Durham Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Durham, NC

Families in Durham, North Carolina, rely on nursing homes to provide safe and compassionate care for their aging loved ones. However, due to systemic issues, facilities often violate the rights of elders. If you suspect harm, contacting a skilled Durham nursing home abuse lawyer about your options is a vital step.

When abuse or neglect occurs, the consequences are often severe and long-lasting for victims and their families.

Experienced Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in Durham

Here at Pleasant Law, PLLC, we have nearly two decades of experience working on nursing home abuse, neglect, and wrongful death cases across North Carolina and Georgia. Our firm has recovered over $30 million for clients, including settlements against some of the largest healthcare corporations in the country.

Attorney Thomas W. Pleasant has over 25 years of experience in the legal field. His passion lies in his community and protecting elderly North Carolinians and their families. He holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating and has been selected to Super Lawyers, which recognizes attorneys with a high level of peer recognition and professional achievement. He’s taken on a wide variety of cases and won, such as:

• $350,000 recovered in a nursing home neglect case.
• $700,000 won for a case involving nursing home choking, brain damage, and wrongful death.
• A $510,000 settlement for a case involving nursing home neglect, pressure ulcers, malnutrition, and dehydration

Why Abuse and Neglect Happen in Nursing Facilities

As of 2024, there were a total of 34,695 residents in nursing homes across North Carolina. While families should be able to rely on government programs to protect their loved ones, the system often fails to do so.

North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) oversees conducting regular inspections of nursing homes to identify abuse and neglect. However, a 2024 state audit found that DHHS routinely missed inspection deadlines, failed to investigate complaints in a timely manner, and didn’t always confirm whether nursing home problems had been resolved. This is a growing concern, as inspections and penalties in North Carolina nursing homes reveal persistent oversight failures.

The primary reason for this is a staff shortage. Between 2019 and 2023, DHHS received over 17,000 nursing home complaints but failed to investigate 39% of them within the 60-day limit required by law. Additionally, in over one-third of cited violations, DHHS never confirmed if the problem had been fixed.

Resources for Families to Help Protect Their Loved Ones

Fortunately, there are websites dedicated to evaluating the level of care local facilities provide to their residents. This is an especially important tool when researching which nursing home to choose for your loved one. In Durham, there are a multitude of nursing homes with negligent and abusive care reported.

These facilities include:

• PruittHealth-Durham, located at 3100 Erwin Road, has been placed on the NHAA Watchlist due to serious concerns about resident safety and care. They’ve held a 1-star overall rating from 2023 to 2025. It has also received 1-star health inspection and staffing ratings over long periods, with consistent problems dating back to 2014.
• The Carver Living Center, located at 303 East Carver Street, has also been added to the watchlist due to repeated issues with safety, staffing, and care. From 2009 to 2023, state inspections revealed serious violations. In eight separate cases, inspectors identified situations that posed an immediate danger to residents. In 22 other cases, residents were actually harmed.
• Accordius Health, located at 4230 North Roxboro Street and a major chain of nursing homes in North Carolina, has been found to have unsafe staffing levels. Professionals say that each resident needs at least two hours of daily care from certified nursing assistants just to meet basic safety needs. In 2023, Accordius Health fell below this threshold on 83% of the days.

Red Flags of Abuse and Next Steps

Abuse often starts subtly, and victims may be too scared or unable to report it. Families usually notice first. Be sure to visit your loved one regularly and pay close attention to their physical and emotional condition. Ask about any injuries or sudden changes in mood. Speak with the staff and watch how they treat residents. Common red flags of abuse or neglect can include:

• Unexplained bruises, cuts, or broken bones
• Sudden weight loss
• Dehydration
• Poor hygiene, such as dirty clothes or soiled bedding
• Fear, sadness, or emotional withdrawal
• Lack of access to necessary medications, eyeglasses, or mobility aids
• Bedsores or prolonged periods left alone in bed

Even if you don’t suspect anything, request regular copies of your loved one’s medical records. These records can help uncover patterns of mistreatment that may not be visible during routine visits. Understanding how to document nursing home abuse in North Carolina is key to building a strong case if you ever need to take legal action. Contact a lawyer immediately if you suspect abuse or neglect.

Why Choose Us?

We understand the devastation abuse and neglect can have on victims and their families and offer legal consultations. Mr. Pleasant approaches every client with the compassion they deserve and represents them in Durham County Superior Court, located at 510 South Dillard Street. He has successfully resolved cases involving:

• Fractures from preventable falls
• Injuries from malnutrition and dehydration
• Overmedication or improper medication administration
• Wrongful death linked to staff neglect or abuse
• Head trauma caused by a lack of supervision

Sometimes, a major factor in these injuries is lack of adequate staffing in nursing homes, which is an ongoing issue throughout North Carolina.
Gary, the husband of a nursing home bedsore victim, said about working with Pleasant Law, PLLC, “From day one, they helped me and my family on our journey to justice. They are very professional and very considerate. Just a blessing.”

Choosing a Trusted Elder Abuse Law Firm

In North Carolina, the law sets a deadline for filing personal injury claims, including nursing home abuse or neglect cases. Typically, you have three years from the date the injury occurred or was discovered to file a case. Since there can be exceptions and strict time limits, it’s crucial to consult a lawyer promptly if you suspect abuse to ensure you don’t lose your right to take legal action.

Here at Pleasant Law, PLLC, we believe that our elders deserve to be treated with respect and care that they so often do not receive in nursing homes. Due to his experience in elder law, Mr. Pleasant possesses the acumen necessary to handle abuse matters from start to finish.

We represent individuals and families across Durham and surrounding communities. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and discover the legal options available to your loved one.

Durham, NC Nursing Home Abuse Resources

How to Tell if Your Loved One is at Risk for Nursing Home Elopement at a NC Facility

Exposing the Worst Nursing Homes in North Carolina | Attorney Advice