Cincinnati Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

When you place a loved one in a nursing home, you expect them to be treated with care, respect, and compassion. Unfortunately, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities of trust sometimes violate that trust.

If your family member has suffered abuse or neglect in a long-term care facility, a compassionate Cincinnati nursing home abuse lawyer at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy can help protect their rights and fight for the justice you and your loved one deserve.

We’ve spent decades advocating for victims of abuse and neglect in elder care environments across Ohio. Our legal team brings deep knowledge of Ohio elder law, a strong record of recoveries, and a relentless commitment to those who can’t always fight for themselves.

If something feels wrong, you don’t need to wait for definitive proof. We’re here to help investigate, pursue accountability, and ensure your loved one’s voice is heard.

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Cincinnati Nursing Home Abuse Guide:

Red flags that may indicate abuse or neglect
Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse Cases
Who Can Be Held Liable for Nursing Home Abuse?
How O’Connor, Acciani & Levy Helps Families Like Yours
Federal and State Rights for Nursing Home Residents in Ohio
How Long Do I Have to File a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Ohio?
What If My Loved One Is Partly to Blame?
Contact a Cincinnati Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today

What Counts as Nursing Home Abuse?

According to the Ohio Department of Aging, adult protective services received 36,000 reports of potential elder abuse in one recent year. Studies have shown that 10% of seniors in the U.S. are victims of elder abuse.

Nursing home abuse takes many forms—some visible, others harder to detect. It can include physical violence, emotional manipulation, sexual assault, financial exploitation, or outright neglect. Abuse can occur over time or in a single devastating incident. It often results from understaffing, poor training, or outright indifference on the part of those responsible for care.

If your loved one is living in a facility and something seems off, trust your instincts. Common warning signs often appear long before a resident can communicate what’s happened.

Red flags that may indicate abuse or neglect

While every case is unique, here are some common signs families should look out for:

Unexplained injuries, bruises, or fractures
Frequent infections or recurring bedsores
Sudden weight loss, malnutrition, or dehydration
Poor hygiene or soiled bedding
Sudden changes in mood or withdrawn behavior
Fearfulness around certain staff members
Medication errors or overmedication
Lack of staff cooperation or defensiveness when asked questions

Residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia may be especially vulnerable. They may struggle to articulate abuse or may be disbelieved when they try to speak up. That’s why staying observant, involved, and informed is so important.

If you notice signs like these, or if your loved one expresses fear or discomfort about their caregivers, call O’Connor, Acciani & Levy to speak with an experienced Cincinnati nursing home abuse lawyer.

Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse Cases

Nursing home abuse cases can stem from a range of negligent or intentional conduct. At O’Connor, Acciani & Levy, we’ve helped families across the Cincinnati area pursue justice in cases involving:

Physical abuse

Acts of violence, such as hitting, pushing, shaking, or improper use of restraints, are just a few examples of nursing home abuse that take place on a shockingly large scale. If you notice unexplained bruises, welts, broken bones, or repeated falls, it’s critical to act quickly.

Emotional or psychological abuse

Verbal threats, isolation, humiliation, or other manipulative behavior can cause deep psychological harm. Victims may appear agitated, withdrawn, or afraid of speaking in front of certain staff.

Sexual abuse

This horrifying form of abuse can include non-consensual touching, forced nudity, or exposure to sexual content. Victims are often especially vulnerable due to age or cognitive conditions.

Neglect

Neglect occurs when basic needs are ignored, like hygiene, nutrition, hydration, or medical care. It's one of the most common forms of mistreatment in long-term care environments.

Financial exploitation

This can include forging checks, unauthorized use of funds, stealing possessions, or manipulating residents into changing wills or financial documents.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Nursing Home Abuse?

Abuse or neglect in nursing homes is not always limited to one person. Multiple parties can be held accountable depending on how and where the abuse occurred. These may include:

Caregivers and nurses
Facility managers and owners
Third-party contractors
Doctors and medical staff
Other residents or visiting individuals

Our attorneys conduct thorough investigations to identify every liable party. This may involve reviewing medical records, staffing logs, surveillance footage, and incident reports. In cases involving corporate-owned facilities, we also look into past complaints, regulatory violations, and systemic problems that may have led to the abuse.

The goal is simple: uncover what happened, determine who is responsible, and hold them accountable under Ohio law.

How O’Connor, Acciani & Levy Helps Families Like Yours

For more than 25 years, our firm has been a powerful advocate for elder abuse victims and their families. Here’s what you can expect when you work with a Cincinnati nursing home abuse lawyer from O’Connor, Acciani & Levy:

A caring team that puts your family first

We understand how devastating it is to learn your loved one has been mistreated. Our legal team listens closely, answers your questions clearly, and handles every part of your claim with care. We treat you as a member of our own family, never as a case number.

Full-scale investigations

Our attorneys work with medical experts, long-term care professionals, and investigators to get to the truth. We gather strong evidence to support your claim, from witness accounts to facility safety records.

Maximum compensation

We pursue full and fair compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, relocation costs, and—when appropriate—punitive damages. In wrongful death cases, we help families recover damages for funeral expenses and the loss of companionship.

No fees unless we win

We take cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. This arrangement allows anyone to access the top-tier legal representation they need, no matter their financial situation.

