Eadie Law: Nursing Home Injury Lawyers

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

As you or your loved one age, a POLST form can make sure their wishes about life-sustaining treatment are known and followed across every care setting, including the nursing home, the hospital, and the back of an ambulance.

A POLST is a portable medical order that tells every care provider, including EMTs, nurses, and hospital staff, exactly what to do in a medical emergency. It is not just a statement of wishes. It is a binding medical order that must be followed.

In Ohio, it is called a 𝗠𝗢𝗟𝗦𝗧, 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲-𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

Ohio has a standardized MOLST form, but it is not automatically on file for every resident. Whether your loved one has one depends on whether the facility and physician have completed it with you.

What families can do:
• Ask the nursing home: "Does my loved one have a MOLST on file?"
• Review it after any transfer or change in health.
• If none exists, ask the attending physician or nurse practitioner to complete one with you.
• Keep a copy visible and bring it to every care setting.

👉 Get the POLST resources and our free Family Safety Guidebook in comments.

05/20/2026

Choosing a nursing home is hard. So is knowing whether the one your loved one is already in is still the right fit. Ohio just launched a free tool to help families at every stage.

The Ohio Aging Compass is a free platform now live at Compass.Aging.Ohio.gov. Its most useful tool for families is the Long-Term Care Quality Navigator, which lets you search and compare nursing homes and assisted living facilities across Ohio. The platform also connects families to local programs, services, and statewide data on aging care.

What families can do:
• Search the Long-Term Care Quality Navigator before touring any facility
• Check your loved one's current facility, even if they have been there for years
• Revisit the platform regularly. Inspection results and staffing numbers change
• Use what you find as a starting point for direct conversations with staff and administrators
• Learn whether your loved one's facility has a family council. Families have the right to form one under federal law. Contact Elderly Advocates for more information.

👉 Link to the Ohio Aging Compass and our free Family Safety Guidebook in comments.

05/14/2026

More than half of Americans over 65 will eventually need help with basic daily tasks like bathing, dressing, eating, or moving safely. Most families are not financially prepared for that moment and Medicare does not cover long-term nursing home care. Private long-term care insurance is uncommon. And with nursing home costs often exceeding $111,000 per year, even a lifetime of savings can disappear quickly.

That is why early planning matters.

The article linked in the comments explains one option many families do not understand: a Medicaid “spend down.” It can help cover long-term care costs, but it is not something families should try to navigate alone. Mistakes with asset transfers, timing, or paperwork can create delays, penalties, or lost options.

For Ohio families, the safest first step is asking for guidance before a crisis forces rushed decisions. The Ohio Department of Aging can connect families with local resources for Medicaid questions, care options, and nursing home concerns.

And if your loved one is already in a nursing home, planning should go beyond finances. Families also need to know what good care looks like, what warning signs to watch for, and when to speak up.

👉 Full article and our free Family Safety Guidebook are in the comments.

05/12/2026

A North Lima nursing home is facing a criminal charge after operating without a valid food license for months. Aventura at Assumption Village missed Ohio's March 1 renewal deadline, and the Mahoning County District Board of Health filed a second-degree misdemeanor charge. Under Ohio law, every day a facility operates out of compliance counts as a separate violation.

For families, the headline is really this: if a facility cannot manage a basic administrative requirement like renewing a food license, it raises fair questions about what other compliance obligations may be slipping through the cracks.

What families can do:
• Ask the administrator directly: "Are all of this facility's state licenses and permits current?"
• Check the facility's inspection and compliance history through the Ohio Department of Health's nursing home search tool.
• If something feels off, document your concerns in writing and keep a copy.

👉 Full 21 WFMJ news story and our free Family Safety Guidebook in comments.

05/08/2026

Happy Mother's Day to moms, grandmas, aunts, and every person who loved like a mother. 🌸

We are thinking of you and your family today. Head to the link in the comments for a special message and a free guide just for caregiving families. 💗

05/05/2026

Traumatic falls among older adults in Northeast Ohio surged 60% between 2018 and 2024. Research shows elderly patients have been undertriaged, meaning they were less likely to be sent to a trauma center or have a trauma team activated, even when they needed one most. Currently, there is no standard protocol for traumatic falls and each facility can determine the action plan, which can, and has, lead to delayed imaging, no specialist access, and longer waits, turning survivable injuries into something far worse.

Our community partner, Elderly Advocates was formed after Paula Mueller’s uncle fell in his nursing home bathroom and waited 36 hours in the ER before being admitted. Sadly, he did not survive. That loss drove her to advocate for stronger nursing home staffing standards across Ohio.

What families can do:
• Ask your hospital about its criteria for activating a trauma team for older adults.
• Request a fall risk assessment for your loved one.
• If a fall occurs, push for a trauma evaluation.

👉 Full story and our free Family Safety Guidebook in comments.

05/01/2026

May is Older Americans Month, a national observance honoring the contributions and resilience of older adults across the country. Here in Ohio, we recognize it as Older Ohioans Month, and we're proud to celebrate the elders who have shaped our families, our communities, and our lives.

Getting older doesn't diminish a person's worth, wisdom, or need for connection. If anything, it deepens it. This month is a reminder to slow down and show up for the older adults in our lives whether they're living independently, with family, or in a care facility.

Have a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living? Empower yourself with the tools to ensure their safety. I've written a comprehensive guide with checklists and resources to help you advocate for quality care and a supportive environment.

Get your free copy at the 🔗 in our comments.

04/28/2026

A State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) at Rae Ann Suburban Nursing and Rehabilitation is accused of stealing credit cards from at least eight residents, and spending thousands at restaurants, Amazon, DoorDash, and even a children’s museum. The alleged thefts happened over 17 months, from April 2024 to August 2025.

Rae Ann Suburban Nursing and Rehabilitation fired the employee after its own internal investigation. Police arrested her in November 2025. Her trial is now set for June.

For families, this case is a reminder that financial exploitation can happen anywhere. Caregivers who are trusted to protect residents may instead betray that trust.

What you can do:
• Monitor your loved one’s credit card and bank statements regularly.
• Ask the facility what safeguards are in place to prevent staff from accessing resident valuables.
• Avoid keeping personal financial items, such as checkbooks and credit cards, in unlocked areas.
• Report any suspicious transactions immediately.

👉 Full news story and our free Family Safety Guidebook in comments.

04/28/2026

A federal inspection report found that some Ohio long term care facilities are discharging vulnerable residents, many with dementia, diabetes, and mobility issues, directly to homeless shelters. In one case, a woman using a walker was left outside a shelter in late‑summer heat, scared and confused, with no clear understanding of what was happening.

The facility had not given her the required 30‑day discharge notice. Staff never called the county psychiatric bed board to find alternative care. Instead, they took her to a shelter where 100 people were ahead of her on the waiting list.

Other cases include a man discharged after 22 years. No notice, no medications, no ID. Another resident got just 24 hours before being sent to a shelter.

Federal law requires facilities to ensure discharges are "safe and appropriate." Dumping residents at homeless shelters, without medication, without a care plan, and without notice, is neither.

What families should know: If your loved one is facing an involuntary discharge, you have rights. The facility must give 30 days' written notice, a safe discharge plan, and help finding appropriate placement. If this has happened to your loved one, contact your local long‑term care ombudsman immediately.

👉 Full news story and our free Family Safety Guidebook in comments.