California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect in California

California has over 1,100 nursing homes and serves more residents annually than any other state, according to KFF. While these facilities are meant to provide a safe environment, some fall short, leading to nursing home abuse or neglect.

One of the most significant contributors to these issues is understaffing. Approximately one-third of California nursing homes are understaffed, according to the Center for Medicare Advocacy.

Nursing home abuse can take many forms, including:

• Physical abuse: Violence or unnecessary force against a resident can result in injuries and leave them feeling scared or unsafe within the facility.
• Elder neglect: If staff members fail to meet a resident's basic needs, like providing them with proper nutrition or hygiene assistance, it may be considered neglect. This lack of care can lead to physical and mental decline.
• Sexual abuse: Inappropriate sexual contact between a staff member and a resident may result in injuries, infections, and emotional trauma.

Around 247 nursing homes in California have serious deficiencies, which are believed to put residents in immediate danger, according to ProPublica. These facilities have been ordered to pay more than $30 Million in fines and penalties.

Our California nursing home abuse lawyers have the resources and experience necessary to stand up to the facilities responsible for your loved one’s injuries and seek justice on their behalf.

Signs of Abuse in California Nursing Homes

Knowing the signs of nursing home abuse can make all the difference in protecting your loved one from further harm. Whether you're visiting in person or calling, stay alert to any changes in their behavior, mood, or physical appearance.

Signs of abuse in California nursing homes can include:

• Bedsores or pressure ulcers
• Behavioral changes, like acting withdrawn or agitated
• Dehydration or malnutrition
• Poor hygiene and unsanitary living conditions
• Unaddressed medical issues
• Unexplained injuries, like cuts, bruises, or broken bones
• Weight loss

If you suspect that your loved one is experiencing nursing home abuse, it's important to take action immediately. You can report the abuse to the facility’s administration, a long-term care ombudsman, or the California Department of Social Services.

Complaints involving exploitation, abuse, or gross neglect filed with the California Long-Term Care Ombudsman are more than twice the national average rate, according to the state Attorney General.

At Sokolove Law, our nursing home neglect attorneys in California can also help you take steps to protect your family member and hold those responsible for their suffering accountable.

Who Can a California Nursing Home Lawyer Help?

By getting help from our nursing home abuse lawyers in California, you may be able to secure the compensation needed to relocate yourself or a loved one to a safer environment that can provide the care you deserve.

You may be able to work with a California nursing home lawyer if:

• You experienced abuse or neglect at a nursing home or long-term care facility
• You’re the immediate family member or estate representative of an elder abuse victim

If your family member passed away due to suspected nursing home abuse or neglect, you may still be able to take legal action by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the facility where they lived.

How to File a California Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit

At Sokolove Law, our attorneys strive to make filing a California nursing home abuse lawsuit as stress-free as possible. We can handle all of the legal legwork for you, so you can focus on supporting your loved one through this challenging time.

In general, our California nursing home abuse lawyers can:

• Provide you with a free case review to determine if you may be eligible to take legal action against those responsible for your loved one’s suffering
• Gather evidence to prove neglect or abuse took place and that the staff or nursing home was responsible
• File your nursing home abuse lawsuit before any legal deadlines pass
• Negotiate an elder abuse settlement with the defendant(s), which may allow you to receive compensation without going to court

If a settlement is unable to be reached, our nursing home neglect attorneys in California are prepared to present your case in court and fight for a verdict on your behalf.

Our Past California Nursing Home Settlements

We’ve secured more than $332 Million for victims of nursing home abuse and their families nationwide. While the average nursing home abuse settlement is around $400,000, we've recovered much higher payouts for many clients.

Some of our past California nursing home abuse settlements and verdicts include:

• $2 Million for a Castro Valley husband whose wife had dementia and passed away within 48 hours of being sent to a care facility
• $1 Million for a Hayward man whose mother choked to death during lunch despite being on assisted feeding
• $700,000 for a Los Angeles woman whose mother didn’t receive her medication in care
• $845,000 to a woman in Los Angeles whose grandmother was hospitalized due to a severe bedsore she developed while in a nursing home
• $700,000 for a San Lorenzo woman who developed a bedsore on her back in a home
• $1 Million for an Orangevale woman whose mother-in-law with dementia developed a UTI and pressure sores from not being changed

Compensation from a nursing home abuse lawsuit in California can help pay for your loved one’s transfer to a safer facility, medical bills, funeral expenses, and more.

