If you believe a loved one was harmed in a care facility, a nursing home abuse lawyer may be able to help you find answers and hold the right parties accountable. Families across Pennsylvania and New Jersey have the right to ask hard questions when a resident is injured, neglected, or mistreated, and the law may allow you to pursue a claim on your loved one’s behalf. You do not have to sort through this alone.
At Ethen Ostroff Law, we are an injury firm first. We meet families where they are, explain the options in plain language, and help you decide what to do next. This guide walks through what nursing home abuse and neglect can look like, what your family’s rights may be under Pennsylvania and New Jersey law, and how a claim generally works.
Nursing home abuse is any conduct by a caregiver or facility that causes harm to a resident, whether the harm is physical, emotional, financial, or the result of neglect. Abuse is not always obvious, and it is not always intentional. Sometimes the harm comes from a single act. More often, families notice a pattern that builds over weeks or months.
Common forms of nursing home abuse and neglect include:
Neglect is one of the most common issues families raise. A resident who develops severe bedsores, becomes dehydrated, loses significant weight, or suffers repeated unexplained falls may have been neglected. When that happens, a nursing home neglect lawsuit may be one way for a family to seek accountability.
You know your loved one better than anyone. Trust your instincts if something feels wrong. Signs that may point to abuse or neglect include:
One warning sign does not prove abuse, and there can be innocent explanations. But several signs together, or a facility that cannot explain what happened, may be a reason to look closer and speak with a nursing home elder abuse lawyer.
Pennsylvania residents are protected by both state and federal law. Federal rules under the Nursing Home Reform Act require facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid funding to help each resident maintain the highest practicable level of physical, mental, and social well-being. Pennsylvania regulations add their own standards for staffing, care planning, and resident dignity.
In practical terms, that may mean a resident has the right to be free from abuse and neglect, to receive adequate medical care, to be treated with dignity, and to have their family informed of significant changes in their condition. When a facility falls short of these standards, and a resident is harmed as a result, a nursing home abuse attorney may be able to build a claim around that failure.
Pennsylvania families should also be aware of the statute of limitations, which is the legal deadline to file a claim. In most Pennsylvania personal injury and negligence cases, the deadline is generally two years from the date of the injury, though the exact deadline can depend on the facts. Because deadlines can be complex, it is wise to speak with a lawyer promptly rather than waiting.
New Jersey residents have similar protections. The state enforces licensing standards for long-term care facilities and, like Pennsylvania, follows the federal Nursing Home Reform Act for facilities that accept federal funding. New Jersey also recognizes a resident’s bill of rights that addresses dignity, safety, and freedom from mistreatment.
New Jersey generally applies a two-year statute of limitations to personal injury and negligence claims, but there are exceptions, and the deadline can turn on when the harm was discovered. If your family is exploring an NJ nursing home negligence claim, an early conversation with a lawyer can help you understand which deadlines may apply to your situation.
When a loved one suffers neglect, physical harm, or financial exploitation in a care facility, families have the right to hold that facility accountable. A nursing home abuse lawsuit can recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages, while also pushing the facility to correct the conditions that allowed the abuse to happen. Because these cases often hinge on medical records, staffing logs, and strict filing deadlines, the strength of your claim depends heavily on acting quickly and building the right evidence early. Working with an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer gives your family the best chance to understand your options, protect your loved one, and pursue the full compensation you deserve.
More than one party may share responsibility for what happened. Depending on the facts, a claim may involve:
Understaffing is a recurring theme in these cases. When a facility does not have enough trained staff, residents may be left without the supervision and care they need. A nursing home abuse lawyer can investigate whether policies at the facility, and not just the actions of one employee, contributed to the harm.
Every case is different, but the process often follows a similar path:
Families often worry about the cost of pursuing a claim during an already stressful time. A consultation with Ethen Ostroff Law is free, and we will walk you through how the process works before you decide anything.
Because outcomes depend on the specific facts, no lawyer can promise a result. That said, families who bring a successful nursing home abuse or neglect claim may be able to recover compensation for things such as medical expenses, the cost of moving a loved one to a safer facility, physical pain and emotional suffering, and, in some cases, losses connected to a resident’s death. A lawyer can explain what may realistically apply to your loved one’s circumstances.
If your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911. Beyond that, families in Pennsylvania and New Jersey can take several steps:
You can learn more about elder mistreatment and prevention through the National Center on Elder Abuse, a federally supported resource.
You are not required to have a lawyer, but these cases are often complex. A nursing home abuse lawyer can gather records, work with medical experts, identify every responsible party, and handle the facility’s insurers so your family can focus on your loved one.
In most cases, Pennsylvania applies a two-year deadline from the date of injury, though exceptions can apply. Because the deadline can be affected by when the harm was discovered, it is best to speak with a lawyer promptly so you do not lose the chance to file.
