Elder Abuse and Neglect

The attorneys at Williamson & Lavecchia, L.C. represent victims of elder abuse and neglect at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. We invite you to visit the Williamson and Lavecchia Online Guide to Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect, addressing the top concerns of those seeking care for an aging loved one, including types of care centers available to you and the types of abuse our elders suffer while in the care of the worst nursing homes. For families who are in the process of seeking a living facility for a loved one, we also provide information that addresses the warning signs and symptoms of poorly maintained and inadequate elder care and nursing homes.

The legal team, led by Carolyn Lavecchia, an experienced nurse and attorney, brings a wide range of case and trial experience in nursing home abuse and medical malpractice law to the aid of Virginia's elderly. Attorney Josh Silverman and our staff of paralegals and legal assistants are committed to making the respectful treatment and care of elders a right and guarantee in Virginia.

Our legal team will listen to you. We want to learn as much as possible about your loved one and what happened to him or her. We will need to know about his or her health, work history, and family. We will listen to you to learn what happened at the adult home or nursing home. Equally important, we will take the time to answer your questions. You may want to learn more about our background and experiences.

While we can not guarantee specific results, we can discuss your legal options and our opinions on how your case will be resolved. If we believe that we can be of assistance to you and you choose to hire us, we will each sign a retainer agreement.

Once a retainer agreement is signed we can begin working for you. We will request copies of all the relevant medical records and the records of the adult home. In most cases we will obtain via the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) all recent reports of abuse and neglect at the adult home or nursing home. We will also search court records to see if there have been similar cases against the adult home.

If appropriate, we will interview former employees of the adult home or nursing home to get a better picture of the facility. We have found that former employees often paint a vastly different picture of the adult home or nursing home than what is reported to the government investigators.

After conducting an initial investigation, we will share with you our recommendations. In many cases we recommend filing a lawsuit. Only upon filing a lawsuit will we have an opportunity to obtain and review internal documents and to question the staff and owners of the adult home or nursing home. We also believe the best settlements are obtained after filing a lawsuit. Usually the trial is scheduled 10-12 months to a year after filing the lawsuit.

Click here to visit the Williamson and Lavecchia Online Guide to Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect .

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Web Resources for Elder Abuse and Neglect:

• Williamson & Lavecchia, L.C. Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Website

  Description: Williamson & Lavecchia, L.C.'s Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect website provides information about legal remedies against nursing homes and assisted living facilites that abuse and neglect the elderly. On this website you can learn more about our attorneys' experience in representing victims of elder abuse and neglect as well as the laws governing nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

• Virginia Assisted Living Facility Inspection Reports

  Description: The Virginia Department of Social Services inspects and licenses assisted living facilities. At this website you can learn how individual assisted living facilities performed at their recent inspections and whether the facility has been recently sanctioned.

• Regulations Restricting the Use of Restraints in Nursing Homes

  Description: The Virginia Department of Health bans the use of physical and chemical restraints of nursing home patients except in limited circumstances. This link provides an overview of patient rights to be free from restraints.

• Virginia Department of Health - Nursing Home Complaint Form

  Description: If you believe a loved one has been mistreated in a nursing home you can file a complaint with the Virginia Department of Health.

• Rules and Regulations for Virginia Nursing Homes

  Description: This link takes you to a list of the rules and regulations nursing homes are required to follow in Virginia.

• Types of Abuse in Nursing Homes

  Description: Williamson & Lavecchia, L.C. has created a website devoted to the rights of nursing home patients and assisted living facility residents. This link provides valuable information about the signs and symptoms of the most commonly types of abuse committed against the elderly.