When you placed your loved one in a nursing home, you trusted that facility to provide safe, attentive care. If something has gone wrong, you should not have to face Indiana’s legal system alone.
Langer & Langer has represented Indiana families in nursing home neglect and medical malpractice cases since 1980. Attorney Steven L. Langer, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a longtime Indiana Super Lawyers honoree, leads a team that has recovered millions for Hoosier families across the state. Call (219) 464-3246 or schedule your free consultation today.
- Maximizing Injury Awards Since 1980
- Super Lawyers: 2008-2026 | Top 50 Indiana
- Best Lawyers in America: Since 2012
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers (2019-Present)
- Consumer Advocate of the Year Award, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association
- Two-Time Trial Lawyer of the Year Award, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association
Why Choose Langer & Langer as Your Indiana Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer?
When your loved one’s safety is at stake, you need Indiana lawyers who have actually tried these cases, not a national firm routing your call to an out-of-state intake team.
Langer & Langer has fought for injured Hoosiers since 1980. We built our practice on medical malpractice and personal injury litigation, the exact expertise that nursing home neglect demands. Our attorneys understand Indiana’s Medical Review Panel process, the state’s health facility regulations, and how to build a case against both the individual facility and the corporate chain behind it.
Our courtroom background directly impacts how insurance companies evaluate your claim. Because our firm has spent decades actively litigating medical malpractice and institutional negligence cases in Indiana courts, corporate defense networks know we do not accept lowball settlement offers simply to avoid a trial. We build every case with the expectation of presenting it to an Indiana jury.
We handle nursing home neglect cases on a contingency fee basis. There is no charge to speak with us, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Signs Your Loved One Is Being Neglected in an Indiana Nursing Home
Under Indiana law, nursing home neglect occurs when a facility fails to provide a resident with the care, supervision, and services necessary to maintain their physical and mental health. Indiana Code IC 12-10-3, the Endangered Adult Law, defines and protects any person 18 or older who cannot manage their own care because of a physical or mental condition.
Indiana law distinguishes neglect from abuse. Abuse is a deliberate, harmful act. Neglect is a failure to act, and it often stems from understaffing rather than malice. That distinction does not reduce the facility’s legal responsibility. Facilities that cut staffing to save money are responsible for every preventable harm that follows.
If you have noticed any of the following changes in your loved one, write down the dates and specifics immediately and photograph anything visible. What you observe is evidence.
Physical Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Bedsores, also called pressure ulcers, develop when a resident stays in one position too long without being repositioned. They are entirely preventable with proper staffing and monitoring. A Stage IV pressure ulcer that reaches bone and tendon can trigger a fatal bloodstream infection. Stage III ulcers damage deep tissue and require immediate intervention. Both are indicators of basic care failure. When you find one on your loved one, you are looking at a preventable injury, not an inevitable consequence of age.
Unexplained bruising, cuts, or fractures deserve a clear explanation from the facility. Sudden or unexplained weight loss points to malnutrition or dehydration, both of which accelerate the progression of underlying conditions in elderly residents. Poor personal hygiene, unchanged clothing, and an unclean room reflect what staff attention looks like when no family is present.
Falls are never simply accidents in a supervised care setting. They result from inadequate supervision, broken equipment, or unsafe flooring, and the facility carries responsibility for each. In older residents, a fall can cause a traumatic brain injury or hip fracture with serious long-term consequences. Our Indiana brain injury attorneys handle these cases when facility negligence caused the harm.
Medication errors occur at nursing homes with disturbing frequency: wrong dosages, expired prescriptions, missed medications, and drugs given to the wrong resident. Elderly patients cannot easily recover from these disruptions. Our Indiana medication error lawyers have handled exactly these claims throughout Indiana.
Behavioral and Emotional Warning Signs
Behavioral changes are often the clearest signal that something is wrong, particularly for residents with dementia or limited verbal communication.
Watch for withdrawal from activities or people your loved one previously enjoyed. Notice whether they become visibly anxious when a specific caregiver enters the room. Emotional abuse, which includes verbal threats, humiliation, deliberate isolation, and ignoring a resident’s requests, leaves no physical marks but causes real harm. If your loved one tells you something is wrong but stops when a caregiver comes nearby, take that seriously.
