care is an unacceptable breach of trust, professionalism, and humanity. Call Hodes Milman at (949) 640-8222 or reach out to us online to hold abusive nursing homes accountable.
Resources to Help Those Impacted by Nursing Home Abuse
If you are worried about your loved one’s safety right now, you can contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at their toll-free Eldercare locator and abuse hotline number. You can find advocacy tips and education resources at the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA). There may also be local resources listed at the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) by state.
However, these public resources mostly provide information and record your complaints, but they do not get involved in investigating or provide direct help.
Why Hire Our Nursing Home Abuse Law Firm in Orange County
At Hodes Milman, we set out to give a voice to those who are often silenced. We believe every nursing home resident deserves dignity, respect, and the highest standard of care. For over 30 years, the attorneys at Hodes Milman have fought to make Southern California a safer place, especially for the elderly.
We are proud to champion the rights of older patients and have fought for justice in cases where negligence has caused significant harm, securing over $200 million in victories for our clients, including:
- $150,000 Settlement: After a nursing assistant mishandled a transfer, an 89-year-old man suffered a femur fracture and required additional surgery.
- $2.4 Million Settlement: A 71-year-old man suffered a brain injury when nurses failed to monitor his vital signs during a transfusion.
Just because a person is dependent on nursing home care does not mean they are powerless. A nursing home abuse lawyer in Orange County at our firm is here to offer you support and guidance during this challenging and uncertain time. Call Hodes Milman today at (949) 640-8222 or contact us online to learn about you and your family member’s next steps.
Proudly Representing Orange County Residents
Orange County Nursing Home Abuse FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Work With an Orange County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?
When you’re worried about the safety and health of your loved one in a nursing home, you shouldn’t also have to stress about legal costs and fees to help them. That’s why at Hodes Milman we work on a contingency fee, which means that you won’t pay a cent unless we win your case.
Is Theft Considered Nursing Home Abuse?
Yes, abuse is not limited to physical or verbal harm, it can also take the form of financial transgressions. Stealing money, property, and information, such as in cases of identity theft, are all forms of abuse as well as crimes.
Is Bad Treatment Between Residents a Form of Nursing Home Abuse?
Yes, it can be. Under normal circumstances, individuals are largely responsible for their own actions. However, for resident-on-resident abuse, the bad treatment could be coming from a person who isn’t in control of their actions (as with mental illness), and should be prevented, stopped, and/or immediately remedied by staff. A failure to protect residents from themselves and each other is unacceptable.
What Are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Mistreatment?
Nursing home abuse or neglect may be indicated by symptoms such as:
- Bedsores
- Weight loss
- Unexplained injuries
- Mental withdrawal
- Other sudden changes in behavior or appearance
However, it must be noted that these conditions don’t always point to abuse or neglect. To protect your loved one, you should make frequent visits to the facility to monitor his or her care. While there, note any unusual occurrences or changes in behavior and report your concerns to the administrator or supervisor.
For further aid in investigating your suspicions, contact our nursing home abuse lawyers online by calling (949) 640-8222.
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