PHOENIX ASSISTED LIVING ABUSE ATTORNEYS
Experienced Assisted Living Abuse Lawyers
Abuse in assisted living facilities doesn’t happen by chance. It’s a failure of duty, trust, and basic human decency.
When your loved one is mistreated, ignored, or injured, it means someone wasn’t doing their job, or worse, chose to cause harm or look the other way.
Taking legal action isn’t just a way to get answers. It’s how you make sure the people responsible are held fully accountable.
Whether the abuse was caused by a staff member, enabled by poor oversight, or the result of systemic neglect, the law is clear: assisted living facilities must answer for the harm they allow.
If your loved one was abused or neglected in an assisted living home, Miller Kory Rowe will fight to uncover the truth and pursue justice on their behalf.
Our experienced lawyers build strong cases that expose wrongdoing, demand accountability, and seek the full compensation your family deserves.
Why Families Trust Miller Kory Rowe
At Miller Kory Rowe, we combine decades of experience with a deep understanding of elder care law in Arizona.
Our attorneys bring trial-tested insight, personal attention, and real results to every case.
- We’ve built a reputation for helping families navigate some of life’s most difficult moments with clarity and compassion
- We handle Arizona elder care laws and facility regulations with unmatched local expertise
- We handle complex elder abuse and neglect litigation backed by decades of trial experience
- We handle our fees only after securing fair compensation and accountability for your loved one
Jeff Miller Board-certified in personal injury and wrongful death law, Jeff leverages decades of high-stakes trial experience, alongside his role as Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix to hold negligent care providers to account in assisted living abuse claims.
Gabe Kory A founding partner and Top 10 Nursing Home Trial Lawyer, Gabe has spent over 20 years prosecuting hundreds of elder-abuse and neglect cases, after initially defending institutions to ensure vulnerable residents and their families receive justice and accountability.
Teri Rowe Named one of Arizona’s Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers, Teri uses her engineering background to turn complex facility data and incident reports into clear, persuasive visual exhibits. Since 2014, she’s dedicated her practice to representing victims of nursing home and assisted living abuse and neglect.
Understanding Assisted Living Abuse in Arizona
Assisted living abuse can take many forms. Some visible, others hidden behind polite smiles and locked doors. Under Arizona law, facilities must provide a safe, supportive environment for residents. When they fail, it’s not just a breach of trust. It’s a legal violation.
Each year, Arizona’s Adult Protective Services receives tens of thousands of reports of vulnerable adult maltreatment. In fiscal year 2022 alone, there were 25,468 reported cases statewide, with over 14,800 in Maricopa County, a five-year high.
National studies show that nearly 28 percent of assisted living residents report some form of abuse or neglect, underscoring how widespread the problem can be even within regulated facilities.
Types of Assisted Living Abuse Cases and Red Flags
Common Case Types:
- Physical abuse or unexplained injuries
- Emotional or psychological mistreatment
- Neglect of basic needs (hygiene, nutrition, medication)
- Financial exploitation or theft
Warning Signs:
- Sudden mood changes or withdrawal
- Bedsores, bruises, or frequent falls
- Poor hygiene or signs of dehydration
- Missing personal items or money
Arizona Assisted Living Care Requirements
Assisted living facilities in Arizona must meet specific care standards, including:
- Maintaining a safe environment
- Providing adequate nutrition and medication
- Respecting residents’ rights and dignity
When these standards are ignored, it can result in both civil liability and regulatory penalties. Proving violations requires careful review of facility records and expert testimony. MKR handles this with precision.
Arizona Law Protects Your Rights
Arizona law sets clear standards for assisted living facilities, including requirements for staffing, training, medication management, and the protection of residents’ rights. These obligations are outlined in the Arizona Administrative Code § R9-10-810 and related provisions governing facility operations.
When these standards are violated, the Arizona Department of Health Services may impose licensing sanctions. Families also have the right to pursue civil legal action for abuse, neglect, or other forms of mistreatment.
Understanding Arizona Assisted Living Abuse Claims
Assisted living abuse cases are governed by civil negligence laws and supported by Arizona statutes that set clear legal duties for licensed facilities. (A.R.S. § 46-455)
To succeed in a claim, four legal elements must be proven:
Duty of Care
Assisted living facilities are legally required to provide safe, respectful, and competent care. This includes medication management, adequate nutrition, hygiene, and protecting residents from known risks.
Breach of Duty
A breach occurs when staff or administrators fail to meet these obligations. For example, by ignoring medical needs, mishandling medication, failing to prevent abuse, or leaving residents unsupervised.
Causation
There must be a direct link between the facility’s negligence and the harm suffered. Medical records, expert analysis, and internal facility reports often help establish this connection.
Damages
Families must show that the resident suffered measurable harm. This can include medical bills, therapy costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, or the need to relocate to a safer facility.
Successfully proving these elements often requires legal expertise and input from medical professionals, geriatric care experts, or facility compliance specialists. At Miller Kory Rowe, we guide families through every step, investigating what went wrong, building a compelling case, and holding negligent facilities accountable under Arizona law.