Nursing home abuse case values will vary depending on the unique details of each case, but our experienced lawyers know how to gather the evidence necessary to maximize compensation.

While there’s never a guarantee of results, our California elder abuse lawyers will fight hard to get you everything you’re entitled to.

Deadline to File a Nursing Home Lawsuit in California

Due to the statute of limitations, nursing home lawsuits in California can only be filed within a set amount of time before the resident or their family loses the right to sue for neglect or abuse.

The California nursing home lawsuit statute of limitations is 2 years after a loved one’s injury or death, according to the state’s Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1.

Once this deadline passes, you won’t be able to take legal action for your loved one's suffering ever again.

Types of California Nursing Home Lawyers

At Sokolove Law, our California nursing home lawyers can help injured residents and the families of those harmed by abuse, neglect, or unsafe conditions seek justice.

Nursing homes are meant to provide care, supervision, and a safe living environment. When facilities fail to meet these basic responsibilities, residents can suffer a wide range of serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries.

We can handle cases involving: 

• Physical abuse
• Neglect
• Bedsores or pressure wounds
• Accidental injuries
• Chemical restraints
• Falls
• Infections or sepsis
• Malnutrition and dehydration
• Medical malpractice
• Medication errors
• Sexual abuse
• Wrongful deaths

In California, 78 nursing homes are owned by Los Angeles entrepreneur Shlomo Rechnitz. These facilities perform significantly worse on quality metrics than the state average, receiving about 12.4 citations for facility-reported incidents compared to 6.1 statewide — roughly double the rate, according to CalMatters.

Find out more about the types of cases our California nursing home injury lawyers may be able to help with.

California Nursing Home Physical Abuse Lawyer

Physical abuse in nursing homes is far more common than many families realize, with one study finding that approximately 45% of nursing home residents have experienced abuse.

Physical abuse can result in visible injuries like bruises, cuts, or fractures. In some cases, abuse may also cause emotional distress and behavioral changes.

Physical abuse of nursing home residents can include: 

• Hitting
• Improper or excessive use of physical restraints
• Kicking
• Punching
• Rough handling
• Shoving
• Slapping

If your loved one has unexplained injuries, shows sudden changes in behavior, or seems fearful of staff, contact our California nursing home physical abuse lawyers. We may be able to help you hold abusive staff or facilities accountable.

California Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

Neglect occurs when nursing home staff fail to provide basic care to residents, putting them at risk of serious harm. In a survey of more than 2,000 nursing home residents, 95% reported experiencing neglect or witnessing neglect.

When negligence in a nursing home leads to preventable injuries, worsening medical conditions, and unnecessary pain, then a California nursing home neglect lawyer may be able to help those affected take legal action.

Common signs of neglect may include:

• Malnutrition or dehydration
• Poor hygiene
• Pressure wounds
• Unsanitary living conditions
• Untreated medical issues

By working with a California nursing home negligence lawyer, you can pursue compensation for your loved one’s medical bills and the cost of transferring them to a facility that can provide the level of care they deserve.

California Nursing Home Bedsores Lawyer

Nursing home staff are trained to regularly reposition residents to prevent bedsores from forming, and to treat the wounds promptly when they do occur. Without proper care, these sores can worsen quickly and lead to life-threatening infections.

Bedsores or pressure wounds may indicate nursing home neglect, especially when they reach stage 3 or stage 4.

A California nursing home bedsore lawyer can help families hold negligent facilities accountable for failing to properly care for their loved one.

“Severe bedsores are one of the clearest signs of nursing home neglect. These wounds take time to form and are almost always preventable with routine care.”
– Ricky LeBlanc, Managing Attorney of Sokolove Law

California Nursing Home Accident Lawyer

When facilities fail to maintain safe environments or provide proper supervision, accidents may occur that cause residents to suffer serious or even fatal injuries.