Fear of being left alone with staff, or visible relief the moment you arrive, is not ordinary anxiety. They are behavioral evidence that something in that facility requires immediate investigation.
Environmental and Medical Warning Signs
A neglected room tells its own story. Soiled bedding, a smell of waste, broken call buttons, and missing personal items are all indicators of inadequate care. Indiana nursing homes are inspected annually by the Indiana State Department of Health, Long-Term Care Division. The state has identified serious deficiencies in 119 of Indiana’s 500-plus nursing homes and has issued nearly $18 million in penalties across the system (Indiana State Department of Health Long-Term Care Division, public deficiency records). That record is public, and our attorneys use inspection reports as evidence from the outset of every case.
If your loved one’s documented medical condition has worsened without explanation, or if the facility has stopped following their individualized care plan, those failures are legally actionable. Our Indiana hospital malpractice attorneys evaluate whether institutional negligence drove the decline. You can read more about how nurse shortages impact patient safety in long-term care facilities.
Types of Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse in Indiana
Indiana law recognizes four main categories of nursing home abuse and neglect: physical, emotional, financial, and sexual. Each category carries distinct legal implications for who bears liability.
Physical Neglect and Abuse
Physical neglect is the most common form. It includes failing to feed residents properly, leaving them in soiled conditions, not assisting with mobility, and allowing preventable injuries to go untreated. Physical abuse involves direct harmful contact: rough handling during transfers, improper restraints, or forced medication against a resident’s will.
Liability for physical neglect reaches beyond the individual caregiver. The nursing home’s corporate ownership sets the staffing ratios, training budgets, and protocols that determine how many residents each aide is responsible for. When a corporate chain operating multiple Indiana facilities systematically understaffs those facilities to cut costs, the corporate entity bears liability, not only the aide who was stretched too thin. Langer & Langer pursues accountability at the corporate level. Our personal injury team has spent decades identifying and naming every liable party in institutional negligence claims, from individual caregivers to the corporate chain behind them.
Emotional and Psychological Abuse
Emotional abuse in nursing homes includes verbal threats, humiliation, deliberate isolation, and ignoring a resident’s requests for basic care. It is harder to document than physical abuse and often goes unreported because residents fear retaliation from the staff they depend on every day.
When emotional abuse is identified, both the staff member who committed it and the supervisor who failed to prevent or report it can be named in a legal claim. Indiana’s Endangered Adult statute, IC 12-10-3, connects these protections directly to battery offenses under IC 35-42-2, giving families civil and criminal pathways simultaneously.
Financial Exploitation of Nursing Home Residents
Residents with cognitive decline are particularly vulnerable to financial exploitation. This includes theft of cash or valuables, unauthorized bank withdrawals, changes to wills or financial documents under pressure, and identity theft by staff or visitors. Exploitation can involve individual employees, facility administrators, or family members with access to the resident.
If you have noticed unexplained financial transactions or sudden changes to your loved one’s documents, write down every detail and contact Indiana Adult Protective Services at 1-800-992-6978. A financial exploitation claim can be filed alongside the personal injury case. Both can proceed at the same time.
Sexual Abuse of Nursing Home Residents
Sexual abuse occurs in nursing homes. Residents with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other cognitive impairments are particularly at risk because they may be unable to recognize or report what is happening. Signs include unexplained injuries in sensitive areas, new infections, or sudden behavioral changes following care routines.
This is the most serious category of nursing home abuse. It carries criminal exposure for the perpetrator and civil liability for the facility, which is responsible for hiring, training, supervising, and retaining the staff within its care environment. We handle these cases with complete sensitivity to your family’s privacy. Our Indiana catastrophic injury attorneys pursue full accountability at every level, including the corporate ownership structure.
Your Loved One Deserved Better Care. We Can Help.
What happened was preventable. If you believe a nursing home failed to protect someone you care about, call (219) 464-3246 or schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. There is no cost to speak with us.
| Steve and his staff have been so dedicated for over 5 years. They embraced my case and fought so hard at every obstacle. We were treated like valued clients who deserved to be heard. These cases can be long drawn out ordeals, full of many emotions. Steve made sure we knew he was with us all the way. When I grew weary he fought harder. If you need a malpractice attorney, please choose this firm. They will never let you down!”
