Deciding to place a beloved family member in a nursing home is one of the most difficult choices a family can face. You put your trust in a facility, believing they will provide the dedicated, compassionate care your loved one deserves. When you discover that this trust has been broken and your family member has suffered due to neglect, it can be a profoundly painful experience.
If you are concerned about the care your loved one is receiving in a long-term care facility, understanding your rights is the first step toward protecting them and seeking accountability. A Pennsylvania nursing home neglect lawyer at Marcus & Mack is here to help your family find a path forward.
We understand the mix of emotions you may be feeling—anger, sadness, and uncertainty. Our mission is to provide the strong, steady support your family needs during this difficult time. We are committed to seeking justice for residents who have been harmed and holding facilities accountable for their failure to provide proper care.
When you face a potential Pennsylvania nursing home neglect case, you need a legal team with a deep understanding of the law and a genuine commitment to your family’s well-being. At Marcus & Mack, our attorneys bring over 100 years of combined legal experience to the table, focusing our efforts on helping people who have been injured. We believe that caring for others is the cornerstone of our culture, and this belief guides every action we take.
A common passion to stand up for our clients and help change their lives for the better unites our firm.
We are dedicated to doing what is right for your family, whatever it takes. This commitment is reflected in how we work with you:
At Marcus & Mack, we are not just a law firm; we are part of your community. We are here to provide the strength and support necessary to protect your loved one and hold negligent facilities accountable.
When a nursing home accepts a new resident, it also accepts a legal and ethical responsibility to provide a certain level of care. This is known as the duty of care. In simple terms, the facility must act as a reasonable, prudent caregiver would under similar circumstances to keep its residents safe from harm. This isn’t just a moral obligation; federal and state laws require it.
In Pennsylvania, nursing homes are regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which sets specific standards for everything from staffing levels and nutrition to hygiene and medical care. A key part of this duty of care involves protecting the rights of every resident. These rights are designed to promote a resident’s dignity, choice, and self-determination.
Under Pennsylvania law, residents of long-term care facilities have rights that include, but are not limited to:
When a facility fails to meet these standards—whether through understaffing, poor training, or simple carelessness—it breaches its duty of care. This breach can lead directly to the suffering and injury of a resident, forming the basis of a Pennsylvania nursing home neglect claim.
Neglect can be subtle at first, often making it difficult for families to identify. It’s not always a single, dramatic event but rather a pattern of substandard care that causes harm over time. It’s important to be observant and trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it is worth looking into more closely. The signs of neglect can often be grouped into several key categories.
Physical indicators are often the most apparent signs that a resident is not receiving adequate care. These can be clear red flags that basic needs are being ignored. Keep an eye out for:
Noticing any of these physical signs should prompt immediate questions to the nursing staff and administration about your loved one’s care plan and daily routines.
The emotional toll of neglect can be just as damaging as the physical harm. A resident who feels ignored, isolated, or unsafe may exhibit significant changes in their mood and behavior. Families should be alert to:
These emotional shifts can be signs of a distressing environment where a resident’s emotional and psychological needs are being disregarded.
The physical environment of the nursing home can also provide clues about the quality of care. A well-run facility should be clean, safe, and adequately staffed. Red flags in the environment include:
These issues often point to systemic problems within the facility, such as understaffing or poor management, which are common root causes of nursing home neglect.
While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, it is important to understand the legal distinction between nursing home neglect and nursing home abuse. Both are unacceptable and cause serious harm, but they differ in intent.
Both abuse and neglect are serious violations of a resident’s rights. At Marcus & Mack, we have the experience to handle cases involving either situation, and we are committed to holding the responsible parties accountable for the harm they have caused.
When a nursing home fails in its duty of care, the consequences for a resident can be severe and life-altering. These are not minor issues; they can lead to a rapid decline in health and, in the most tragic cases, wrongful death. The dedicated people in communities like DuBois and Altoona expect local care facilities to protect their elders, and when they fail, the results can be devastating.
Some of the most common injuries and health crises resulting from Pennsylvania nursing home neglect include:
These conditions are often preventable with attentive and proper care. When they occur, it is a strong indicator that the facility may be liable for the harm caused.
Discovering that your loved one may be a target of neglect can be deeply upsetting. It is important to act methodically to protect them and start gathering the information needed to hold the facility accountable.
Taking these steps can help ensure your loved one’s immediate safety while also laying the groundwork for a potential legal claim.
Pursuing a legal claim against a nursing home can feel like a monumental task. A dedicated attorney can lift that burden from your shoulders and manage the legal process on your behalf. At Marcus & Mack, our role is to be your family’s strongest advocate.
We will conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the neglect. This involves:
This detailed investigation allows us to build a strong foundation for your case.
To succeed in a nursing home neglect claim, we must prove that the facility was negligent. This means showing that the nursing home breached its duty of care and that this breach directly caused your loved one’s injuries. Our legal team understands the specific laws and regulations that govern nursing homes in Pennsylvania and knows how to use evidence to demonstrate a facility’s failure to meet those standards.
Our focus is on securing the resources your family needs to move forward. This includes pursuing compensation for a range of damages, such as:
We will handle all negotiations with the nursing home’s insurance company and legal team. While many cases are resolved through a settlement, we are always prepared to take a case to court if that is what it takes to achieve a just outcome for your family.
Here are answers to some common questions families have when dealing with potential nursing home neglect.
In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations—the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit—for personal injury cases is generally two years from the date the injury occurred or was discovered. It is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible to ensure you do not miss this critical deadline.
Federal and state laws strictly prohibit any form of retaliation against a resident or their family for filing a complaint or raising concerns about care. If you fear retaliation, you should report it immediately to the state ombudsman and your attorney.
Many residents with cognitive impairments like dementia are unable to communicate neglect. In these cases, evidence from medical records, physical signs of neglect, and witness testimony from family, friends, or even facility staff becomes critically important. An attorney can help piece together what happened even when the resident cannot speak for themselves.
Yes, chronic understaffing is one of the leading causes of nursing home neglect. When a facility does not have enough qualified staff to meet the needs of all its residents, basic care tasks are often missed, leading directly to harm. A facility can be held liable for injuries caused by its failure to staff appropriately.
Absolutely. Marcus & Mack represents clients throughout Pennsylvania, regardless of where the family members live. We can use phone calls, video conferences, and email to communicate with you and manage your case effectively, allowing you to focus on your loved one from a distance.
Medical records serve as the core evidence in a nursing home neglect case. These records provide a timeline of a resident’s care, treatments, and injuries. They document when a facility discovers a condition, like a bedsore, and show whether the staff provided the proper and timely care needed to prevent it from worsening.
Experienced attorneys review these records to prove the nursing home breached its duty of care and that the breach directly caused your loved one harm.
Robert S. Marcus Pennsylvania Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer
You trusted a nursing home to care for your family member. If that trust was violated and your loved one was harmed, you have the right to demand answers and accountability. The legal team at Marcus & Mack is here to provide the support and aggressive advocacy you need to seek justice.
We are ready to listen to your story and explain your options. We welcome the opportunity to serve your family in any way we can. Whenever you call—24 hours a day, 365 days a year—you will talk to a knowledgeable, understanding person who can help. Helping injured people is what we do. It’s all we do.
Don’t wait. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today to learn how we can fight for you.
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