Nursing home accidents may involve:

• Burns from hot food or liquids
• Choking or aspiration during meals
• Cuts or lacerations from sharp objects or unsafe surroundings
• Elopement (wandering or leaving the facility unsupervised)
• Equipment-related injuries, including wheelchairs, walkers, bed rails, or lifts
• Slips, trips, and falls

An estimated 20,000 to 40,000 nursing home residents with cognitive issues elope each year, according to McKnight’s Senior Living. These residents may wander into traffic, fall, become lost outdoors in extreme temperatures, or encounter water hazards.

At Sokolove Law, our California nursing home accident lawyers can look into the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s injuries and determine whether the facility’s negligence played a role.

California Nursing Home Chemical Restraints Lawyer

Chemical restraints are medications used to control a nursing home resident’s behavior rather than to treat a legitimate medical condition, including powerful antipsychotics and sedatives.

More than 1 in 5 nursing home residents are given antipsychotic drugs, often without a clear medical justification, according to the Long-Term Care Community Coalition.

The use of chemical restraints may lead to: 

• Confusion or disorientation
• Falls
• Lethargy and drowsiness
• Loss of mobility
• Respiratory depression

A California nursing home chemical restraints lawyer can help families investigate whether medications were improperly prescribed or administered and hold facilities accountable for prioritizing their convenience over resident safety.

California Nursing Home Fall Lawyer

Every year, around half of all nursing home residents experience at least one fall, according to the National Library of Medicine. Falls can result in injuries that may dramatically impact an older adult’s health, independence, and quality of life.

Many nursing home falls are entirely preventable. Facilities are required to assess each resident’s fall risk, flag those who are high risk, and take the appropriate precautions to prevent avoidable harm.

Nursing home falls may occur when:

• Facilities are understaffed
• Residents have to wait too long for help and attempt to move on their own
• Fall risk assessments aren’t completed or updated
• Floors and hallways are cluttered or unsafe
• Medication side effects aren’t monitored, potentially leading to dizziness or weakness
• Mobility aids are broken or ill-fitting
• Residents aren’t properly supervised

Falls in nursing homes can lead to broken bones, head injuries, and even death. Elderly residents who are injured in a fall may experience a loss of mobility and a rapid decline in health.

Our California nursing home fall lawyers can examine staffing records, care plans, fall risk assessments, incident reports, and medical records to determine whether a facility’s negligence may have played a role in your loved one’s fall.

California Nursing Home Infection Lawyer

Nursing homes are required to follow strict infection control protocols, including proper catheter care, wound cleaning, and hand hygiene. When facilities fail to meet these standards, residents may be placed in harm’s way.

If an infection goes untreated, residents may develop sepsis, which can lead to organ failure or death. Our California nursing home sepsis lawyers can help you determine your legal options after a preventable or poorly addressed infection.

California Nursing Home Malnutrition Lawyer

Malnutrition and dehydration are serious and often overlooked forms of nursing home neglect. When staff fail to provide residents with adequate food, fluids, or assistance during meals, residents can quickly suffer severe health consequences.

Approximately 20% of nursing home residents are malnourished, with rates rising to more than 65% in some facilities, according to Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care.

Our California nursing home dehydration lawyers can also help in cases where residents are not given enough water or assistance with drinking. Common warning signs of dehydration include dizziness, dry mouth or lips, dark or infrequent urine, fatigue, and confusion.

At Sokolove Law, our California nursing home malnutrition lawyers know how to investigate whether a facility failed to meet basic care standards or ignored signs that a resident was not receiving proper nutrition or hydration. Let us fight for you.

California Nursing Home Malpractice Lawyer

Nursing home malpractice occurs when medical professionals provide substandard care that leads to an injury or allows a health condition to worsen. This can include mistakes involving diagnosing, treating, or monitoring residents.

Because many nursing home residents often have complex medical needs, even small errors can quickly result in serious harm.

Medical malpractice in nursing homes may involve:

• Delayed response to medical emergencies
• Failure to diagnose or treat infections
• Improper wound or post-surgical care
• Lack of appropriate medical supervision
• Medication errors
• Mismanagement of chronic conditions

Nursing home malpractice is often linked to understaffing, inadequate training, or poor communication between staff.

