Nursing home abuse often requires a severe legal response from a Stroudsburg nursing home abuse lawyer. Munley Law understands how difficult this situation can be for you and your family. Our Stroudsburg attorneys bring nearly seven decades of experience, a network of experts, and a winning strategy to each nursing home abuse case we handle.
Our compassionate attorneys have won more than $1 billion in compensation for our injured clients to date, and have the skill and dedication needed to pursue justice in Monroe County nursing home abuse cases. With Marion Munley selected as Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation and four of our lawyers board-certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, we have a proven track record of representing these complex cases in court and winning life-changing compensation for the victims of abuse and neglect.
If you have reason to suspect that a resident of a long-term healthcare facility is being abused by staff, doctors, administration, other residents, or visitors, we can help. Call or fill out our online form to arrange a free, confidential consultation with a Stroudsburg nursing home injury attorney at Munley Law.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 What are The Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse in Stroudsburg, PA?
Nursing home abuse can take different forms. Some kinds of abuse will have obvious physical signs, while others are harder to detect. According to the World Health Organization, as many as 1 in 6 elders experience abuse in communal settings annually. To spot and stop it from happening, it is important to understand the different ways that healthcare facility residents may be abused. The five main categories of nursing home abuse are:
- Physical Abuse, including hitting, kicking, punching, slapping, pushing, or otherwise assaulting residents
- Psychological and Emotional Abuse, including scaring, mocking, chastising, intimidating, berating, ignoring, confusing, manipulating, or controlling residents
- Sexual Abuse, including non-consensual sexual contact perpetrated by nursing home staff, other residents, or visitors
- Financial Abuse, including stealing money or belongings and forcing or manipulating residents into signing documents or making financial decisions
- Neglect, including improperly administering medications, depriving residents of food or water, and failing to adequately bathe, change, or provide help with necessary hygiene
According to Pennsylvania’s Older Adult Protective Services 2023-2024 Annual Report, there were 58,614 statewide reports of elder abuse submitted in 2024 – a 9% increase over the number of reports filed during the previous fiscal year. The report highlights the fact that the number of these reports submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) has increased by 62% over the past five years, with 678 such reports filed in Monroe County alone between 2023 and 2024.
Of the reports filed, 33% made allegations against caregivers, 29% cited caregiver neglect, and 16% cited physical abuse. Of these allegations, caregiver neglect cases accounted for 22% of all substantiated reports; emotional abuse accounted for 14% of all reports; physical abuse carried an 11% share; and financial exploitation constituted 18% of substantiated allegations investigated in Pennsylvania.
Who Are the Responsible Parties For Nursing Home Neglect in Stroudsburg?
Abuse, neglect, and injury can be inflicted by a number of different individuals your loved one interacts with at their nursing home care facility. However, the facility itself (its owners, management, and leadership) bears ultimate responsibility for protecting its residents. The person who hurt your loved one does not necessarily have to be a nursing home employee in order for you to hold the nursing home responsible. While the facility is liable for the actions of its staff, they also have a duty to provide a safe environment, which includes protection from other residents and visitors.
In addition to recognizing the various types of nursing home abuse, it is also important to keep a close watch on the most common perpetrators of violence against long-term healthcare facility residents.
- The nursing home staff, including the medical team. The World Health Organization notes that the rates of senior abuse are especially high in long-term care facilities and nursing homes, with as many as 2 in every 3 staff members admitting to committing abuse within the past year.
- The administration of the facility
- Other residents
- Guests of the facility
Many nursing home residents suffer from impairments that prohibit or limit their abilities to defend themselves or seek help. Pay close attention to interactions and look out for strange behavior when someone you love is around another person who falls into one of these categories. Ask follow-up questions, take notes, document anything that seems suspicious, and report any abuse you discover.
“At Munley Law, our mission is simple: to provide all injury victims equal access to justice, even against the most powerful entities. For more than 65 years, we have been the voice for the injured, the forgotten, and those who need someone to stand beside them in their darkest hour.”
Marion Munley
What is the Role of a Stroudsburg Nursing Home Abuse Attorney?
If you suspect a beloved nursing home resident is being abused, you may be confused or conflicted about what action to take. Our nursing home neglect lawyers in Stroudsburg can help with the following:
- Obtaining Information: Many long-term residential healthcare facilities intentionally implement policies that make it very difficult to obtain information and documents. When a nursing home resident exhibits signs of abuse, you may be told wildly different accounts of what happened by other residents, staff, administration, insurance companies, and medical workers. Knowing who to talk to, how to get information, what the problem is, and how it can be resolved may feel like a complex maze with no outlet. A good nursing home attorney can help navigate these complexities. By bringing a thorough understanding of how these intricate healthcare systems interact and where problems often hide, your lawyer should be able to quickly identify the issues impacting your loved one’s care and efficiently and permanently implement solutions.
- Understanding Federal and State Elder Abuse Laws and Nursing Home Regulations: Trying to understand the dense web of state and federal regulations governing elder abuse and healthcare facilities can also present major challenges. Laws vary by jurisdiction, and new court decisions and legislation are constantly emerging. An experienced and savvy attorney can help you to understand the rights and options you and your loved one have in the state where you reside.
