Seasoned New Jersey Elder Abuse Attorneys

Protecting senior citizens in our communities for more than 60 years

Nursing homes are intended to provide quality medical care and assistance with daily living (ADL) to seniors who are not able to adequately care for themselves. Sadly, instead of the compassion and respect they deserve, vulnerable adults are often subjected to elder abuse, neglect and exploitation at these long-term-care facilities.

Established in 1950, Gelman Gelman Wiskow & McCarthy LLC defends the rights of seniors to live healthy, safe and happy lives. Upon contacting our law firm, we first take decisive steps to get your loved one to a safe place. Next, our lawyers assist you in reporting the matter to the authorities. We then hold the wrongdoers responsible for their negligent or intentional conduct in personal injury or medical malpractice lawsuits. By taking action, you not only protect your loved one, but you can also stop the abuse of other residents of the nursing home.

New Jersey Adult Protective Services

Each of the 21 New Jersey counties runs an Adult Protection Services (APS) program that helps victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation and their families. The APS program is tasked with investigating allegations of abuse and assessing whether the vulnerable adult is at risk. An APS social worker conducts a face-to-face meeting with the vulnerable adult within 72 hours after abuse is reported and may engage in additional interviews with other agencies and people with knowledge of the situation.

If you suspect that your loved one has been abused, you can contact your local APS program Public Awareness, Information, Assistance and Outreach Unit by calling its toll-free number, 1.800.792.8820. Your call and all information generated by the APS investigation are confidential. Our AV® Rated personal injury attorneys can guide you through the process of reporting abuse, ensuring your family member is safe from further abuse and helping your loved one recover compensation from the nursing home and personnel responsible for the harmful conditions.

NJ elder abuse and neglect statutes

A comprehensive body of laws protects seniors from elder abuse, neglect and exploitation in New Jersey. Important state statutes include:

• Adult Protective Services Act — N.J.S.A. §§ 52:27D-406-426 codifies laws that protect vulnerable adults who reside in community settings and who — because of physical injury, mental illness, disability or deficiency — lack understanding and capacity to make, communicate or act on decisions and who are the subject of abuse, neglect or exploitation

• Suspicion of Abuse or Exploitation of Resident of Residential Health Care Facility — N.J.S. A. § 30:1A-3 governs the reporting of abuse, whistleblowers’ immunity from liability, evaluations of alleged abuse and referral of claims for criminal prosecution

• Abandonment, Neglect of Elderly Person, Disabled Adult — N.J.S.A. § 2C:24-8 criminalizes the neglect or abandonment of an elderly or disabled person to whom the caretaker owes a duty of care

• New Jersey Nursing Home Residents’ Bill of Rights — N.J.S.A 30:13-5 contains a list of rights enjoyed by all residents of assisted living facilities — including rights to self-determination, access to medical care, financial independence, personal possessions, privacy and voice complaints

Consult our New Jersey nursing home abuse lawyers about protecting your loved one

With offices in Elmwood Park, Dover, Mendham and Newton, you’re guaranteed to find the trustworthy legal care you seek. For more information about stopping nursing home abuse, call Gelman Gelman Wiskow & McCarthy LLC at 973.366.3900 or contact us online to schedule your one-hour free initial consultation.