A California nursing home malpractice lawyer can review medical records, treatment notes, staffing logs, and expert opinions to determine whether medical negligence caused harm to a resident.

California Nursing Home Medication Error Lawyer

Nursing home medication errors, including giving the wrong dose or medication, may have serious and potentially fatal consequences.

During a 3-month period, approximately 90% of residents experienced at least 1 medication error, according to BMC Geriatrics.

Medication errors can happen when staff:

• Administer too much or too little of a prescribed medication
• Dispense a medication intended for another resident
• Fail to monitor residents for adverse reactions or side effects
• Give medications at the wrong time
• Provide expired or improperly stored medications
• Skip or miss scheduled doses

By working with our experienced California nursing home medication error lawyers, you can get help holding those responsible for your loved one’s suffering accountable.

California Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Over 70% of elder sexual abuse cases occur in nursing homes, according to Minnesota’s Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care. Sexual abuse in nursing homes may be carried out by staff, visitors, or other residents.

Residents with cognitive impairments, like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, may be at especially high risk because they may have difficulty recognizing or reporting the abuse.

If your loved one begins showing signs of sexual abuse, like emotional changes, unexplained injuries in sensitive areas, or new sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reach out to our California nursing home sexual abuse lawyers for help.

California Nursing Home Death Lawyer

While some nursing home residents pass away due to natural causes, others may die as a result of abuse or neglect within a care facility.

Residents who have experienced abuse have a 300% higher risk of death than those who have not, according to Gitnux.

Wrongful deaths in nursing homes may be linked to issues like: 

• Falls
• Improper use of medical equipment
• Malnutrition or dehydration
• Medication errors
• Poorly trained staff
• Preventable accidents
• Untreated infections

Our California nursing home wrongful death lawyers can investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death and determine whether negligence contributed to their passing.

Those affected may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, and the emotional impact of losing a loved one.

Let Our Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers in California Help

At Sokolove Law, our nursing home neglect lawyers in California have decades of experience supporting those who have suffered abuse at the hands of their caregivers.

Our nursing home abuse law firm has recovered millions on behalf of California patients and their families. There are no hourly fees or out-of-pocket costs to work with our team.

We’re committed to providing you with the personal attention your case deserves. We have the resources necessary to stand up to large long-term care facilities and make sure your loved one is protected.

Let us fight for the justice you deserve. Call (800) 995-1212 now or fill out our contact form to get a free, no-obligation case review.

California Nursing Home Ratings

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) evaluates California nursing homes using a 5-star rating system based on health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures.

In some cases, CMS also designates facilities with chronic issues as Special Focus Facilities (SFFs), which are subject to additional oversight.

California nursing homes on the SFF list include:

• Artesia Palms Care Center
• Greenfield Care Center of Fairfield
• Rancho Seco Care Center
• Rio Hondo Subacute & Nursing Center
• Riverside Postacute Care
• Sunray Healthcare Center

Multiple other California nursing homes have received a 1-star rating and been cited by CMS for resident abuse. Learn more about some of these facilities below.

Advanced Rehab Center of Tustin

Advanced Rehab Center of Tustin at 2210 E. First Street in Santa Ana, a certified 99-bed facility, is run by Abraham Bak & Menachem Gastwirth.

Findings from CMS inspections include failure to:

• Ensure call light systems remained within safe reach for residents with significant cognitive and functional impairment, limiting their ability to request assistance when needed
• Provide and maintain appropriate pressure-relieving support surfaces, reducing effectiveness of wound care and pressure injury prevention
• Properly assess and monitor fall risk on admission and after changes in condition
• Properly label, monitor, and maintain intravenous access devices, including PICC lines and peripheral IVs, to ensure safe administration and early detection of complications
• Accurately complete and transmit required resident assessments and discharge documentation within required timeframes to ensure continuity of care and regulatory compliance
• Ensure residents who smoke were safely assessed and supervised to reduce fire and injury risk

These findings reflect breakdowns in basic safety and clinical oversight, where failures in monitoring, equipment maintenance, and care planning placed highly vulnerable residents at ongoing risk.

Ararat Nursing Facility

Ararat Nursing Facility at 15099 Mission Hills Road in Mission Hills is a nonprofit facility with 254 certified beds.

