The Signs Are Often Hidden on Purpose
Nursing home abuse and neglect in Michigan is more common than most families want to believe. Your parent or grandparent moves in and the facility looks clean, the staff seems friendly, and the brochure promises attentive care. Then you start noticing things. Unexplained bruises. Weight loss. Bedsores that should never have developed. A fall that "just happened" with no explanation. A personality change — withdrawal, fear, agitation — that was not there before. These are not signs of aging. These are signs of a facility that is cutting corners, understaffing shifts, or actively harming residents.
Michigan Law Protects Nursing Home Residents
Michigan nursing homes are regulated by both federal and state law. The Nursing Home Reform Act (part of the federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) guarantees every nursing home resident the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Michigan's Public Health Code (MCL § 333.21799c) imposes additional requirements. Violations of these standards create a basis for legal action. Koussan Law obtains facility inspection records, staffing logs, incident reports, and state survey deficiency citations to build these cases.
Common Types of Nursing Home Negligence
Pressure ulcers (bedsores) are almost always preventable with proper repositioning protocols. A Stage 3 or Stage 4 bedsore in a nursing home is strong evidence of neglect. Falls caused by inadequate supervision, wet floors, or failure to use ordered bed rails and alarms. Medication errors including wrong dosages, missed medications, or dangerous drug interactions. Malnutrition and dehydration from staff failing to assist residents who cannot feed themselves. Wandering and elopement when confused residents leave the facility because exits are not secured. Physical and sexual abuse by staff members or other residents.
The Challenge of Getting Honest Answers
Nursing homes have legal teams and risk management departments whose job is to minimize liability. When your loved one is injured, the facility will have a version of events that protects the facility. Incident reports may be incomplete or misleading. Staff members may be coached on what to say. Camera footage — if it exists — may conveniently disappear. This is why early legal involvement matters. Koussan Law sends preservation letters immediately to prevent evidence destruction and begins independent investigation before the facility can control the narrative.
Filing Deadlines for Nursing Home Claims
Standard nursing home negligence claims in Michigan must be filed within three years under MCL § 600.5805(2). If the negligence constitutes medical malpractice, the deadline is two years with a mandatory 182-day Notice of Intent period. Wrongful death claims arising from nursing home neglect have a three-year deadline from the date of death. Government-operated facilities may have shorter notice requirements. Do not wait to investigate.
If you suspect your loved one is being neglected or abused in a Michigan nursing home, call Koussan Law at (313) 800-0000. We will tell you the truth about what is happening and what you can do about it.
.jpeg)
