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As people age, many lose the ability to defend themselves, often because of common mental deterioration. Elder abuse is extremely common, especially in nursing homes, with the rates of abuse are higher for older individuals living in nursing homes or other care facilities.
What are the most common types of elder abuse? Abuse comes in many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, negligent care, and financial exploitation.
Advances in public health policy, medical care, and diet have contributed to an incredible increase in the life expectancy of Americans. An American child born in 2010 is expected to live to 79, 20 more years than was expected in 1930! But with this increase in lifespan comes an increase in the need for specialized care.
Many of us turn to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes to provide for our elderly loved ones. Widespread social beliefs now overwhelmingly approve of nursing home care, over in-home care, as a viable option for our loved ones. It seems perfectly natural to send our family members to these institutions. And while most nursing facilities devote the proper time and attention to our loved ones’ needs, it’s all too common to observe signs of nursing home abuse and neglect.
What to do about nursing home abuse is less clear. How can I be sure that abuse or neglect is occurring in my loved one’s nursing home? What are the legal ramifications of making an accusation of elder abuse or neglect against a caregiver? These are some of the many questions that a Philadelphia nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer can help you answer.
The National Center On Elder Abuse defines “elder mistreatment (i.e. abuse and neglect)” as “intentional actions that cause harm or create a serious risk of harm (whether or not harm is intended) to a vulnerable elder by a caregiver or other person who stands in a trust relationship to the elder.” As unimaginable as this description is, upwards of 10% of elderly Americans will suffer abuse and/or neglect at least once after reaching old age.
As our loved ones age, they become more vulnerable to abuse and neglect in assisted living facilities, group homes, and nursing homes. Many factors contribute to the prevalence of abuse and neglect in nursing homes. For a more comprehensive look, visit our FAQ section. As people age, many lose the ability to defend themselves, often as a result of common mental deterioration. This increased vulnerability has often been cited as a determining factor in the high rates of elder abuse. For example, in a 2010 study, researchers at UC Irvine found that 47% of elderly sufferers of dementia had been abused by caregivers.
Nursing home abuse comes in many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, negligent care, and financial exploitation. For more information, see our FAQ on types of elder abuse.
Emotions are high around cases of elder abuse and neglect. It takes an amazing amount of trust to give the task of caring for our loved ones over to someone else, a non-family member, and most of the time a stranger. When this trust is violated, it can be shattering.
At PA Nursing Home Lawyers, our sole mission is to offer legal representation to families whose loved ones have been harmed by abuse or neglect. If you suspect that you or a loved one were the victim of abuse or neglect in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home, contacting an experienced Pennsylvania elder abuse lawyer is the first step in your search for justice. For a free case evaluation, please call 215-850-8060 or complete our online contact form. Your loved ones deserve dignity.
If you’ve seen our “Nursing Home Lemons” billboard, it’s meant to stop you in your tracks—because the message is simple:
Some nursing homes look fine from the outside, but behind the scenes, they operate like lemons: repeated problems, unsafe conditions, and patterns of neglect that families only discover after their loved one is already inside.
That’s why we use the term nursing home lemons—to describe facilities that may appear acceptable on paper, but consistently fail to provide safe, dignified care in real life.
The idea behind “nursing home lemons” is easy to understand:
You shouldn’t have to “test drive” a facility by risking your loved one’s health.
Families often choose a nursing home believing it will provide:
Proper hygiene and supervision
Medication management
Fall prevention and mobility support
Nutrition and hydration monitoring
Protection from abuse and neglect
But a “nursing home lemon” is a facility where the same issues happen again and again—often ignored, minimized, or covered up until a serious injury or decline occurs.
A nursing home lemon isn’t always obvious on day one. Many families only realize something is wrong after they notice:
Unexplained bruises, fractures, or repeated falls
Bedsores (pressure ulcers)
Sudden weight loss or dehydration
Poor hygiene, dirty bedding, or untreated infections
Overmedication, missed doses, or medication errors
Isolation, fearfulness, or emotional withdrawal
Staff ignoring call buttons or basic needs
When these issues repeat—or are treated as “normal”—it can be a sign the facility isn’t just struggling… it may be a lemon nursing home.
A lot of people search “nursing home lemons” after seeing the billboard, even if they initially read it as “nursing home limits.”
Either way, the search usually comes from the same place:
You’re wondering if nursing homes have “limits” on care…
Or if the nursing home your loved one is in has become a “lemon.”
This page is here to answer both concerns—and to help families understand what to do next if something feels off.
We created the Nursing Home Lemons billboard to raise awareness for families who may be seeing warning signs but aren’t sure what they mean.
Because when a nursing home is failing your loved one, time matters.
The sooner problems are identified and addressed, the better the chances of preventing:
A serious injury
A rapid decline
A life-threatening infection
Long-term complications
Wrongful death
If you’re searching “nursing home lemons,” it may be because you’re already noticing red flags—and you’re trying to figure out whether what’s happening is “normal” or unacceptable.
Most families don’t start with legal questions.
They start with a gut feeling:
“Something isn’t right.”
“They’re not telling me the whole story.”
“My loved one is getting worse fast.”
“This facility feels unsafe.”
If that’s why you searched nursing home lemons, you’re not alone—and you’re not overreacting.
It’s a phrase we use to explain a real problem: nursing homes that repeatedly fail residents through neglect, unsafe staffing, or poor care systems—often in ways families can’t see until it’s too late.
Yes. A facility can appear clean and professional during a tour, while serious care failures happen behind closed doors—especially during nights, weekends, or understaffed shifts.
Document what you’re seeing, ask direct questions, and take concerns seriously. If you believe your loved one is in danger, act quickly.
If you found this page by searching “nursing home lemons”, there’s a reason it caught your attention.
Whether your loved one has suffered an injury, is showing signs of neglect, or you suspect abuse, we can help you understand what may have happened—and what steps make sense next.
You shouldn’t have to accept dangerous care as “just how nursing homes are.”
Haberman Law is dedicated to representing the rights of victims of nursing home abuse and neglect.
Many of us turn to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes to provide care for our elderly loved ones.
If you suspect that a loved one was the victim of abuse or neglect in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home, contact us.
Call us for a free consultation:
215-850-8060
© PA Nursing Home Lawyers and Nursing Home Lemons By Len Haberman, Esq. All Rights Reserved