Westland Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

We Fight for Those Harmed While in Nursing Home Care

More than 17% of Westland residents are 65 years old or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s estimated 2024 data. As these Westland elders age, their needs change. Moving to a senior living environment, assisted care facility, or nursing home can improve their quality of life and allow them to access increasing levels of care.

Many nursing homes also provide medical care and rehabilitation services after surgeries or other major medical procedures (what Medicare calls “skilled nursing facilities”). Whether patients are staying for short-term rehabilitation or long-term nursing care, they deserve to live in a safe environment and receive quality care.

There are many excellent nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities in the Westland area, but some chronically fall short and provide substandard care. Many nursing homes are chronically understaffed, running on tight budgets with little flexibility.

Nursing home neglect and abuse occur more frequently when nursing homes don’t have adequate staff or resources. However, abuse isn’t limited to strained facilities. Leadership’s emphasis on maximizing profits may pressure staff to cut corners in patient care. Improperly supervised or undertrained staff can cause unintentional harm. Inadequate background checks and safety protocols can give predators access to vulnerable patients.

Families are often shocked to learn their loved one is suffering abuse or neglect at the hands of a nursing home, especially as the cost of these facilities continues to climb. If you need help, speak to an experienced Westland nursing home abuse attorney. The team at Sommers Schwartz, P.C., can explain your family’s rights and help you understand your options.

Nursing Homes in Westland

Several nursing homes are located in Westland, including:

• Regency at Westland.
• Cherry Hill for Nursing and Rehabilitation.
• Westland, A Villa Center.
• Four Seasons – An Optalis Health & Wellness Center.
• Four Chaplains Nursing Care Center.

Other nursing homes around the Westland area include:

• Maple Manor of Wayne.
• The Orchards Michigan in Wayne.
• MediLodge in Farmington.

Medicare provides a database for users to compare nursing home information, including quality of care and staffing. The agency rates nursing facilities using a five-star rating system, which considers health inspection results, staffing levels and qualifications, and quality measures. It publishes a separate star rating for each factor and an overall rating.

As of February 2026, Medicare rated Regency at Westland at four stars overall. Cherry Hill, Four Seasons, and Four Chaplains each received a three-star overall rating. Westland, A Villa Center, received one star.

In addition to the star rankings, Medicare provides information regarding facilities that have been cited for potential issues relating to abuse. Numerous facilities in the Westland area, including Westland, A Villa Center and Four Seasons, have this designation in the Medicare database.

Michigan’s Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

Bridge Michigan, the investigative news arm of the non-profit, non-partisan Center for Michigan, conducted an extensive review of citations against Michigan nursing homes. This study involved reviewing more than 3,100 pages of documents related to 15,471 citations for abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other care violations over four years. At least 5,915 violations were for serious issues, including abuse and neglect.

Collectively, Michigan nursing homes were fined $21.5 million for abuse, neglect, and other violations. They also lost 6,451 days of Medicare reimbursements. (Medicare refuses reimbursement as one consequence for committing serious violations or failing to address known violations.)

The Bridge Michigan study identified several reasons Michigan nursing homes face high levels of abuse, neglect, and other issues. These issues include:

• Low staffing requirements. State law requires that each nursing home resident receive only two hours and fifteen minutes of care each day, far lower than the four hours of care recommended by patient advocacy groups.
• Lack of training. Michigan only requires 100 hours of training for nurse aides, including those who work in nursing homes. Other state-licensed positions require considerably more training. For instance, a Michigan manicurist needs 400 hours of training to qualify for a license, while a barber must complete 1,800.
• Unavailable funds. Michigan has about $35 million in reserve, collected from citation penalties and earmarked to address issues and improve care. However, bureaucratic red tape makes it difficult to spend these funds where they are needed.
• Lack of transparency. Even when the state issues citations for wrongdoing, it does not identify specific facilities or staff members in publicly available reports. This secrecy makes it difficult to determine whether a nursing home is under investigation or whether its staff members have been involved in previous cases of abuse or neglect. Families may need an attorney to get this information after a loved one’s death or injury.
• High percentage of for-profit homes. For-profit nursing homes incur 43% more citations on average than non-profit or government-run homes, according to the Bridge Michigan report. For-profit companies operate 75% of Michigan nursing homes; only 39 are run by the government.

These factors together have led to serious problems and safety deficiencies across Michigan’s nursing homes. If your loved one suffered harm in one of these facilities, contact an experienced Westland nursing home injury lawyer today.

Signs of Abuse or Neglect in a Nursing Home

Michigan law protects nursing home patients from physical, mental, and emotional abuse, harm, and neglect. However, these patients are often unable to advocate for their own rights and safety. Nursing homes may intentionally cover up signs of abuse and neglect. How can you tell if your loved one is being mistreated or neglected?

