A state citation confirms a problem existed, but it doesn't provide compensation to your family. A civil lawsuit is a separate process, and a citation can actually serve as useful supporting evidence when pursuing it — Stebner, Gertler, & Guadagni represents San...
A facility can be held liable if it knew or should have known about a dangerous resident's behavior and failed to take reasonable steps to protect others, such as increasing supervision or separating residents. This is a common issue in facilities with residents who...
Families may pursue compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, the cost of moving a resident to a safer facility, and wrongful death damages when neglect contributes to a resident's death. In cases involving reckless or intentional misconduct, California's...
Staffing schedules and payroll records can show whether a facility had enough nurses and aides on duty to meet residents' needs at the time an injury occurred. When staffing falls below what a resident's condition required, it becomes easier to connect the facility's...
Yes. The San Francisco Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, reachable at (415) 751-9788 or the after-hours crisis line at (800) 231-4024, investigates complaints about quality of care and resident rights in skilled nursing facilities. Their investigation can support a...
If your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, report the concern to San Francisco Adult Protective Services at (415) 355-6700 or the 24-hour hotline at (800) 814-0009, and document what you're observing with photos and dates before speaking with an...
Yes, if the infection resulted from poor sanitation, inconsistent infection-control procedures, or a delayed response to early warning signs. Infections like sepsis, pneumonia, and untreated wound infections can escalate quickly in residents with weakened immune...
Bedsores, especially advanced ones, typically develop when a resident is left in the same position for too long without repositioning, proper hygiene, or wound care — all of which nursing homes are required to provide. A pressure ulcer that progresses to a serious...
Neglect involves a facility's failure to provide necessary medical care, supervision, or basic needs, while abuse involves intentional harm, such as physical assault or excessive use of restraints. Both are legally actionable in California, and many San Francisco...