Rebecca Bolin, Google Review (Medical Malpractice Client) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Steve Langer is an amazing attorney, but also person. He would always make sure I felt comfortable, I’ve never been through an experience like this. Everyone that works with him is also very professional and knowledgeable. I couldn’t have asked for a better team for my case. If you want someone that is going to make you feel heard and treat you like family, this is the right team for you. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication for me and my family!
Hope Daugherty, Google Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
What to Do After Discovering Nursing Home Neglect in Indiana
Act the same day you suspect neglect. Indiana law gives you two years to file a claim, but the window to preserve evidence and protect your loved one is measured in days, not years.
Start with your loved one’s safety. If they are in immediate danger, call 911. For ongoing neglect that is not an emergency, follow these steps.
- Document everything you observe. Write down dates, times, and specific observations. Photograph visible injuries, unsanitary conditions, and anything that concerns you. Text or email these notes to yourself to create a timestamped record.
- Request your loved one’s medical records from the facility. You are entitled to these under federal and state law. Make the request in writing and keep a copy of that request.
- Report the neglect to the Indiana State Department of Health. The ISDH Long-Term Care Division investigates complaints against nursing homes and documents findings in a public record. File a complaint at in.gov/health/ltc or call their complaint line at 800-246-8909.
- Contact the Indiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The Ombudsman advocates for nursing home residents and investigates alleged abuse. Reach the program at 800-622-4484 or through the Indiana Ombudsman complaint page.
- Contact Adult Protective Services at 1-800-992-6978. If your loved one qualifies as an endangered adult under Indiana Code IC 12-10-3, APS has legal authority to investigate and intervene.
- Do not sign anything from the nursing home or its insurer. Facilities sometimes approach families with settlement offers or requests for signed statements before legal representation is in place. Do not sign anything before speaking with an attorney.
- Call Langer & Langer at (219) 464-3246. Our attorneys begin preserving evidence from your very first consultation. Nursing home cases require inspection reports, staffing records, and corporate ownership documents that facilities do not volunteer. We know how to obtain them.
How to Report Nursing Home Abuse in Indiana
Reporting to the ISDH and the Ombudsman is separate from filing a lawsuit, but it directly supports your legal claim. ISDH investigation findings become part of the facility’s public deficiency record, which our attorneys use as evidence. You can also review any Indiana nursing home’s inspection history, staffing ratios, and penalty record at Medicare Care Compare.
What Compensation Can Nursing Home Neglect Victims Recover?
Nursing home neglect victims and their families can recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, relocation costs, and wrongful death damages. Langer & Langer handles all nursing home neglect cases on a contingency fee basis: no upfront cost, and no legal fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Medical expenses cover the cost of treating injuries the facility caused or allowed to worsen: hospital stays, surgery, wound care, rehabilitation, and any long-term care needs that result from the harm.
Pain and suffering address the physical discomfort your loved one experienced because the facility failed to act. Courts recognize pain from untreated pressure ulcers, fall injuries, infections, and malnutrition as compensable harm. Emotional distress covers the psychological impact of abuse, isolation, fear, and the experience of being ignored in a place that was supposed to be safe.
Relocation costs are recoverable when neglect is serious enough that your loved one must be moved to a safer facility. For families who have lost a loved one to nursing home neglect or abuse, Indiana’s wrongful death lawyers at Langer & Langer pursue damages for the family’s full losses under Indiana’s wrongful death statute.
When a nursing home neglect claim is classified as medical malpractice under Indiana Code IC 34-18, specifically when the negligence involves a licensed healthcare provider delivering or failing to deliver professional medical care, Indiana’s $1.8 million statutory cap on total recovery applies. When the claim proceeds as standard personal injury negligence outside the Medical Malpractice Act, no cap exists. How your case is structured affects how much your family can ultimately recover. Our attorneys make that determination at the outset of representation. You can review our detailed breakdown on nursing malpractice damages or consult with our personal injury team to see how these limits apply to your specific situation.
Indiana Laws Protecting Nursing Home Residents
Indiana law creates multiple layers of protection for nursing home residents. Which layer applies to your case determines your legal strategy, your filing deadline, and the maximum compensation available to your family.
The most important thing to understand: you likely have two years to act, and in some cases, that clock is already running.