Yes, in many cases a family may be able to pursue a claim after a resident’s death. Pennsylvania and New Jersey both allow certain family members or the estate to bring wrongful death and survival claims when negligence may have contributed to the death.
Your initial consultation with Ethen Ostroff Law is free and confidential. We will listen to what happened and explain your options before you make any decisions.
You do not need proof to ask questions. If something feels wrong, document what you observe and reach out. A lawyer can help investigate whether the facts support a claim.
When a loved one is harmed in a place that was supposed to keep them safe, the sense of betrayal is real. You deserve answers, and you deserve to be treated with care while you look for them. Ethen Ostroff Law serves families across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and we are here to listen.
Call us today at 610-510-8883 for a free, confidential consultation. Justice For All is more than a slogan to us. It is our promise to every family we serve.
His career began in public service as a Surveillance Officer in Maricopa County, where he gained firsthand experience in high-stakes decision-making and developed a deep sense of discipline and accountability. He later served as Chief Operating Officer of a fast-growing law firm, driving efficiency, revenue growth, and team development. Today, Ryan focuses on helping law firms reach their full potential by aligning people, processes, and long-term vision. A strategic thinker and empowering leader, Ryan is passionate about developing others and guiding organizations through meaningful, lasting growth.
Passionate about securing legal rights, Joseph actively participates in pro bono work through various organizations, including Christian Legal Aid of Pittsburgh and the ABA Military Pro Bono Project. Licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, he is a member of the Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations. Outside of work, Joseph enjoys sports, reading, and creative writing, and has been involved in rowing and curling. He resides in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, with his parents.
Nicholas began his post-graduate career clerking for the Honorable Linda Rovder Fleming in the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas. From there, he quickly found his calling in workers’ compensation, personal injury, and Social Security disability law—areas where he could directly impact people’s lives in moments of crisis. He’s helped clients navigate complex legal claims, including securing a settlement exceeding $300,000.
Nicholas brings clear communication, genuine empathy, and an unrelenting drive to achieve the best outcomes for his clients. Whether he’s navigating a complex workers’ comp claim or pushing for a major settlement, he brings focus, dedication, and deep legal knowledge to every case.
He’s also a proud member of Pennsylvania Advocates for Justice and remains active in various professional legal organizations. Nicholas is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania.
When he’s not fighting for the injured, Nicholas is enjoying time with his family, kicking a soccer ball around, hitting the golf course, or cheering on Pittsburgh’s local teams.
Joe Ring heads the workers’ compensation department at Ethen Ostroff Law, where he takes pride in fighting for injured workers.
Joe is a Philadelphia native and maintains deep roots in the area. As the grandson of a Philadelphia Firefighter, son of a Philadelphia public school teacher, and veteran of the United State Marine Corps, he was taught to value service, dedication, and hard work. He applies these values to every case and takes great satisfaction in representing hard-working clients with those same traits.
After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in history from St. Vincent College in Western Pennsylvania, he graduated from Villanova Law School in 2012 and, since then, has litigated hundreds of workers’ compensation hearings and trial depositions on behalf of both employers and injured workers. During this time, Mr. Ring has written articles and presented Continuing Legal Education courses on developments in Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Law. He is active in local professional organizations, and, in 2022, he served a Co-chairperson of the Philadelphia Bar Associations Workers’ Compensation Section.
Since coming to EOL in 2024, he has dedicated his practice entirely to helping injured workers navigate the system and obtain their rightful benefits.
Joe is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania.
Brandon Zanan heads the personal injury claim department with Ethen Ostroff Law.
Brandon’s education in both law and medicine assist him in expertly representing badly injured victims. Brandon has a Master’s Degree in Forensic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, with a concentration in anatomy and pathology. With this knowledge, Brandon is skilled at analyzing medical records and understanding injuries that are common in personal injury claims. He uses this expertise in conjunction with listening carefully to each client’s needs, in order to fiercely advocate for clients and tell their stories when they would not otherwise have a voice.
Brandon’s background includes a variety of experience and skills in various areas of civil practice. He is the author and editor of numerous books for the George T. Bisel Publishing Company, including “Pennsylvania Damages” and the “Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Annotated,” two texts that are frequently relied on by lawyers and judges across Pennsylvania as authoritative resources on personal injury law.
Brandon is a member of the Pennsylvania and Montgomery Bar Associations. He is also a member of Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and has served as an executive board member of the Montgomery American Inn of Court.
He is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Middle District of Pennsylvania, the State of New Jersey, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Brandon has represented many clients in motor vehicle, premises liability, animal bite, and products liability cases across Pennsylvania and New Jersey and has obtained outstanding results with millions of dollars recovered for his clients.
He has been named a Pennsylvania Rising Star from 2021 onward. The “Super Lawyers-Rising Star®”, list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state
Brandon currently lives in Malvern with his wife Rachel and their son Max.
Effective Date: July 10, 2024
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