Juries throughout the nation are fed up with nursing home abuse cases and the verdicts are showing it. Within the span of a couple of months one jury in Northern California awarded a $600 million verdict against a nursing home believed to be intentionally understaffing. The $3.1 million Orange County verdict was no surprise given the trend and most recently Georgia announced its highest award against a nursing home. $43 million was awarded when Morris Ellison, an 80 year old patient of the Moran Lake Nursing Home, fell several times. One fall resulted in him breaking his hip. The nursing home is accused of failing to notify his doctors of the injuries. This pattern is a tragedy and requires vigilance on behalf of loved ones in California nursing homes. If you suspect that you or your family member has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect call our dedicated California nursing home abuse attorneys today.

Earlier this summer, the California State Auditor announced gross oversight by the Department of Public Health in failing to collect fines related to nursing home abuse and neglect citations. Nearly $9 million in fines went uncollected. In egregious cases some fines were reduced 99% from $100,000 to $1000 where a nursing home was found at fault in a resident's death. State and federal agencies are instrumental to providing good health care to seniors through ombudsman programs and funding, however when the state and federal agencies put into place to protect residents of nursing homes from abuse and neglect fail to do their job everyone suffers. Call our knowledgeable California nursing home abuse lawyers today for a free consultation and to find out more about this growing epidemic.

With the projected senior population to double within the next 20 years and more than 43% of all seniors over the age of 65 residing in nursing homes the risk of elder abuse becomes exponential. According to the United States General Accounting Office, just over a decade ago one in three nursing homes in California was cited for negligence or abuse. The increasing number of elderly patients in California nursing homes gives great concern that the number of elder abuse reports will go up as well. With budget cuts and gross overstaffing, incidents have steadily been on the rise. Nursing home abuse preys on victims that can rarely stand up for themselves. Entrusting a home with your loved ones care and then finding out about negligence or abuse is devastating but it must be reported. For every reported California nursing home abuse incident many more go unreported. Be diligent, make constant visits and listen to your loved one. If you suspect or know of an elder abuse or neglect problem, call our California nursing home abuse attorneys today.