Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Attorney in California
Nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable to abuse and neglect. California law recognizes this, and therefore these facilities are highly regulated. So, when a facility fails to meet its most basic obligations to residents, we use our expertise and knowledge of those regulations to hold them accountable. We have handled hundreds of nursing home cases across the state, from bedsores and falls to systemic understaffing and wrongful death.
Nursing home residents are some of the most vulnerable in society.
In California, nursing homes (sometimes referred to as convalescent hospitals) are called skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). SNFs are a licensed health care setting for people who require around-the-clock nursing supervision. Skilled nursing facilities are licensed and regulated by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and often subject to federal oversight by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Because they receive federal funding from our tax dollars, they are among the most heavily regulated industries in the country.That regulation exists for a reason. Nursing homes are filled with elders and dependent adults who cannot advocate for themselves, who depend on staff for their most basic needs, and who are often unable to report when those needs are not being met.
Other types of long-term or intensive care settings also exist within California’s statutory framework, including subacute care units, long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs), and congregate living health facilities (CLHFs). These facilities are intended to care for residents or patients with complex needs and limited ability to advocate for themselves.
Each of these types of facilities have their own regulatory framework. Our knowledge and familiarity with the laws governing each of these types of facilities is what sets us apart.
Abuse and neglect are not always obvious at first.
Warning signs may include:
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Unexplained injuries, bruises, or fractures
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Repeated falls or injuries the facility cannot clearly explain
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Pressure sores or wounds that worsen over time
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Dehydration, malnutrition, or sudden weight loss
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Poor hygiene, soiled clothing, or unchanged bedding
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Medication errors or missed doses
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Infections or untreated medical concerns
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Sudden changes in mood, behavior, or alertness
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Fearfulness around certain staff members
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Delayed, vague, or inconsistent answers from the facility
Seek immediate medical help if your loved one is in danger or needs urgent care.
Take photos of visible injuries, unsafe conditions, or concerning changes.
Write down dates, names, symptoms, conversations, and anything that feels important.
Save texts, emails, voicemails, discharge papers, and facility correspondence.
Request medical records, care plans, incident reports, and medication records.
Avoid signing anything from the facility without understanding what it means.
Contact an attorney before assuming what happened was “normal” or unavoidable.
