Elderly care claims

Older patients can be particularly vulnerable because of physical frailty or cognitive impairment from conditions such as dementia. We all hope that our relatives will be treated with dignity if they require medical attention. At Penningtons Manches Cooper, we offer legal support to claim compensation when elderly patients have received poor care, either in hospitals or in residential care homes.

Specialist solicitors for elderly care negligence claims advice

Our population is ageing, placing increased strain on elderly care services provided by both the NHS and statutory bodies. Sadly, elderly patients may lack the understanding, assertiveness or physical ability needed to advocate effectively for their own care. This can result in them being wrongly perceived as ‘difficult’ due to their health conditions or lack of mental capacity.

A worrying pattern is emerging in elderly care claims, revealing that many patients do not receive safe and appropriate standards of basic medical care. This can lead to elderly patients suffering avoidable harm, which may significantly impact their function, independence and overall quality of life.

Our specialist solicitors at Penningtons Manches Cooper provide expert advice on appropriate actions concerning poor treatment or decision-making involving elderly patients. If substandard care has resulted in injury, illness or increased care requirements and costs, we can help you seek appropriate compensation, consulting medical records and other evidence to create a strong claim. We strongly believe that all individuals, regardless of age, deserve access to justice when they have suffered harm due to medical negligence.

In certain situations, poor medical and nursing care can result in the premature death of an older patient. Our elderly care claims solicitors represent and speak for families who have lost loved ones due to avoidable medical harm. We provide sensitive support throughout the claims process and representation at inquests.

They were extremely helpful, professional and understanding during our claim. I couldn’t have been happier with the level of expertise shown.

When elderly patients experience avoidable harm due to substandard medical or nursing care, the consequences can be particularly severe. Falls or pressure sores can cause a steep downward trajectory in an older person’s functional ability and independence, leading to increased care costs and financial burden. Added to this is the emotional toll of having to come to terms with the need for increasing levels of support. Our experience in elderly care claims means we understand the perspective of older patients and are committed to ensuring their experiences are acknowledged and addressed.

We offer no-obligation consultations and representation on a no win, no fee basis, reducing your financial risk. If you believe a family member has experienced negligent treatment, contact Penningtons Manches Cooper’s specialist solicitors to discuss an elderly care compensation claim.

How we help our clients

Evaluating claims involving failure to identify and prevent falls leading to injuries

Investigating inadequate prevention and management of pressure sores, including complications like sepsis

Supporting families in claims relating to deaths caused by substandard care

Addressing claims arising from inadequate management of chronic conditions

Reviewing the standard of treatment provided in care homes and nursing homes

Advising on poor community care by local authorities and care agencies

Assessing inappropriate hospital discharge decisions and substandard discharge planning

Investigating delays in diagnosing fractures after falls in care homes or hospitals

Handling claims involving unacceptable nursing care and failures in meeting basic needs

Useful resources

Making a medical negligence claim

Funding a medical negligence claim

Elderly care fact sheet

Hospital and community care falls fact sheet

We can only thank you for all the understanding, expert professional support and thoughtful guidance you and all your colleagues gave us throughout my father’s case.

Excellent. Professional, personalised and caring.

At Penningtons Manches Cooper, the ‘impressive’, ‘experienced’ and ‘talented’ clinical negligence and personal injury team focuses on a wide range of complex and high-value claims, including birth injuries, brain injury cases, fatal claims, elderly care cases and oncology matters.

Everyone at Penningtons has always treated me with respect and compassion and done their best to help with my situation. I feel the whole team really have my best interests at heart.

Recent work highlights

Care home asphyxiation death

Representing a widow at inquest and settling a claim after her husband, who had severe dementia, died from asphyxiation on physiotherapy cords when left unattended in a care home storage room despite requiring 24-hour supervision.

Nursing home pressure sores

Settling a claim for the family of a man in his 90s who developed unstageable pressure sores in a nursing home, leaving him bed-bound. The wounds caused significant suffering and were found to have led to his premature death.

Brain injury due to ambulance drop

Pursuing a claim for an elderly gentleman who was dropped by ambulance crew while being taken to hospital causing an acute subdural haemorrhage. The crew failed to inform anyone and he died before surgery.

Tragic hospital oversight

Investigating the case of an elderly patient in hospital with a known bowel obstruction. She collapsed and subsequently died after the hospital failed to resuscitate her as an emergency and performed the wrong operation for her condition.

Fall during walk with private carer

Achieving a settlement for the family of a man in his 80s who fell and sustained hip and head injuries after being left unsupervised while he was walking with a private carer. He died during rehabilitation following a prolonged stay in hospital.

Stroke after anticoagulant error

Acting on behalf of the estate of an elderly woman who suffered a stroke after her anticoagulant treatment was not recommenced by the hospital following a surgical procedure.

Case studies

We advised on a claim against Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust after our client’s father had developed pressure sores while in hospital following a fall. There were various issues concerning the nursing care that he received.

Our medical negligence team was instructed by the family of an elderly lady who had passed away. Prior to her death she was admitted to hospital, during which time a significant pressure sore developed and deteriorated.

This case involved a claim against The Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for a client whose husband died following a fall in hospital. The trust repeatedly failed to adequately carry out falls risk assessments.

We have settled a claim for a client whose mother died following a fall in a Care UK home in Surrey. In the five days leading up to the incident, she suffered four falls while she was unattended in the home.

We have recently settled a claim against a GP surgery after our elderly client was prescribed the wrong medication in terms of type and dose, and suffered a fall as a result of side effects from the medication given.