Federal and State Rights for Nursing Home Residents in Ohio

The U.S. government and the State of Ohio have specific laws that govern nursing home care and liability. For example, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services publishes the Residents' Rights & Quality of Care guidelines for patients of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. These guidelines set the basic standards of care that all nursing home facilities must adhere to, regardless of the state they are in.

Ohio also has its own rules governing the rights of nursing home residents and the standards of care they receive. These rules provide certain legal protections for residents and impose obligations on care facilities, including required staffing ratios and incident reporting. Violations of these duties can be powerful evidence in abuse or neglect cases.

Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit, a wrongful death claim, or report the facility to state regulators for administrative penalties.

How Long Do I Have to File a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Ohio?

In Ohio, most personal injury claims—including nursing home abuse cases—must be filed within two years of the date the injury occurred or was discovered. This deadline is called the statute of limitations (Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10), and missing it could mean losing your right to recover any compensation.

However, abuse and neglect in long-term care settings are often hidden or go unrecognized until well after the fact. That’s why it’s critical to speak with a Cincinnati nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as you suspect something may be wrong. The earlier we’re involved, the better your chances of building a strong case.

What If My Loved One Is Partly to Blame?

It’s not uncommon for nursing homes or their insurers to argue that a resident “caused” their own injury—for example, by getting out of bed without assistance or refusing medication. But these arguments rarely hold up under scrutiny when there’s a clear pattern of neglect or inadequate supervision.

In cases where a nursing home resident is found to be partially at fault for their injuries, Ohio’s comparative negligence rule would take effect. This rule means a victim’s compensation can be reduced by their percentage of fault, but only if they’re found to be less than 50%.

If your loved one is unfairly blamed, our attorneys know how to push back with strong evidence and expert testimony.

What Compensation Can Be Recovered?

Every case is different, and the value of your claim depends on the details. That said, a successful nursing home abuse claim in Ohio may recover damages for:

Medical bills and future care expenses
Pain and suffering
Emotional trauma
Disability or disfigurement
Costs related to relocating to a safer facility
Loss of enjoyment of life
In wrongful death cases: funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and emotional grief

In some cases, we may also pursue punitive damages—financial penalties meant to punish especially reckless or malicious behavior by the facility or its staff.

We work with medical and financial experts to ensure every cost is accounted for and to calculate a compensation amount that reflects the full scope of harm suffered.

What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

If you believe your loved one may be suffering from abuse or neglect in a Cincinnati-area facility, here are some immediate steps you can take:

Document everything – Take photos of injuries, unsanitary conditions, or medication bottles. Keep a log of what you see or hear.
Speak with your loved one – Ask open-ended questions in a private setting, if possible. Take their concerns seriously, even if they seem confused.
Report your concerns – You can file a complaint with the Ohio Department of Health or the Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
Seek medical care – If the injury is serious, get your loved one treated immediately and ask for a detailed report from the doctor.
Contact a nursing home abuse attorney – The sooner you reach out, the faster we can begin building a case and securing evidence.

FAQs About Cincinnati Nursing Home Abuse Claims

What if the nursing home refuses to provide records?

Nursing homes are required by law to give medical and care records to residents or their legal representatives upon request. If they delay or refuse, our legal team can intervene and obtain the documents through formal legal channels.

Can I file a claim if the abuse happened months ago?

Possibly. Ohio’s two-year statute of limitations starts when the abuse was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. If you're unsure, we can help you determine whether your claim is still viable.

Can I sue a facility even if the staff member was fired?

Yes. Nursing homes are legally responsible for the actions of their employees. Even if the abusive staff member has been let go, the facility may still be liable for hiring, training, or supervisory failures.

Why Choose O’Connor, Acciani & Levy?

For more than 25 years, O’Connor, Acciani & Levy has stood with Cincinnati families against negligent nursing homes and long-term care facilities. We understand how painful it is to see a loved one harmed in a place that was supposed to protect them, and we work tirelessly to hold those responsible accountable.

With more than 200 years of combined experience, our team of experienced Cincinnati nursing home attorneys is prepared to handle even the most difficult nursing home abuse cases. We’ve secured millions of dollars for injury victims and their families, including in cases involving elder neglect, wrongful death, and abuse of disabled residents.

When you hire us, we handle everything, from gathering records and interviewing witnesses to negotiating with insurance companies and, if necessary, going to trial. You can focus on helping your loved one recover. We’ll handle the rest.

We serve clients throughout the greater Cincinnati area, including Hamilton County, Clermont County, and Butler County. If you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you. We also offer phone and virtual consultations for families dealing with mobility challenges or serious injuries.

Contact a Cincinnati Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today

If someone you love has been harmed in a nursing home, you deserve answers—and they deserve justice. At O’Connor, Acciani & Levy, our Cincinnati personal injury attorneys are here to guide you every step of the way with compassion, clarity, and a powerful commitment to doing what’s right.

You do not have to fight this alone. Let us help lift the legal burdens from you and build a strong case that gives you a good chance of recovering the compensation you and your family deserve.

Call our Cincinnati office at (513) 224-5461 or use our secure online form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. There is absolutely no cost to speak with us, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for your family.

Your loved one’s safety, dignity, and well-being matter. There’s no excuse for nursing home staff to abuse or neglect your loved one. Let’s hold the responsible parties accountable and pursue full and fair compensation for all your damages.