Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes

Nursing Home Abuse Is Underreported

Most studies indicate that nursing home abuse, as with all types of elder abuse, is vastly underreported. There are various reasons given for this. Only around one out of every 14 incidents of elder abuse are formally reported, often because family members are the ones abusing an elderly person, and the elderly person does not want to report them. When most people think of nursing home abuse, they think of it occurring at the hands of nursing home staff. While this is certainly one type of abuse, family members can still abuse those inside of nursing homes. This can include physical and emotional abuse during visitations or financial exploitation outside of the nursing home.

Additionally, many elderly residents fear reprisals if they do report nursing home abuse. If a nursing home staff member(s) is responsible for the abuse, then the elderly resident may be afraid of further harm should they report the abuse somebody.

Unfortunately, there are also times when victims of nursing home abuse are unable to report that anything has occurred. Mental or physical disabilities may prevent an elderly resident from telling somebody what is happening to them. In some instances, an abuse victim may not realize that the abuse is even occurring.

The nursing home population continues to grow in the US. Data from the Population Reference Bureau indicates that there will be nearly two million nursing home residents by 2030. As the nursing home population expands, we need to be much more cognizant of the types of abuse that can occur and develop systemic institutional checks that will prevent the abuse.

Focused Representation For Nursing Home Abuse Victims

When a nursing home or long-term care facility harms someone you love, you deserve an attorney who lives and breathes elder abuse law. Since 2002, I have devoted my practice at Travis Siegel to protecting seniors from nursing home abuse and neglect, and to holding facilities accountable throughout Southern California.

I handle abuse and neglect cases involving nursing homes, Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs), assisted living facilities, and adult day health care centers. I work on a contingency fee, so you do not pay me unless I recover compensation for you and your family.

If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, call me today at (562) 414-5294 for a free, confidential consultation about your options.

Why Families Choose Travis Siegel For Nursing Home Abuse Cases

I limit my practice to elder abuse and neglect cases. I do not divide my attention between car accidents, slip and fall cases, or other personal injury matters. This narrow focus lets me concentrate all of my preparation, investigation, and trial advocacy on the unique issues that arise when an elderly or dependent adult is harmed in a care facility.

When you hire Travis Siegel, you work directly with me, attorney Travis Siegel. I do not hand your case off to junior associates or paralegals. I am the person who listens to your story, gathers your evidence, speaks with your experts, negotiates with the defense, and, when needed, stands in the courtroom on your behalf.

My approach to trial advocacy in elder abuse litigation is assertive and thorough. Before representing victims, I spent five years at a medical malpractice defense firm defending doctors and hospitals. That experience gave me an inside view of how nursing homes, insurers, and defense attorneys approach these cases, from how they review medical records to the experts they hire and the tactics they use to minimize claims.

Since opening Travis Siegel, I have recovered millions of dollars for abused and neglected elders and their families, including multi-million dollar results in complex cases. I have been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2016. While past results cannot guarantee any future outcome, they reflect the level of work and commitment I bring to every case I accept.

Types Of Nursing Home Abuse And Neglect Cases I Handle

Nursing home neglect and abuse can take many forms, and often more than one problem occurs at the same time. I represent clients in cases involving physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, financial abuse, and wrongful death in long-term care settings.

I also pursue claims arising from specific care failures, including falls, pressure sores and bedsore liability, medication errors, malnutrition and dehydration, preventable infections, wandering and elopement, and improper hospice admission and re-certification. These are not “accidents” when they stem from understaffing, poor training, or deliberate cost-cutting.

Real-World Case Results

My past cases include:

• $5,000,000 for improper hospice admission and repeated re-certifications.
• $1,999,999 for failure to properly supervise an elderly patient who choked on food and died.
• $1,750,000 where a resident was given an improper diet and left unsupervised, leading to a fatal choking incident.
• $950,000 for sexual assault of a resident at an assisted living facility.
• $900,000 for a dementia patient allowed to wander away from an adult day health care center and struck by a car.
• $515,000 for a fall in a nursing home resulting in a fractured hip.
• $500,000 for sexual assault of a resident by another resident at an assisted living facility.
• $450,000 for a fall at an assisted living facility resulting in fatality.
• $400,000 for a fall at a nursing home resulting in leg fractures and fatality.

These results include cases against nursing homes, RCFEs, assisted living facilities, and adult day health care centers across Southern California. Every case is different, and these outcomes do not guarantee what will happen in your matter, but they show how I pursue accountability when facilities break their promises to residents and families.

Warning Signs Of Nursing Home Abuse And Neglect

You may not see abuse or neglect happen, but you can often see its effects. When you visit a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility, certain changes should prompt questions.