- Indiana’s Endangered Adult Law (IC 12-10-3): Indiana Code IC 12-10-3 defines and protects “endangered adults,” any Indiana resident 18 or older who cannot manage their own care or property because of a physical or mental condition. Most nursing home residents qualify. This statute authorizes Adult Protective Services investigations and connects civil claims to Indiana’s battery statutes under IC 35-42-2 when abuse is involved, giving families both civil and criminal pathways.
- Indiana’s Statute of Limitations for Nursing Home Claims (IC 34-11-2-4): For standard personal injury claims based on nursing home neglect, Indiana Code IC 34-11-2-4 gives you two years from the date the injury was discovered, or reasonably should have been discovered, to file a lawsuit. If your loved one died as a result of the neglect, the wrongful death deadline is two years from the date of death. Missing this deadline eliminates your right to seek compensation permanently. Some facilities delay and obstruct families during the critical early period, specifically because they know this clock is running.
- When Indiana’s Medical Malpractice Act (IC 34-18) Applies: Not every nursing home claim is a standard personal injury case. When the negligence involves a licensed healthcare provider at the facility, a nurse or physician providing professional medical services, the claim falls under Indiana’s Medical Malpractice Act rather than standard personal injury law. Two consequences follow from this classification that directly affect your family’s recovery.
First, under IC 34-18, the case must go through a Medical Review Panel before a lawsuit can be filed. A panel of three Indiana healthcare providers reviews the claim and renders an opinion on whether the standard of care was met. This process typically takes 12 to 18 months. The statute of limitations is tolled while the panel is pending, but you must file the Proposed Complaint with the Indiana Department of Insurance before the two-year deadline to activate that tolling. Missing that initial filing eliminates your protection. Our Indiana Medical Malpractice FAQs explain the full MRP process in plain language.
Second, claims under the Medical Malpractice Act are subject to Indiana’s $1.8 million total recovery cap. Claims brought as standard negligence outside the Act are not. The threshold determination of which path your case takes is one of the first and most consequential legal analyses Langer & Langer conducts. See our coverage of Indiana medical malpractice law updates for 2026 and our guide to the medical malpractice statute of limitations in Indiana.
- Federal Laws Protecting Nursing Home Residents: The Nursing Home Reform Act, enacted as part of OBRA 1987, requires every federally certified nursing home to maintain each resident’s highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. It establishes a Residents’ Bill of Rights guaranteeing dignity, privacy, self-determination, and freedom from abuse. The Elder Justice Act requires nursing home staff to report suspected abuse within 24 hours or within 2 hours when the suspected crime caused serious bodily injury. When facilities violate these federal standards, those violations directly support your Indiana legal claim.
Frequently Asked Questions About Indiana Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers
Does Indiana Require a Medical Review Panel Before Filing a Nursing Home Lawsuit?
It depends. Indiana requires a Medical Review Panel before filing if the claim names a licensed healthcare provider under the Medical Malpractice Act. Facility-only negligence claims skip that step.
How Much Does a Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer Cost in Indiana?
A nursing home neglect lawyer in Indiana costs nothing upfront. Langer & Langer handles these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no legal fees or case expenses unless we successfully recover compensation for you.
Can I Sue a Nursing Home for the Wrongful Death of a Loved One in Indiana?
Yes. You can sue a nursing home for the wrongful death of a loved one in Indiana. The estate’s personal representative must file the claim within two years from the date of death to recover damages.
Are Cameras Allowed in Assisted Living Facilities in Indiana?
Yes, in most cases. Indiana law does not prohibit personal cameras in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, but individual facility policies and consent rules vary. Review your admission agreement and consult an attorney before installing any device.
How Hard Is It to Sue a Nursing Home for Neglect?
It is highly complex to sue a nursing home for neglect. These cases require detailed medical records, expert testimony, and working through Indiana’s specialized nursing home laws against aggressive corporate defense teams to secure the compensation your family is owed.
Schedule Your Free Consultation with Langer & Langer
Your loved one deserved better care. You deserve answers. Call Langer & Langer at (219) 464-3246 or fill out our free consultation form today. Our attorneys are available to explain what happened, what Indiana law gives you, and how we would build your case. There is no pressure and no cost to have that conversation.
Maximizing Injury Awards Since 1980.
Past results do not guarantee any future outcome. Every case is different, and the value of your claim depends on its specific facts.
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