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Jonathan Lauri

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Jonathan Lauri is an Associate and member of Stark & Stark’s Nursing Home Negligence Group. Mr. Lauri concentrates his practice in wrongful death, catastrophic injury, negligence, and abuse claims arising in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, psychiatric facilities, hospitals, boarding, and group homes. Mr. Lauri works tirelessly to ensure that all deserving individuals have a fair chance at justice through the legal system—even when it means taking on the most powerful people and corporations.

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At its core, the intentions of hospice care are noble: to provide care for those nearing the end of life. Many who choose to enter themselves or their loved ones into hospice care are drawn to its heavy focus on comfort, dignity, and quality of life during its final stages.

But the reality is a bit messier than that, as evidenced by this interesting article by the New Yorker. The story shines a light on the dark underside of for-profit hospice care, much of which rings true to me from my experience as a healthcare attorney.

Three things that stood out to me are:…

Continue Reading The For-Profit Side of Hospice Care: One Attorney’s Insight

Through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has doubled down on its efforts to protect nursing home residents and caregivers from illegal debt collection practices.
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Continue Reading HHS and CFPB Work Together to Address Noncompliant Nursing Home Debt Collection Practices

In 2020, the New Jersey Legislature passed a law setting minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes in the state. These new requirements were intended to ensure a higher standard of care for nursing home residents and prevent cases of neglect caused by insufficient nursing staff.

However, a new report reveals that a majority of NJ nursing homes (Long-Term Care/“Sub-Acute Rehabilitation” Facilities) failed to meet the minimum staffing requirements under the new law. This raises serious concerns about resident safety throughout the state, and it remains unclear whether NJ nursing home facilities will be held accountable for routine understaffing.…

Continue Reading New Report Reveals a Majority of NJ Nursing Homes Fail to Meet Minimum Staffing Requirements

Admitting a loved one into a nursing home, or being admitted yourself, can be an overwhelming process. Every individual deserves to be treated with respect and care when entering these facilities. When entering a nursing home, you may be asked to fill out a procedural form called a “Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreement.” This agreement essentially takes away your right to hold a nursing home accountable in court, for any and all potential negligence or wrongdoing. “Pre-dispute” arbitration agreements require giving up this right before neglectful actions even take place. Therefore, you will never have the chance or opportunity to determine whether court is necessary or not should something happen to you.
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Continue Reading Saying “No” to Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements in Nursing Homes

The world is being affected by the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This is an unprecedented time, and everyone is learning different ways to cope and adjust to the new environment.

The federal government has instituted temporary changes for long-term care facilities (nursing homes) to help combat the spread of the disease. The changes include:…

Continue Reading Maintaining Routine and Procedures in Nursing Homes During COVID-19

The House has passed H.R. 4334, the Dignity in Aging Act of 2019, which reauthorizes the Older Americans Act. The bill maintains funding for the important work of the long-term care ombudsman program and continued authority for the National Center on Elder Abuse and National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC). These organizations are critical in preserving the rights and dignity of the elderly and the bill addresses their need for funding to continue providing necessary social services.
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Continue Reading Bill to Provide Continued Funding to Critical Elder Support Services Passes House

The New Jersey State Health Department and Westfield, New Jersey police are currently investigating a claim of physical abuse of an elderly woman at a nursing home facility, who sustained severe injuries to her face.

The woman’s son claims his mother was physically abused, posting pictures on Facebook of his mother’s injuries which include two black eyes, facial wounds, and a swollen nose. The facility claims the injuries were the result of a fall, but the son says his mother frequently told him she was hit and treated roughly.…

Continue Reading Nursing Home Abuse Being Investigated; Facility Claims It Was a “Fall”

In a recent incident at a memory care and dementia facility in Illinois, two employees can be seen on Snapchat videos mocking and humiliating residents. Police investigating the incident have called the footage “disturbing,” highlighting a discrepancy between the facility’s seemingly well-intentioned mission and the actual events occurring under its care.

Residents at the facility in Burr Ridge, Illinois suffer from dementia and Alzheimer’s. Entrusted with the compassionate care of its patients, the videos showed employees instead emotionally traumatized patients – an ordeal no resident should have to go through. While there was no physical abuse shown in the videos, the emotional damage done can have long-lasting effects on its victims.…

Continue Reading Videos from Care Facility Show Emotional Abuse of Residents

On June 12, 2019, a report released by the Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General revealed that Nursing Home Abuse remains largely unreported. The study examined claims sent to Medicare in 2016 by beneficiaries residing in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The report states that approximately one in five of those emergency room visits were the result of potential abuse or neglect.
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Continue Reading Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Incidents are Largely Unreported

Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revised their Nursing Home Compare 5-Star Quality Rating System, giving 29 New Jersey nursing facilities a one-star rating. These updates intend to give consumers clearer information about the quality of care residents receive at different nursing centers. The changes also aim to promote quality improvement within the facilities.
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Continue Reading Revised Quality Rating System Gives 29 New Jersey Nursing Homes a One-Star Rating