Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

You trusted a facility to care for someone you love. If that trust was violated, our Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers are ready to investigate, hold the facility accountable, and fight for the compensation your family needs.

Serving Philadelphia for Over 50 Years | No Fee Unless You Win | Free Consultation

Get Your Free Case Review | Call (800) 624-8888

When something feels wrong with the care your loved one is receiving at a nursing home, not knowing how to find out or what you should do can leave you feeling guilty, frustrated, and deeply worried. The facility gives vague answers. The staff deflects. And you are left wondering whether what you are seeing is abuse, neglect, or something the facility does not want you to find out. 

Our Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers at the Rothenberg Law Firm LLP help families find those answers. We have stood beside Philadelphia families in exactly this situation for over 50 years. We listen, we uncover what happened, and we identify every party to hold accountable.

Contact us at (800) 624-8888 or through our online contact form for a free consultation.

Visit our Philadelphia office: 1420 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Why Families Across Philadelphia Trust the Rothenberg Law Firm LLP With Nursing Home Abuse Claims

Allen L. Rothenberg, Esq., founded this firm in Philadelphia in 1969 because he believed injured people and their families deserved a legal team that would fight for them the way he would fight for his own. 

His wife, Barbara Rothenberg, Esq., joined the firm in 1978 and today leads the Philadelphia office. Seven of their children practice law alongside them. When we say we treat clients like family, we mean it literally.

For more than five decades, Allen and his legal team have recovered billions of dollars for injured clients. Our case results include recoveries for catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and cases involving institutional negligence.

We Fight For Your Family Like You're Our Own

When we say we treat our clients like family, we mean it. Years spent helping clients and witnessing the negligence and abuse they’ve suffered change you as a person and as a lawyer. It makes us more determined than ever to fight for the outcome you need. Our past results include:

• $1.9 million recovery for nursing home negligence
• $1.2 million recovery for injuries caused by negligence in a nursing home
• $850,000 recovery for injuries suffered by a nursing home patient

Prepared for the Courtroom, Not Just the Conference Call

Nursing home corporations and their insurers usually settle for more when they know the victim's attorney is prepared to take them to court. Families who report abuse and negligence early give their attorney the strongest possible foundation to build that case and signal to insurers that the claim will not be abandoned. We do not back down from a fight until our client obtains the compensation they need, even if that means going to trial.

A Team That Supports the Whole Family

Nursing home abuse cases take an emotional toll on everyone involved. Our team helps families connect with medical professionals, social workers, and other support while we handle the legal process.

Recognized Nationally for Client-Centered Legal Work

• Super Lawyers Selected Attorneys
• Best Lawyers Recognized Attorneys
• AV Preeminent Attorney Rating (Martindale-Hubbell)
• Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• National Trial Lawyers Recognition
• Top 1% of U.S. Lawyers (Litigator Awards)
• Client Champion Awards and Avvo Client's Choice Award

You Pay Nothing Unless We Recover Compensation for Your Family

Our contingency fee arrangement means there is no cost to you unless we win. The consultation is free, and there is zero financial risk in reaching out. You can get started with your claim right away.

What Are the Warning Signs of Abuse in a Philadelphia Nursing Home?

Nursing home abuse and neglect do not always leave obvious signs. Some of the most harmful mistreatment is the kind that happens slowly, behind closed doors, in a facility that looks perfectly fine from the lobby.

Physical Warning Signs

Several physical signs may point to abuse or neglect in a nursing home setting:

• Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, or fractures
• Bedsores (pressure ulcers) on the back, hips, or heels
• Sudden or unexplained weight loss
• Signs of dehydration
• Poor hygiene, soiled clothing, or unchanged bedding

These are not normal parts of aging, and our nursing home abuse attorneys can help determine whether the facility failed to provide adequate care.

Emotional and Behavioral Changes

A loved one who becomes withdrawn, anxious, or unusually quiet around certain staff members may be experiencing emotional or psychological abuse. Fear of speaking openly during visits, sudden mood changes, or reluctance to be left alone with caregivers are often serious red flags.

