Charlotte Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Charlotte, NC

When a loved one begins to age and shows signs of needing professional care, families need to be able to rely on nursing homes to provide safety for them. However, many facilities in North Carolina fail to meet the bare minimum standards of care. If you suspect that your loved one is being abused or neglected, contacting a skilled Charlotte nursing home abuse lawyer is a critical next step to exploring what legal options are available.

Experienced Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in Charlotte

Pleasant Law, PLLC is a civil litigation firm focused on nursing home abuse and catastrophic injury cases in North Carolina and Georgia. Our firm has secured over $30 million for our clients and their families, and we offer complimentary consultations.

Pleasant Law, PLLC, represents families in cases involving a variety of neglect and abuse cases. As a longtime North Carolina resident, Mr. Pleasant has dedicated the last 15 years to protecting the rights of North Carolina elders. With approximately 44,000 people aged 60 and older relocating to the state in 2022, it’s vital to closely protect their legal rights from negligence.

The Cruel Reality of Elder Abuse

Throughout the country, it’s estimated that for every single report of elder abuse, there are 24 incidents that go unreported. This is often because the victim of the incident may not realize what’s going on, may be manipulated by staff, intimidated, scared, or afraid to be a burden to their family.

Unfortunately, nursing home abuse statistics reveal how widespread these issues really are. For the incidents that are reported, it’s horrifyingly common for them to go unresolved. In North Carolina, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is responsible for conducting regular inspections of nursing homes to identify potential instances of abuse or negligence.

Inspections

However, as of 2023, the DHHS had a turnover rate of 17.8%, indicating that inspections are often rushed through or not conducted at all. And, when deficiencies were detected during inspections, 37% of them were never verified by DHHS to be fixed. Issues revealed by state inspections in nursing homes show that many problems persist for years.

This means that nursing homes, most of which are private and for-profit, can operate under illegal and immoral conditions. Often, family members are the primary advocates for their elderly loved ones.

Resources Available

Luckily, there are websites available that allow families to research nursing homes before moving their loved one into the facility. In Charlotte, there are quite a few facilities that should be avoided, such as:

• Pelican Health at Charlotte, located at 2616 East Fifth Street, has a long history of endangering residents through poor care. In 2022, the facility failed to meet the national staffing standard on 77% of days. Because 95% of this facility’s residents need assistance with basic daily tasks, low staffing leads to neglect and physical injury.
• The Citadel at Myers Park, located at 300 Providence Road, has been repeatedly cited by state inspectors for serious care failures. In July 2024, this facility was found to have placed residents in immediate danger, a designation used for the most severe violations. In total, The Citadel has received 11 immediate jeopardy and 15 actual harm deficiencies since 2015.
• Wilora Lake Healthcare Center, located at 6001 Wilora Lake Road, has been cited during 10 separate inspections for causing actual harm to residents between 2011 and 2021. With nearly 90% of residents being wheelchair-bound or bed-bound and more than one-third living with dementia, the unsafe living conditions and inadequate staffing at this facility are unacceptable. The lack of staffing is a common root cause of many neglect and abuse cases in North Carolina nursing homes.

For families suspecting any amount of abuse or neglect, it’s vital to hire a nursing home abuse lawyer to help protect your loved one as soon as possible.

How to Detect Elder Abuse or Neglect

Charlotte nursing homes must comply with Chapter 131E of the North Carolina General Statutes, which outlines the legal rights of facility residents. These rights include the right to safety, appropriate medical care, and freedom from abuse or neglect.

When those rights are violated, families can pursue a civil claim under North Carolina law. It’s essential that families visit their loved ones regularly and watch for warning signs. Signs to watch for include:

• Unexplained bruising
• Repeated or unexplained infections
• Weight loss or signs of dehydration
• Fear or withdrawal
• Dirty bedding or clothing
• Medication irregularities

Because of how common abuse or neglect is in these homes, it’s good to be cautious. Consider regularly requesting the medical records of your loved one, even if you don’t suspect current neglect. These records could reveal patterns of abuse or negligence that may not be apparent until it’s too late. If any of these symptoms appear, document your observations. Write down dates, times, and names of staff involved. Take photos when possible.

The Time to Submit a Claim

Families usually have three years to submit their claim to North Carolina courts, outlined in the General Statutes § 1-52. This period generally begins on the date the injury occurred or when it was discovered.

For example, if a victim feels ashamed of the neglect and keeps it hidden, it could take a long time for their injuries to be apparent. In cases such as this, the three-year deadline begins when the injury is reasonably discovered.

Why Choose Us?

We want to protect our most vulnerable community from the common cases of mistreatment they face. Our results speak for themselves. Pleasant Law, PLLC has obtained settlements such as:

• $600,000 for a wrongful death caused by bedsores in a skilled nursing facility
• $510,000 for neglect resulting in pressure ulcers, malnutrition, and dehydration
• $350,000 for injuries caused by negligent nursing care and failure to provide adequate supervision

One of our clients, Suzanne, the daughter of a nursing home resident who suffered broken bones, said:

“Thomas Pleasant is an exceptional lawyer who actually cares about his clients. My case was a negligence case against a nursing home. He was able to piece all the evidence together to make the case rock solid. I would definitely recommend Thomas Pleasant to anyone in need of his services, including my close friends and family.”

Get the Help Your Family Deserves

Our firm treats every case with the care it deserves and is not afraid to represent its Charlotte clients during trial at the Mecklenburg County Superior Court, located at 832 East Fourth Street.

We’re proud to offer consultations to North Carolina residents and their families. Contact us today to explore what legal options are available in your case.

Charlotte, NC Nursing Home Abuse Resources

• Exposing the Worst Nursing Homes in North Carolina
• How to Document Nursing Home Abuse in North Carolina?