Lake County Nursing Home Negligence Attorney
Placing a loved one in a nursing home is a decision no family takes lightly. You trust that the facility will provide the care, compassion, and dignity your loved one deserves. Sadly, this trust is too often broken. When nursing homes fail to uphold their duty of care, elderly residents may suffer neglect, abuse, or life-altering injuries. This is where our Lake County nursing home negligence attorneys can help.
At Theodoros & Rooth, P.C., we have been standing up for vulnerable community members since 1988. Our Lake County nursing home negligence attorneys are committed to holding facilities accountable and protecting the rights of seniors throughout Northwest Indiana.
Understanding Nursing Home Negligence
Nursing home negligence occurs when staff or administrators fail to provide the standard of care required for elderly residents. This can involve failing to meet medical, nutritional, emotional, or safety needs. Negligence is not always intentional, but the results can be just as harmful as outright abuse.
In Lake County communities like Gary, Hammond, Crown Point, Schererville, and Merrillville, families depend on long-term care facilities to provide for their loved ones. When a facility is understaffed, poorly trained, or mismanaged, residents can pay the price with their health and well-being.
Types of Elder Abuse and Negligence
Nursing home negligence and abuse can take many forms, each carrying devastating consequences for residents.
Physical Neglect and Abuse
This includes failing to provide adequate food, water, hygiene, or medical care. Residents may be left unattended for long periods, leading to bedsores, malnutrition, or untreated injuries. In more extreme cases, physical abuse such as hitting, shoving, or inappropriate use of restraints occurs.
Emotional and Psychological Abuse
Staff may belittle, threaten, or isolate residents, leading to depression, anxiety, or withdrawal. Emotional abuse often leaves no visible marks, but it erodes a resident’s dignity and mental health.
Sexual Abuse
Elderly residents are vulnerable to sexual assault or inappropriate touching by staff or other residents. Warning signs may include unexplained injuries, changes in behavior, or fear around specific caregivers.
Financial Exploitation
Some nursing home staff exploit residents by stealing personal belongings, forging checks, or coercing them into signing financial documents. Missing money or sudden account changes may signal financial abuse.
Medical Negligence
Medication errors, misdiagnosis, or failure to respond to health complaints can cause serious or fatal complications. In Lake County facilities, mistakes in dispensing prescriptions or failing to monitor chronic conditions are common forms of medical negligence.
Warning Signs of Nursing Home Negligence
Families must remain vigilant when their loved one is in a nursing home. Seniors are often reluctant or unable to speak up due to fear of retaliation, embarrassment, or medical conditions such as dementia. That’s why relatives need to recognize red flags that suggest something is wrong.
Unexplained Injuries
Bruises, cuts, or broken bones without a clear explanation may indicate falls, rough handling, or even physical abuse. If staff cannot provide a consistent or reasonable account of how an injury occurred, it may be a sign of negligence or concealment.
Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers
Bedsores form when immobile residents are not repositioned regularly. These painful wounds are entirely preventable with proper care and attention. The presence of bedsores suggests prolonged neglect and can quickly become life-threatening if left untreated.
Poor Hygiene and Unsanitary Conditions
Neglected residents may wear dirty clothes, have unwashed hair, or live in rooms with strong odors of urine or feces. Unsanitary conditions can spread infections and show that staff are not meeting basic standards of care.
Malnutrition and Dehydration
Sudden weight loss, dry skin, or cracked lips may point to inadequate nutrition or hydration. In some Lake County nursing homes and senior communities, overworked staff may fail to provide regular meals or monitor residents’ food intake, leading to dangerous health complications.
Emotional and Behavioral Changes
Withdrawal, fear, or reluctance to talk when staff are nearby can signal psychological abuse or intimidation. A once-friendly resident who suddenly becomes anxious or depressed may be suffering from verbal mistreatment or isolation.
Frequent Hospitalizations
Multiple hospital visits for injuries, infections, or unexplained illnesses are a red flag. If your loved one is frequently sent to emergency rooms in Gary, Hammond, or Crown Point without clear reasons, it can mean the facility is failing to manage their medical needs.
Financial Irregularities
Missing jewelry, unexplained bank withdrawals, or sudden changes to wills and legal documents may indicate financial exploitation. Because seniors are particularly vulnerable to manipulation, families should monitor accounts and valuables closely.
If you notice these warning signs in a nursing home, do not ignore them. Neglect often escalates, and early intervention can prevent further harm.
Why Nursing Home Negligence Happens
Nursing home negligence is rarely an isolated incident or a simple mistake. More often, it arises from systemic failures within the facility. Understanding these causes can help families spot risks before tragedy occurs.
Understaffing
Many nursing homes intentionally cut costs by limiting staff numbers. One caregiver may be responsible for dozens of residents, especially during night shifts. Overwhelmed workers cannot provide timely meals, reposition residents, or respond to emergencies quickly. In Lake County, this is a common complaint in facilities with large patient populations but limited staff on duty.
Lack of Training
Caring for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or mobility issues requires patience and specialized training. Inexperienced or untrained staff may mishandle residents, administer the wrong medication, or overlook signs of infection. Without proper instruction, employees are more likely to make errors that put residents’ health at risk.
Poor Supervision and Accountability
When administrators fail to monitor staff performance or enforce policies, negligence can become a routine occurrence. A lack of supervision allows bad habits to develop, complaints to be ignored, and abusive employees to continue working unchecked. Leadership failures are often at the root of persistent problems.