Financial Red Flags

Unexplained bank withdrawals, sudden changes to a will or power of personal injury attorney, or missing personal belongings can indicate theft and financial exploitation, which is the most common form of elder abuse reported statewide, according to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

If you have noticed any of these signs in a loved one living in a Philadelphia nursing home, from Northeast Philadelphia to South Philadelphia and everywhere in between, trust your instincts. A conversation with a nursing home abuse lawyer can help you determine whether what you are seeing is the result of negligence or abuse.

What's the Difference Between Nursing Home Abuse and Nursing Home Neglect?

People often use the terms nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same.

Nursing Home Abuse

Abuse involves intentional actions that cause harm to a resident. This can include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, or financial exploitation. Examples include hitting a resident, threatening them, humiliating them, or stealing their money or property.

Nursing Home Neglect

Neglect happens when a facility or caregiver fails to provide the care a resident needs. Common examples include failing to prevent bedsores, failing to provide adequate food or water, ignoring medical needs, or leaving residents without proper supervision.

Can You File a Lawsuit for Both?

Yes. Whether your loved one suffered abuse, neglect, or both, Pennsylvania law allows families to pursue compensation when a nursing home's actions or failures cause harm. Our experienced nursing home abuse lawyers can investigate what happened, identify who is responsible, and help protect your loved one's rights.

Can I Sue a Philadelphia Nursing Home for Abuse or Neglect?

Yes, Pennsylvania law allows families to file civil lawsuits against nursing homes, their staff, and their corporate owners when abuse or neglect causes harm to a resident. These claims are separate from any criminal investigation or regulatory complaint.

To pursue a civil claim, your attorney needs to show that the facility owed your loved one a duty of care, that the facility breached that duty through action or inaction, and that the breach directly caused your family harm. 

In a nursing home case, that duty of care is well established. Every licensed facility in Pennsylvania must meet both federal standards set by the Nursing Home Reform Act and state standards enforced by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

A critical advantage in Pennsylvania nursing home abuse cases: there are no statutory caps on compensatory or punitive damages in personal injury lawsuit. Unlike certain medical malpractice claims that fall under the MCARE Act, nursing home negligence claims allow full recovery without artificial limits. That means your family can pursue the complete value of the harm your loved one suffered.

What Types of Nursing Home Negligence Lead to Lawsuits in Philadelphia?

Nursing home negligence takes many forms. Each reflects a failure by the facility to meet the minimum standard of care required by Pennsylvania law.

• Bedsores and pressure ulcers: Bedsores develop when a resident is not repositioned regularly. A Stage 3 or Stage 4 bedsore is almost always evidence of serious neglect, and these wounds can become life-threatening infections.
• Falls and fall-related injuries: Broken hips, head trauma, and spinal injuries from preventable falls are among the most common nursing home claims in Philadelphia. Many result from inadequate staffing or failure to assist residents with mobility.
• Medication errors: Giving the wrong medication, the wrong dose, or failing to administer medication on time can cause organ damage, dangerous drug interactions, or death.
• Infections and sepsis: Urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, and wound infections that go untreated or unnoticed can escalate to sepsis, which is fatal in many elderly patients.
• Malnutrition and dehydration: Residents who are not fed properly, not helped with eating, or not given enough fluids can suffer rapid physical and cognitive decline.
• Understaffing: Pennsylvania requires a minimum of 2.87 hours of direct care per resident per day. Facilities that fall below this threshold put every resident at risk.

Philadelphia has dozens of nursing homes with a one-star Medicare rating, the lowest possible score. Families can check facility ratings before choosing a home and use those ratings as evidence if problems arise.

Your Questions. Our Answers.

Q: How do I know if what is happening to my loved one is actually abuse or neglect? 

A: If your loved one has unexplained injuries, bedsores, sudden weight loss, increased fearfulness, or a noticeable decline in hygiene or health, those are signs that the facility may be failing to provide adequate care. A nursing home abuse attorney can review the situation and help determine whether the facility breached its duty of care.

