If your loved one has been hurt in a nursing home, you might feel angry, worried, and unsure what to do next. You are not alone. At Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys, our nursing home abuse lawyers serving Simi Valley guide families through what comes next.
Our personal injury lawyer serving Simi Valley can explain what qualifies as abuse, how to report it, how claims work, and what compensation may be available. Edwin Saghian, one of our founding lawyers, handles cases on the federal and state levels, so you can feel confident in your case. We are putting our clients first, always!
What Counts as Nursing Home Abuse?
California law protects elders and dependent adults from physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect and abandonment. In Simi Valley and across Ventura County, common case types include improper wound care leading to infected bedsores, repeated falls from poor supervision, medication errors, and dehydration or malnutrition due to understaffing.
Abuse can be active, like hitting or using restraints for staff convenience, or passive, such as ignoring care plans or failing to monitor a resident with dementia. Under the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (EADACPA), families may bring civil claims when reckless neglect, physical abuse, or other misconduct causes harm.
Facilities must follow state and federal regulations, including staffing, training, care planning, and documentation rules. When a facility ignores these rules and a resident suffers, the law provides a path to hold it accountable. Our nursing home abuse lawyer serving Simi Valley can help you hold the liable parties responsible.
Signs of Abuse and Neglect You Can Spot in Simi Valley Facilities
Warning signs often appear in daily routines and medical records. If you notice sudden changes or repeated accidents, take them seriously and document everything you see. Common red flags include:
- Unexplained bruises, fractures, or frequent falls
- Bedsores, infections, or poor wound care
- Sudden weight loss, dehydration, or persistent thirst
- Overmedication, missed doses, or medication mix-ups
- Fearful behavior, withdrawal, or agitation around certain staff
- Dirty bedding, strong odors, or long response times to call lights
Your Rights Under California and Ventura County Procedures
Residents have a Bill of Rights under California law that covers dignity, privacy, adequate staffing, freedom from abuse, and access to records. Facilities must develop and follow care plans tailored to each resident’s needs, update them regularly, and involve families when appropriate.
If you request records, the facility generally must provide them within a short timeline. You may also ask for the Minimum Data Set (MDS), care plans, skin assessments, fall risk scores, and medication administration records.
Local and state agencies monitor nursing homes. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) licenses and inspects facilities, while the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) assigns Five-Star ratings. Ventura County’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program takes complaints and advocates for residents.
Reporting Nursing Home Abuse in Simi Valley
If you suspect immediate danger, call local law enforcement. For non-emergency concerns, you can report to the Ventura County Long-Term Care Ombudsman or Ventura County Adult Protective Services (APS). These agencies can investigate and help address ongoing risks.
When reporting, share specific details: names of staff on duty, dates and times, visible injuries, and any statements from your loved one. Keep copies of your reports and any response letters. If the resident has a treating physician, notify the doctor right away and request evaluations and updated orders.
Even if an agency is investigating, a civil case can move forward in parallel. Agency findings can support your claim, but they are not required for you to pursue compensation. Our nursing home abuse lawyer serving Simi Valley can help you take the necessary steps to hold the nursing home accountable.
How Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Serving Simi Valley Builds Your Case
Our role is to piece together what happened, why it happened, and how it could have been prevented. We compare what the facility should have done to what it actually did, using both medical and regulatory standards. We speak with witnesses, consult with independent clinicians, and gather the records that matter.
We also look beyond a single incident. Often, we find repeated patterns, such as call-light delays, inconsistent turning schedules, or medication pass logs that do not match pharmacy records. These patterns can show systemic neglect rather than an isolated mistake.
Here’s what we collect to build a case:
- Medical charts, MDS assessments, care plans, and nursing notes
- Incident reports, fall risk assessments, and wound care logs
- Staffing schedules, timecards, and assignment sheets for the unit
- Pharmacy records, MARs/TARs, and medication variance reports
- Surveillance footage, visitor logs, and call-light response data
- Prior state inspection reports, plan-of-correction documents, and CMS ratings
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Compensation Available in a Nursing Home Abuse Claim
Every case is different, but families often pursue damages for medical bills, rehabilitation, and pain and suffering. When abuse or neglect causes long-term disability, the claim may include future care needs. If a resident passes away, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim, and the estate may pursue a survival action for certain damages.
A settlement or verdict can also include the cost of future supervision, mobility equipment, or modifications if the resident returns home. Our goal is to match the recovery to the real-world impact on your family.
Our team has recovered millions of dollars for our clients in our years of business since 2016. Our results page can give more details about our wins.
Deadlines in California Elder Abuse Cases
California has strict filing timelines. Personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years.
Claims against a public entity can require a government claim notice within six months. Since some nursing homes are tied to hospitals or public agencies, this shorter notice can come into play.
Contact Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Serving Simi Valley
If you suspect abuse or neglect, start building your case today. If you have already reported to APS, the Ombudsman, or CDPH, keep those records close; Omega Law Group can use them to move your case forward.
Contact us for a free consultation.