- Building and Filing a Claim: Oftentimes, when a nursing home resident is being abused, the best course of action for obtaining justice is to file a legal claim. Our nursing home abuse team at Munley Law has decades of experience fighting these cases to win for our clients. We understand what medical records and documents you will need in order to build a successful case.
- Negotiating a Settlement: While not every case is right for settlement negotiations, when done correctly, settlements are often advantageous. Settlements can allow victims to more quickly obtain the awards they deserve while avoiding the time, expense, and stress of a trial. However, you only want an experienced lawyer who truly understands the law, your case, and the healthcare facility and insurance company to represent you.
- Preparing for Trial: When settlement is not an option, you’ll need a legal team that knows how to take a nursing home abuse case to trial and win. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our lawyers have decades of real courtroom experience and real courtroom results.
Munley Law’s Achievements and Awards
The lawyers at Munley Law are ready to thoroughly evaluate you or a loved one’s nursing home abuse case and fight for the compensation needed for a dignified recovery. Our attorneys’ work in personal injury litigation – including nursing home abuse litigation in Stroudsburg – has earned us some of the legal industry’s most respected awards and certifications, and our multi-million dollar settlements have further earned our lawyers listings in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
All of our lawyers have been welcomed to the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the American Association for Justice, and Marion Munley has been ranked as one of Super Lawyers’ Top 10 Super Lawyers in Pennsylvania for the past three years, with seven more of our attorneys acclaimed by the organization as well. Our specialists are all ranked by Best Lawyers, and our firm is recognized as one of America’s Best Law Firms, showcasing our extensive expertise in winning favorable verdicts for our Stroudsburg clients.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Home Abuse in Stroudsburg, PA
How Long Do You Have to File a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Pennsylvania?
Like most personal injury claims, Pennsylvania law gives 2 years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. This deadline comes with some caveats, as if the abuse took place over an extended period of time, Pennsylvania’s ‘Discovery Rule’ will allow for this deadline to be extended to the date in which the abuse was discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered) instead of when it occurred. If the abuse ends up resulting in the loss of a loved one, the deadline shifts to 2 years from the date of death.
What Are the Signs of Possible Nursing Home Abuse in Stroudsburg?
Some of the most common warning signs of nursing home abuse include unexplained injuries, sudden weight changes, anxiety and depression, declining personal care and personal hygiene, and other uncharacteristic changes in your loved one’s behavior. You may also notice suspicious financial activity on their bank statements, or they may show fear and discomfort around certain members of staff. Some forms of elder abuse can be subtle and difficult to detect, so it’s important to keep in touch, ask your loved one questions, and reach out to a nursing home abuse lawyer should you have reason to suspect abuse.
What Should I Do If I Suspect That a Loved One is Being Abused in a Stroudsburg Nursing Home?
If you have reason to suspect abuse, carefully document all signs of neglect, abuse, and harm, and report your concerns to the facility’s managerial staff as soon as possible. Seek medical attention for your loved one and keep all of their medical records safe, as they will serve as valuable evidence should you need to build a legal case. Contact your local authorities to report the mistreatment, and speak with an experienced nursing home abuse attorney, who can investigate the situation and outline your legal options.
Who Can I Hold Liable for Nursing Home Abuse in Stroudsburg, PA?
While the perpetrator of the abuse will certainly be liable in your case, liability may also extend to the nursing home’s staff members, administrators, and owners. Nursing homes have a legal obligation to protect residents from abuse, neglect, and harm by visitors, residents, and staff, and the entire facility may be liable if it fails to maintain a safe environment. Your nursing home abuse attorney can identify all of the parties responsible in your case to build the strongest possible claim.
What Types of Compensation Can I Seek in a Nursing Home Abuse Case?
Victims of nursing home abuse and neglect can seek compensation for their medical expenses, pain, suffering, psychological distress, and any costs related to their ongoing care needs. In especially grievous abuse cases, you may also be entitled to compensation for loss of quality of life and long-term disability. Your attorney can thoroughly evaluate your case and pursue maximum compensation, taking into account both your financial and emotional losses.
How Much Will It Cost Me to Hire a Stroudsburg Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?
The Stroudsburg nursing home abuse lawyers at Munley Law work according to a contingency fee structure. This means that we never charge fees for our services upfront. We only levy legal fees if we win a settlement or verdict on your behalf, and our services are completely free of charge if you don’t receive compensation.
Our Stroudsburg Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Is Here to Help
If your loved one suffered an injury or illness caused by nursing home neglect or abuse, we won’t let your family be silenced. Our nursing home abuse team is ready to fight the corporate healthcare and insurance companies to get the justice you and your loved one deserve. If we don’t win for you, our legal services are free, and you’ll never pay a penny out of pocket while we fight your case.
Call Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys to schedule a free consultation today.
Marion Munley
Marion Munley has been practicing personal injury law for nearly 40 years. She is triple board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy for Truck Accident Law, Civil Trial Law, and Civil Practice Advocacy. She currently serves as Vice President of the American Association for Justice, an organization dedicated to safeguarding victims’ rights. Marion has won many multimillion-dollar recoveries for her clients, including one of the largest trucking accident settlements in history. She has been named a Top 10 Super Lawyer in Pennsylvania since 2023, a Best Lawyer in America, and was recently inducted to the Lawdragon Hall of Fame.