Q: Can I file a lawsuit even if my loved one is still living in the nursing home? 

A: Yes, you can pursue a legal claim while your loved one remains in the facility. Your attorney can also help coordinate a safe transfer to another facility if your loved one's safety is at immediate risk. Pennsylvania law protects residents from retaliation for filing complaints or legal claims.

Q: Will filing a nursing home abuse claim cost my family anything up front? 

A: No. Our firm handles nursing home abuse cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your family. Your initial consultation is free.

How Does Pennsylvania Law Protect Nursing Home Residents?

Pennsylvania has some of the strongest elder protection laws in the country, though enforcement has not always kept pace with the need.

The Older Adults Protective Services Act (OAPSA) requires mandatory reporting of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of any adult over 60. Healthcare workers, facility administrators, and social workers who fail to report face legal consequences. Families can report suspected abuse directly to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging hotline or to the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging for cases involving Philadelphia facilities.

Pennsylvania's statute of limitations for nursing home abuse lawsuits is two years. However, the discovery rule is critical here: the clock may not start until you knew or reasonably should have known that abuse or neglect occurred. Facilities that conceal mistreatment cannot use that concealment to run out the clock on your claim.

What Compensation Can Families Recover in a Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Claim?

A successful nursing home abuse claim in Pennsylvania can recover compensation for the full range of harm your loved one suffered.

Economic Damages	Non-Economic Damages
Medical bills for treating injuries caused by abuse or neglect	Physical pain and suffering
Hospital stays, surgery, and rehabilitation	Emotional distress and psychological harm
Costs of transferring to a safe facility	Loss of dignity and quality of life
Future medical and long-term care needs	Fear, anxiety, and withdrawal caused by abuse

In cases involving willful or reckless conduct by the facility or its staff, Pennsylvania courts may also award punitive damages. Punitive damages are meant to punish especially harmful behavior and send a message that nursing home abuse carries real financial consequences.

If your loved one passed away as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect, your family may file a wrongful death claim and a survival action. 

While no amount of money could ever fully address such wrongdoing, a wrongful death claim helps cover the family's losses, including funeral costs and lost companionship. A survival action recovers compensation for the pain and suffering your loved one experienced before passing.

How Our Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Build Your Case

Nursing home abuse cases depend on evidence that the facility often controls. Your attorney's job is to secure that evidence before it can be altered, destroyed, or buried in paperwork.

• Medical records and care plans: Your loved one's complete medical chart shows what care was ordered, what was actually provided, and where the gaps exist.
• Staffing records and shift logs: Understaffing is a root cause of most nursing home neglect. Payroll and scheduling records reveal whether the facility met Pennsylvania's minimum staffing requirements.
• Incident reports: Facilities are required to document falls, injuries, and complaints. Many fail to do so accurately or completely.
• State inspection records: The Pennsylvania Department of Health conducts regular inspections and publishes deficiency reports. A pattern of violations significantly strengthens your claim.
• Witness statements: Other residents, family members, and current or former staff members can provide firsthand accounts of conditions inside the facility.
• Photographs and video: Images of injuries, living conditions, and the facility environment document what words alone cannot capture.

In institutional negligence cases, where the facility controls most of the evidence, a lawyer can help bridge the gap between a low settlement offer and the full compensation your family deserves.

If you believe your loved one has suffered abuse in a Philadelphia nursing facility, contact us at (800) 624-8888 or through our online contact form for a free consultation.

Visit our Philadelphia office: 1420 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Home Abuse Claims in Pennsylvania

Your Loved One Deserved Better. We Can Help Make This Right.

You did not place your family member in a nursing home so they could suffer abuse or neglect. If a Philadelphia facility failed the person you love, our lawyers at the Rothenberg Law Firm LLP are ready to listen, review what happened, and take action on your family's behalf.

Contact us at (800) 624-8888 or through our contact form for a free, confidential consultation.

Visit our Philadelphia office: 1420 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

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The Rothenberg Law Firm Accident and Injury Lawyers - Philadelphia Office

1420 Walnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Ph: (215) 330-6551