The National Institute on Aging provides resources to help loved ones identify signs of elder abuse, neglect, or mistreatment. Red flags that may indicate nursing home abuse include:

• Unexplained injuries, like bruises, scars, or burns.
• Signs of punishment or restraint, like marks around the wrists.
• Sudden changes in your loved one’s mood or behavior.
• Depression and anxiety, especially if these conditions are new or have come on suddenly.
• Preventable health problems, such as bedsores, pressure ulcers, lice, and hygiene issues.
• Dirty living conditions, such as unwashed sheets, overflowing trash, or rotting food.
• Patients being left alone for many hours a day.
• Patients who seem inappropriately sedated or heavily medicated.
• Changes in your loved one’s finances or signs that valuables, such as jewelry, have disappeared.

Many other signs can tip family members off to abuse or neglect in nursing facilities. It’s important to trust your instincts. If something doesn’t seem right about the facility’s overall condition or operation, or about your loved one in particular, don’t hesitate to speak to an experienced attorney.

What To Look for When Choosing a Westland Nursing Home

It’s always advisable to prepare questions for the staff and leadership before touring a potential nursing home facility for your loved one. Medicare provides a checklist of questions for families considering nursing homes to explore. It covers many aspects of residential and medical care, including:

• Certification. Is the nursing home Medicare- and Medicaid- certified? Is it licensed by the state, and if so, is its paperwork up to date? Has it been investigated or cited for abuse, neglect, or other violations? If so, how were those issues resolved?
• Policies and safety measures. What policies does the nursing home have for staff, residents, and visitors? Can you receive a written copy? What’s the disaster plan (for keeping residents safe during fires, tornadoes, and other emergencies)? What other safety measures are in place?
• Accessibility. Is the nursing home close enough for you to visit often? Does it offer frequent visitation availability that works with your schedule and resources? Visiting family members are often the first to recognize signs of mistreatment or neglect.
• Outside medical care. Can your loved one continue to see their own doctors? Does the facility help with transportation to medical appointments? How does the facility manage dental care, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and mental health treatment needs? If your loved one needs a hospital, where will the nursing home send them?
• Atmosphere and community. How do staff members treat one another? How do they talk to the residents? How do residents treat one another? What does the overall atmosphere of the facility look and feel like?
• Cleanliness. Do residents look clean, well-groomed, and dressed for the weather and time of day? How does the facility smell? Does it seem clean and well-kept, with good lighting and managed noise levels? Are there frequent outbreaks of fungal infections, transmissible diseases, or other preventable health concerns?

If your loved one suffers harm in a nursing home, it’s easy to feel like you should have done more to protect them. You should be able to trust any nursing home to provide safe, appropriate care for your loved one, no matter how much time and effort you spent researching and choosing the facility. When elder abuse or neglect occurs, it is not your fault. Speak to an attorney to learn more about holding nursing homes accountable.

What To Do if You Suspect Elder Abuse in a Westland Nursing Home

Family members are critical to reporting abuse or neglect in Michigan nursing homes. They are usually the first to spot signs of neglect and mistreatment, and their reports play a key role in correcting issues. Researchers found that family members are also crucial to observing and reporting abuse by non-staff members (such as other residents, visitors, or third-party service providers).

If you suspect something is wrong, collect as much information as you can about the situation. Take photos, speak to staff members or leadership at the nursing home, and save all documentation related to your loved one’s care. If you’ve brought your concerns to the facility’s attention, make sure you keep copies of any medical notes, reports, or communications about how they address the problem.

Medicare provides options for families who suspect abuse to contact the state survey agency, which is responsible for regulating all licensed nursing homes. In Michigan, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) licenses and maintains records related to citations and violations. The Bureau of Survey and Certification (BSC), a division of LARA, investigates nursing home complaints.

To contact LARA by phone or fax:

• Phone: (877) 458-2757
• Fax: (571) 763-0213
• Call the BSC to file a complaint: (800) 882-6006

The Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (MLTCOP) is an excellent resource for families who suspect elder abuse or neglect. The program advocates for the health, safety, well-being, and rights of residents in licensed nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. It provides no-cost access to independent, neutral officials who investigate complaints, facilitate mediation, and resolve disputes on behalf of long-term care residents. Western Wayne County has three long-term care ombudsmen available; their contact information is on the state’s long-term care ombudsman website, or you can call
(866) 485-9393.

How an Experienced Westland Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Can Help

The decision to put a loved one in nursing home care is never easy. Most families trust a nursing home to provide medical care, companionship, and community as their loved one ages. They trust the home will use appropriate care to protect their loved one’s health and safety. Discovering a nursing home harmed or neglected your loved one can provoke feelings of fear, anger, betrayal, and other strong emotions.

Speaking to an experienced Westland nursing home injury lawyer can help you understand your options and chart the best course forward. An attorney can help you protect and advocate for your loved one. If they’ve been injured or harmed in a nursing home, our attorneys will help you fight to protect their rights and hold the facility accountable.

If you suspect a loved one was harmed by abuse in a nursing home, don’t wait. Contact Sommers Schwartz, P.C., today. Our knowledgeable Westland nursing home abuse attorneys will help you understand your options and fight for your loved one’s rights.