Infections and Sepsis in Nursing Homes
Infections and sepsis are among the most dangerous – and preventable
– conditions for nursing home residents. When early symptoms like
fever or confusion are missed, minor infections may escalate into life-threatening
conditions. If your loved one developed sepsis or an untreated infection
in an Ohio nursing home, it may reflect substandard care. Our experienced
nursing home abuse attorneys hold negligent facilities accountable and
fight for justice when preventable infections are allowed to become fatal.
Choking in Nursing Homes
Choking injuries in nursing homes are often preventable and may point to
serious neglect. Residents with swallowing difficulties are frequently
placed on special diets or require supervision during meals. When staff
ignore these restrictions or fail to monitor vulnerable residents, the
risk of choking can become deadly. If your loved one suffered a choking
injury or death in an Ohio nursing home, our experienced nursing home
abuse attorneys can help hold negligent facilities accountable.
Bedsore & Pressure Ulcers in Nursing Homes
Bedsores, also called pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, are a common
sign of nursing home neglect. These painful injuries can form when immobile
residents are not repositioned regularly, leading to skin breakdown on
areas like the tailbone, back, or heels. If your loved one developed bedsores
in an Ohio nursing home or long-term care facility, it may reflect inadequate
care. Our experienced nursing home abuse attorneys can help you understand
your legal rights and options.
Wandering Off & Elopement in Nursing Homes
Wandering and elopement are preventable safety failures that occur when
a nursing home resident leaves a facility unsupervised. These incidents
are especially dangerous for residents with dementia, Alzheimer’s,
or other cognitive conditions and can lead to serious injury or death
from falls, exposure, or assault. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP,
our elder law attorneys represent families in Ohio whose loved ones were
harmed due to negligent supervision or poor safety protocols.
Emotional Abuse in Nursing Homes
Emotional abuse in nursing homes can cause serious psychological harm even
when there are no visible injuries. It may include verbal threats, humiliation,
intimidation, or intentional isolation. Victims may show signs such as
fear, anxiety, withdrawal, or depression. If you suspect emotional abuse
in an Ohio nursing home, our attorneys can investigate the situation and
take legal action to protect your loved one’s rights.
Malnutrition & Dehydration in Nursing Homes
Malnutrition and dehydration are serious indicators of neglect in nursing homes.
Ohio law requires that each resident receive food and fluids that meet their medical
and nutritional needs. When staff fail to monitor or meet these needs,
the results can be severe. If your loved one has suffered weight loss,
fatigue, or medical complications due to poor nutrition or hydration,
our Ohio nursing home lawyers can help you hold the facility accountable.
Falls in Nursing Homes
Falls are a serious and often preventable risk in nursing homes when residents
do not receive proper supervision or mobility support. Many residents
need help walking, getting in and out of bed or a wheelchair, or using
the restroom. When staff fail to provide that assistance, residents can
suffer broken bones, head injuries, or other life-threatening complications.
Ohio law guarantees nursing home residents the right to receive adequate care to
prevent avoidable injuries. If your loved one suffered a fall in a nursing
home or long-term care facility, our Ohio nursing home abuse attorneys
at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP can help you pursue legal action
and hold the facility accountable.
Inadequate Staffing in Nursing Homes
Every nursing home resident has the right to appropriate care and observation,
regardless of how much assistance they need. When facilities fail to provide
enough properly trained staff, residents may not receive the attention
required to stay safe and healthy. These failures can stem from understaffing,
lack of training, or poor management decisions.
If your loved one was injured or passed away due to staffing problems at
a nursing home, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP, our team can evaluate whether
the facility violated care standards and advise you on your legal options.
Medication Errors in Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are responsible for administering the correct medications
in the proper dosages as prescribed. When staff fail to follow protocols
due to inexperience, lack of oversight, or poor communication, residents
can suffer serious harm. Mistakes involving the wrong drug, missed doses,
or failure to check records may result in medical complications or death.
If your loved one was affected by a medication error in a long-term care
facility, our Ohio attorneys can help you understand your legal options.
Know Your Rights: Ohio’s Nursing Home Residents’ Bill of Rights
Everyone deserves competent medical and nursing care. The Ohio Nursing
Home Residents’ Bill of Rights outlines protections all residents
are entitled to, including:
- The right to a safe and clean living environment
- The right to be free from physical, verbal, and mental abuse, and the right
to be treated with courtesy, respect, and dignity
- The right to adequate and appropriate medical treatment and nursing care
- The right to have all reasonable inquiries and requests responded to promptly
- The right to unrestricted communication with the resident's family
- The right to have their family notified when they have a significant change
in condition
- The right to participate in decisions that affect the resident's life
When facilities violate these rights, families have the legal standing
to pursue justice.
