What Should I Do If I Suspect Nursing Home Abuse?

On This Page

1. Taking Action in an Emergency Situation
2. Reporting Suspected Nursing Home Abuse
3. Call a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney About Suspected Nursing Home Abuse
4. Talk to a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Pittsburgh, PA

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

February 02, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

You should act immediately if you suspect nursing home abuse. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to call for emergency medical care or reach out to a nursing home abuse attorney from Berger and Green to ensure your loved one’s rights remain protected.

If you believe the situation is causing physical harm to your loved one, seek medical assistance through your senior’s private health care team. No matter if the abuse or neglect will cause physical damage or not, it is imperative you still report your suspicions to the proper agency to ensure a thorough investigation occurs.

Taking Action in an Emergency Situation

If your loved one needs immediate medical care because of physical abuse or neglect, do not hesitate to call 911 from inside their long-term care facility. You can also call 911 or local police to report possible abuse of other residents.

When you call for emergency medical care for your loved one, the police and an ambulance will respond. The medical team will ensure your loved one gets transferred to the nearest hospital while the police will talk with you, collect evidence, and report the incident to the proper agencies. We recommend you also take your own pictures and document the abuse and file a report about the incident.

Reporting Suspected Nursing Home Abuse

If you have any concerns about the health and wellbeing of a senior over the age of 60, you can report your suspicions by calling 412-350-6905 or 1-800-344-4319 in Pittsburgh and greater Allegheny County, or 1-800-490-8505 statewide.

We recommend reporting suspected nursing home abuse even if you called the police and they reported it. These reporting lines are open 24 hours a day so that you can talk to someone about your loved one’s situation at any time.

When you call to make a report you:

• May remain anonymous
• Have legal protection from retaliation or discrimination

They will ask you to explain:

• The suspicious behavior
• The name of the alleged abuser, if known
• The health and wellbeing of the victim
• Any safety concerns you have

Call a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney About Suspected Nursing Home Abuse

After securing your loved one’s immediate health and wellbeing, we encourage you to go ahead and give the team from Berger and Green a call about suspected nursing home abuse in Pittsburgh, PA. We can help you understand:

• If your loved one suffered abuse or neglect
• Who might be liable for their injuries and financial damages
• Their right to compensation
• What we can do to take legal action on their behalf

We also can help you report the abuse to the proper agencies and ensure an investigation into what happened and who is at fault is performed. We will conduct our own investigation as well, identifying the liable party or parties and documenting your loved one’s financial damages as well as their pain and suffering.

Based on the evidence we collect and the circumstances of what happened, we will build a strong case for the pursuit of compensation. We can take legal action on behalf of your loved one, and pursue damages that could include:

• Medical care costs
• Ongoing care costs
• Cost of relocating your loved one
• Repair or replacement of damaged property
• Repayment of stolen funds
• Pain and suffering damages
• Mental anguish
• Wrongful death damages, if your loved one passed away because of abuse or neglect

If you suspect nursing home abuse in a Pittsburgh, PA facility, the elder abuse team from Berger and Green can help. Call us today at 412-661-1400. We will take action immediately to help you secure your aging loved one’s health and wellbeing, and to hold those responsible for their pain accountable.

We can file a personal injury or medical malpractice lawsuit if necessary on their behalf. We will fight to ensure their rights remain protected and they get the care and support they deserve.

Talk to a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Pittsburgh, PA

At Berger and Green, our team has a strong track record of fighting for the rights of our clients and pursuing damages on their behalf. We offer free case reviews and complimentary consultations. Let us evaluate your loved one’s case and put a plan in place to go after the compensation they deserve. Our team handles nursing home abuse cases on a contingency fee basis, so you owe us no attorney’s fees unless we recover damages.

Call us today at 412-661-1400 to get started.