Physical warning signs can include unexplained bruises, cuts, welts, or burns; sudden weight loss or signs of dehydration; and bedsores or pressure ulcers on areas such as the heels, tailbone, or hips. Repeated falls or frequent trips to the emergency room can also signal unsafe conditions or poor supervision.

Behavioral and emotional changes may appear as sudden withdrawal, fearfulness around particular staff members, agitation, or a resident becoming anxious or non-communicative after previously being engaged and talkative. A loved one who insists they do not want to be left alone or who seems unusually upset when you prepare to leave deserves close attention.

Financial red flags include unexpected changes to wills, powers of attorney, or financial accounts; missing personal property; or unexplained charges on credit cards or facility bills. These may suggest financial abuse or exploitation.

Signs of neglect include poor hygiene, dirty or unchanged clothing, soiled linens, foul odors in the room, untreated infections, or missed medications. Neglect can be just as dangerous as active abuse, particularly for residents who are medically fragile or unable to move on their own.

Residents with dementia or limited ability to communicate may not be able to describe what is happening to them. In those situations, behavioral changes and unusual physical findings are especially important. If something feels wrong, trust your instincts and seek answers.

In California, nursing homes and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly are licensed and inspected by state agencies. Families can request inspection reports and complaint histories from the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Social Services. These records can help reveal patterns of problems at a facility.

What A Nursing Home Abuse Claim Involves In California

Nursing home abuse civil claims in California arise from violations of nursing home resident rights and from failures to provide reasonable care. I bring cases against the individual abuser when appropriate, as well as against the facility and, in some cases, the ownership or management company that allowed dangerous conditions to continue.

Under the California Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, there can be enhanced remedies when an institutional defendant commits abuse with recklessness, oppression, fraud, or malice. These remedies may include attorney fees and, in certain circumstances, pain and suffering damages that would not otherwise be available against a facility.

I conduct the necessary investigation and evidence gathering to build your case. That can include medical records, state inspection reports, staffing and training records, internal incident reports, photographs, witness interviews, and testimony from medical and long-term care experts. This evidence helps show not only what happened to your loved one, but why it happened and who is responsible.

Compensation in a nursing home abuse case can include medical expenses related to the abuse, pain and suffering damages, loss of enjoyment of life, and relocation costs if a resident needs to move to a safer facility. In cases involving intentional abuse or extreme neglect, punitive damages may also be available to punish and deter wrongful conduct. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may seek compensation for the losses they have suffered due to a preventable death in a care facility.

I handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay me any attorney fee unless and until I recover compensation for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Working With Travis Siegel

What does it cost to hire you for a nursing home abuse case?

I work on a contingency fee. That means you do not pay any attorney fee out of pocket. I receive a percentage of the recovery only if I obtain compensation for you through a settlement or verdict.

Do you offer free consultations?

Yes. I offer free, confidential consultations for families who suspect nursing home abuse or neglect. The consultation is an opportunity to discuss what has happened, review available information, and talk about whether a civil claim makes sense. You are not obligated to file a lawsuit just because we speak.

Where do you handle cases?

I handle nursing home abuse and neglect cases in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and throughout Southern California. If your loved one was harmed in a nursing home, RCFE, assisted living facility, or adult day health care center in this region, I can review the case with you.

Do you handle cases outside of traditional nursing homes?

Yes. In addition to nursing homes, I represent clients in cases involving Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, assisted living facilities, and adult day health care centers. Abuse and neglect can occur in any long-term care setting where vulnerable adults depend on others for their safety and daily needs.

Is there a deadline for bringing a nursing home abuse lawsuit?

California law sets time limits, called statutes of limitations, for filing elder abuse civil claims and wrongful death actions. The exact deadline can vary depending on the type of claim and how the harm was discovered. Because these rules are complex, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as you suspect a problem so that potential claims are not lost by delay.

Can we pursue a civil claim if there is also a criminal investigation?

Yes. A civil claim for nursing home abuse or neglect is separate from any criminal investigation or regulatory action. You can pursue civil compensation even if prosecutors decide not to file charges, and a civil case can proceed on a different timetable than any criminal case.

Talk With An Attorney Who Focuses On Nursing Home Abuse

Choosing to trust a facility with a parent, spouse, or other loved one is one of the hardest decisions a family makes. Learning that trust has been broken is devastating. You do not have to face the next steps alone.

I bring more than two decades of focused elder abuse experience, direct attorney involvement, and a record of meaningful recoveries to every case I accept. I will listen carefully, explain your options in plain language, and guide you through each stage of the process.

To discuss a potential nursing home abuse or neglect case in Southern California, call me at (562) 414-5294 or contact Travis Siegel online for a free, confidential consultation.