Recognizing the Signs of Elder Abuse
Whether your loved one is in a nursing home, assisted living center, or
long-term care facility, watch for red flags of abuse such as:
- Unexplained injuries or bruising
- Changes in mood, fearfulness, or withdrawal
- Sudden weight loss, malnutrition, or dehydration
- Bedsores, poor hygiene, or medical neglect
- Restricted access by facility staff
Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably
isn’t and we’re here to help investigate.
Choosing a Nursing Home: Advice from Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
Placing a loved one in a nursing home is never an easy decision. Our attorneys
at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP have seen firsthand how the right
facility can support quality of life—and how the wrong one can put
residents at risk. Drawing from our experience handling abuse and neglect
cases, we offer the following guidance to help you make an informed and
protective choice.
Start by identifying the type of care your loved one needs, whether it’s
long-term custodial support or short-term recovery after an illness or
surgery. Use tools like
Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare to review ratings based on inspections, staffing, and care quality.
Visit potential facilities in person. Tour all areas accessible to residents.
Observe how staff interact with residents, check for signs of cleanliness,
and ask to speak with the director. Visit more than once, at different
times of day. Trust your instincts. Does the facility feel safe and welcoming?
Do the residents appear to be cared for?
Before admission, ask whether the facility requires you to sign an arbitration
agreement. These contracts often limit your legal rights in the event
of injury or dispute. In Ohio, facilities cannot require you to sign one
as a condition of admission. If arbitration is mandatory, consider looking
elsewhere. Also, complete a power of attorney so you can access medical
records if needed.
Be present for your loved one’s intake assessment and participate
in the development of their care plan. Open communication is key. Get
to know the staff, keep records of all paperwork, and maintain regular
contact with the facility.
Understanding your rights under Ohio law and staying involved can make a critical difference in preventing neglect
and advocating for proper care.
Real Results: Examples of Cases We’ve Handled
At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP, we handle cases that involve nursing
home abuse and neglect throughout the state of Ohio and nationwide.
Our attorneys have represented countless families in cases where negligence
led to heartbreaking outcomes — including preventable falls, untreated
injuries, and tragic loss of life. Each case we handle is a chance to
fight for accountability, safer standards, and justice for the vulnerable.
Since 1946, our firm has recovered more than $1 billion in verdicts and
settlements for our clients. Our practice is centered on the needs and
well-being of those we represent. We’re here to fight for the results
you deserve.
Justice for Family After Mother’s Death From Preventable Nursing Home Fall
Spangenberg Partner
Stuart Scott successfully concluded a case on behalf of a family who lost their mother
after she had fallen in a nursing home twice in less than a month. After
the second fall, it was discovered she had broken her left hip. After
surviving the hip repair surgery, she died three weeks later — a
well-known complication of hip fractures in the elderly.
Only through the lawsuit did the family learn that their mother had been
injured because a state-tested nursing assistant (STNA) had failed to
follow the nursing home's written procedure for transferring their mother
from her wheelchair to her bed. These events also resulted in the nursing
home adopting the use of gait belts, a simple device used by an STNA or
nurse to maintain control over the patient during a transfer to prevent falls.
In this case, the STNA was using their mother's pants as a handhold instead
of a gait belt and lost control, resulting in a preventable fall that
required the resident to be taken to the emergency department with a head wound.
Justice Secured After Undetected Hip Fracture Leads to Elderly Woman’s
Tragic Death
Spangenberg Partner
Nicholas DiCello represented the family of an elderly nursing home resident who suffered
a fractured hip while being transferred by aids to and from a sister facility
on a recreational outing. Unfortunately, the elderly woman soon died as
a result of her injury.
The circumstances surrounding the resident's injuries and death are particularly
troubling to the family. A nursing home aide was pushing the family’s
mother in her wheelchair when the aide became distracted by an unaccompanied
resident who was beginning to fall. Left unattended, the wheelchair overturned,
dumping the family's mother to the ground and causing multiple injuries
— the most serious of which was a fractured hip.
Unfortunately, the hip fracture went undetected for several excruciatingly
painful days. Once diagnosed, the resident was sent for surgery. Given
her advanced age, however, complications ensued, and the family's mother
soon passed away. Understandably, the family was outraged over the circumstances
leading to their mother's injuries and death.
Why Choose Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP?
Wondering if you have a case?
We want the legal system to be accessible to everyone, especially for our
nation’s elders. We invite you to contact our firm to request a
complimentary, risk-free case review. Because we operate on a contingency
fee policy, you don’t pay us unless we win your case.
We don’t just pursue cases — we pursue change. And we do it
with integrity, experience, and relentless advocacy.
Talk to an Ohio Elder Abuse Attorney Today
If your loved one was harmed in a nursing home or care facility, you don’t
have to face it alone. Call us at (216) 600-0114 or
contact us online for a free, confidential consultation.