Legal Protections for Arizona Assisted Living Abuse Cases
Families can take action through the following protections:
- Protective Court Orders
In urgent or dangerous situations, families can petition the court for emergency guardianship or removal orders to protect a loved one from further harm. - Victims’ Bill of Rights
Arizona residents in care facilities are guaranteed the right to safe treatment, dignity, and protection from abuse or neglect. - Marsy’s Law
Families have the right to be informed of investigations, legal proceedings, and any hearings involving abuse or mistreatment under this constitutional amendment. - Civil Lawsuits
Victims and their families may file lawsuits to recover compensation for medical expenses, emotional distress, and pain and suffering caused by abuse or neglect. - Punitive Damages
When the conduct is especially egregious or willfully negligent, Arizona law allows courts to award punitive damages designed to punish wrongdoers and deter future abuse.
What to Expect In Arizona Nursing Home Abuse Cases
There’s no time to lose when abuse is suspected. Here’s what we do.
Building Your Assisted Living Abuse Case in Arizona
Our detailed and focused approach to assisted living abuse investigations includes:
Immediate Evidence Collection
- Reviewing medical records and incident reports for signs of neglect or abuse
- Interviewing staff, residents, and family members to uncover patterns or warnings
- Securing surveillance footage, facility logs, and staffing schedules
- Documenting the resident’s condition and environment at the time of the alleged abuse
Expert Consultations
We collaborate with:
- Geriatric care experts to assess whether proper care standards were followed
- Medical professionals to evaluate injuries, neglect, or medication errors
- Long-term care specialists to estimate future needs and recovery potential
- Mental health experts to assess the emotional and psychological toll
Regulatory and Compliance Review
Our attorneys examine:
- Facility inspection reports and prior complaints filed with state agencies
- Staff training records, certifications, and disciplinary history
- Violations of Arizona’s elder care laws and Department of Health Services standards
- Corporate ownership and systemic failures in hiring, supervision, or staffing
Understanding Compensation in Assisted Living Abuse Cases
Assisted living abuse can result in serious physical, emotional, and financial harm, both for the resident and their family. Arizona law allows victims to pursue civil compensation to hold facilities and caregivers accountable for neglect, mistreatment, or exploitation.
Economic Damages
These cover measurable financial losses caused by the abuse, including:
- Emergency medical treatment and hospitalization
- Ongoing care or rehabilitation expenses
- Costs of relocating to a safer facility
- Replacement of damaged or stolen personal property
- Funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death cases
Non-Economic Damages
These address the personal suffering and trauma caused by the abuse:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and anxiety
- Loss of dignity and personal autonomy
- Reduced quality of life
- Mental anguish experienced by both the resident and family
Punitive Damages
In cases of extreme misconduct, such as intentional abuse, repeated violations, or corporate cover-ups, Arizona courts may award punitive damages. These are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar abuse in other facilities.
Compensation in assisted living abuse cases is not just about reimbursement. It is about justice, accountability, and giving families the resources they need to recover and move forward with peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions About Assisted Living Abuse Cases in Arizona
Q: How do I know if what happened qualifies as abuse?
Q: What does it cost to hire MKR?
Q: How long do I have to file a claim in Arizona?
Q: Will my loved one have to testify?
Q: What makes assisted living abuse different from nursing home abuse?
Helpful Resources for Arizona Residents
- Arizona Department of Health Services – Long-Term Care Licensing
- Adult Protective Services (APS) – Report Abuse
- Arizona Ombudsman – Assisted Living Complaints
- State Bar of Arizona – Legal Help
Take the First Step Toward Justice and Healing
You are not alone. If you or someone you love has experienced sexual abuse, Miller Kory Rowe is here to stand with you. We listen. We understand. We fight.
Request a free, confidential consultation today.
Start Your Assisted Living Abuse Claim
Take the first step toward justice by completing a quick claim review today.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH AN AN EXPERIENCED ARIZONA NURSING HOME ABUSE ATTORNEY
The Miller Kory Rowe LLP team has spent decades fighting for the rights of nursing home residents. If you suspect or know a loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, please call 928-563-6405 or contact us online. Our attorneys offer free consultations and there are no fees unless we win your case. With offices in Phoenix and Tucson, our firm is uniquely positioned to serve clients throughout Arizona. Contact our firm today!
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why choose us?
Decades of Experience
At Miller Kory Rowe LLP, our attorneys have more than 60 years of combined experience helping individuals injured by the negligence of others. We are dedicated to getting our clients the settlements they deserve to help them restore their livelihood and peace of mind.
DEDICATED TRIAL ATTORNEYS
With every case we pursue, our trial attorneys have three foundational beliefs: Dedicated. Aggressive. Principled.
EXTENSIVE RESOURCES
When you work with our law firm we put all of our extensive resources into finding evidence, interviewing witnesses, and navigating through the complexities and challenges that each claim presents.