Findings from CMS inspections include failure to:

• Protect a resident’s right to be free from physical restraints after staff used a scarf to bind both of the resident’s wrists while she was in bed
• Timely report suspected abuse or remove the at-fault staff member
• Accurately document resident assessments, medication administration, and transfer information in medical records to ensure continuity of care
• Update fall prevention interventions and care plans following changes in resident risk status or post-fall events
• Provide consistent supervision and assistance during resident care activities to prevent falls and injuries

These deficiencies show repeated lapses in core resident protections, where failures in abuse prevention, documentation, and supervision directly undermined resident safety and dignity.

Bay Marina Post Acute Care

Bay Marina Post Acute Care at 2919 Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland is a 94-bed facility run by Shlomo Rechnitz.

Findings from CMS inspections include failure to:

• Protect residents from verbal and emotional abuse by facility staff, including yelling, cursing, and derogatory comments toward residents
• Immediately remove staff accused of abuse from direct resident care duties during investigations, allowing continued resident contact after alleged abuse incidents
• Develop and implement safe discharge planning processes, resulting in inadequate coordination of post-discharge care and homelessness risk after facility discharge
• Protect residents from abuse and physical assaults by visitors and family members while inside the facility
• Ensure residents injured during abuse incidents received timely evaluation, monitoring, and appropriate follow-up care after sustaining physical injuries
• Properly implement and follow facility abuse prevention, reporting, and investigation policies designed to protect vulnerable residents

Taken together, these findings highlight serious failures in abuse prevention and response systems, allowing residents to remain exposed to avoidable harm and inadequate follow-up care.

Cupertino Healthcare & Wellness Center

Cupertino Healthcare & Wellness Center, located at 22590 Voss Avenue in Cupertino, is a for-profit nursing home operated by Sol Healthcare. The facility has 170 certified beds.

Findings from CMS inspections include failure to:

• Develop and document resident-centered interventions related to wandering behavior, fall prevention, and elopement risk for cognitively impaired individuals requiring continuous supervision
• Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist
• Protect residents from physical abuse by staff members
• Post required daily nurse staffing information in a clear, readable, and easily accessible location for visitors, families, and staff, as required by federal regulations
• Complete baseline care plans within 48 hours of admission to address immediate health conditions, medications, supervision needs, and safety risks for newly admitted individuals

These violations reflect systemic breakdowns in care planning, staffing transparency, and abuse safeguards, leaving residents without consistent protections or individualized support.

Grace Healthcare Center

Grace Healthcare Center at 2939 S. Peach Avenue in Fresno is a nursing home with 99 certified beds.

Findings from CMS inspections include failure to:

• Respond to a resident’s repeated requests for medically necessary catheter-care supplies, leaving him soaked in urine
• Protect residents from neglect and preserve their dignity during personal and medical care
• Create required monitoring care plans for residents taking blood thinners linked to serious bleeding risks.
• Properly administer medications instead of leaving pills unattended at residents’ bedsides
• Prevent residents from being exposed to unsecured medications that could be missed, discarded, or taken by others
• Maintain required seizure-related safety protections intended to prevent residents from striking exposed bedrails
• Ensure residents received care consistent with facility policies and professional nursing standards

These findings demonstrate repeated failures in fundamental nursing care and medication safety, resulting in residents being left without essential treatment, protection, and supervision.

Long Beach Healthcare Center

Long Beach Healthcare Center at 3401 Cedar Avenue in Long Beach is a for-profit nursing home operated by Serrano Group. The facility has 154 certified beds.

Findings from CMS inspections include failure to:

• Timely report and investigate allegations of theft after a resident’s wallet went missing and an unauthorized $800 charge was made on his credit card
• Maintain functioning emergency suction equipment on a crash cart during a respiratory emergency involving a choking resident
• Promptly notify a physician when residents experienced a change in condition, like dizziness, weakness, chest discomfort, or altered responsiveness
• Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care, and treatments
• Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential

These deficiencies reflect delays and breakdowns in communication, emergency readiness, and resident rights protections, limiting timely care and increasing preventable risk of harm.

These are not the only California nursing homes known for poor conditions or potential wrongdoing.

California Nursing Home Lawyer FAQs