Profit-Driven Motives
For-profit nursing homes sometimes put financial gain ahead of resident care. Cutting corners on staffing, food quality, or facility maintenance increases risk for residents. Families in Lake County should be cautious of facilities with a history of repeated state inspection violations, as these often indicate a profit-focused management approach.
High Staff Turnover
Chronic understaffing and low wages contribute to high turnover in the industry. Constantly replacing employees disrupts continuity of care, meaning residents rarely receive attention from experienced, familiar caregivers. High turnover is a warning sign of deeper problems inside a facility.
Negligence does not happen in a vacuum. It stems from choices made by facility owners and administrators. By pursuing legal action, families can hold nursing homes accountable and push for systemic change to protect all residents.
Indiana Law and Nursing Home Negligence
Indiana law provides families with avenues to hold negligent nursing homes accountable.
Statute of Limitations for Nursing Home Negligence Claims
Most nursing home negligence claims in Indiana must be filed within two years of the incident. If the facility is owned by a government entity, such as a county-operated nursing home, families may have as little as 180 days to file a tort claim notice.
Resident Rights
Indiana law recognizes the rights of nursing home residents, including the right to dignity, privacy, adequate medical care, and freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Facilities that violate these rights can face legal liability.
Wrongful Death
If negligence leads to a resident’s death, families may pursue a wrongful death claim for funeral expenses, medical costs, and the loss of companionship.
The Impact of Nursing Home Negligence
Negligence in nursing homes affects more than just physical health:
- Physical injuries may include fractures, infections, or chronic conditions worsened by a lack of care
- Emotional harm often manifests as depression, anxiety, or loss of trust
- Financial losses can occur when families must pay for additional care, hospital stays, or relocation to a safer facility
The burden often falls on families, who may feel guilt, anger, and financial stress. Taking legal action not only provides compensation but also helps prevent future harm to other residents.
What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Negligence in Lake County
Remove Your Loved One from Danger
If immediate harm is suspected, relocate your loved one to a safe environment and seek medical treatment. Local hospitals such as Methodist Hospitals in Gary or Franciscan Health in Crown Point can provide emergency care.
Report the Abuse
Notify the Indiana Department of Health, Adult Protective Services, or local law enforcement. Filing a formal complaint triggers an investigation.
Document Everything
Take photos of injuries, unsanitary conditions, or suspicious financial documents. Keep detailed notes of conversations with staff and administrators.
Consult Our Home Negligence Attorneys
Our Lake County nursing home negligence attorneys will investigate, obtain facility records, interview witnesses, and work with medical experts to prove negligence.
Compensation in Nursing Home Negligence Cases
Victims and families may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses related to injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Costs of transferring to another facility
- Funeral and burial costs in wrongful death cases
In cases of egregious misconduct, punitive damages may also be available to punish the facility and deter future abuse.
Why Local Representation Matters in These Kinds of Cases
Nursing home negligence cases require an understanding not only of the law but also of the local community. Lake County has dozens of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, each with its own history and reputation. A nursing home negligence lawyer who knows the local courts, judges, and healthcare providers can build a stronger case.
At Theodoros & Rooth, P.C., our attorneys live and work in the same communities as our clients. Whether your case involves a facility in Gary, Hammond, Schererville, or Crown Point, we bring local knowledge and decades of legal experience to the table.
How Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. Can Help
Our firm has a long history of protecting those who are vulnerable. When you work with us, you benefit from:
- Over 75 years of combined legal experience
- Recognition by Best Lawyers, Indiana Super Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell
- 24/7 availability to answer your questions
- A track record of success in high-stakes injury cases
We approach every case with compassion, determination, and a commitment to justice. Our mission is to ensure negligent facilities are held accountable and families receive the compensation they deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Home Negligence
How do I know if I have a nursing home negligence case?
If your loved one suffered unexplained injuries, medical complications, or emotional distress due to poor care, you may have grounds for a claim. A nursing home negligence attorney can review records, interview witnesses, and consult with experts to determine whether negligence occurred.
Can I sue a nursing home for neglect even if no physical abuse occurred?
Yes. Neglect, such as failing to provide food, hygiene, or medical care, can be just as harmful as physical abuse. Nursing homes are legally obligated to provide a reasonable standard of care, and failing to do so can form the basis of a lawsuit.
What if my loved one has dementia and can’t explain what happened?
Many residents cannot advocate for themselves due to dementia or communication issues. Families must rely on observation, documentation, and medical evidence to support their claims. A nursing home negligence lawyer from our firm can help uncover patterns of neglect through a thorough review of staff records, inspections, and expert analysis.
Can the nursing home retaliate if I file a claim?
Retaliation against residents or families is illegal. If a facility attempts to punish or intimidate you for filing a complaint, this can strengthen your case. Your nursing home negligence lawyer can take swift legal action to protect your loved one.
What should I do if the nursing home denies negligence?
It is common for nursing homes to deny wrongdoing, even when the evidence suggests otherwise. Facilities may claim that injuries were accidental, unavoidable, or related to a resident’s existing medical condition.
Do not take their explanation at face value. Our experienced nursing home negligence lawyers can obtain medical records, staffing schedules, and inspection reports to uncover the truth. Independent medical experts can also testify about whether the care provided met acceptable standards of care.
Contact Our Lake County Nursing Home Negligence Attorney Law Firm
Nursing home negligence is a betrayal of trust with devastating consequences. When facilities fail, Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. is here to step in. Our Lake County nursing home negligence attorney law firm combines decades of experience, local insight, and compassionate advocacy to fight for justice. For a free consultation with experienced Lake County nursing home negligence attorneys, contact our law firm online.