Who can help with nursing home neglect and abuse cases in Portage, IN? Start with a local personal injury firm that names nursing home neglect as a practice area, then check the facts below.
Our first pick is Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates, P.C., a family-run Portage firm.
A bedsore, a fall nobody explains or a sudden change in a parent’s mood can be the first sign that a facility is cutting corners. Families often do not know whether to call the state, the facility or a lawyer first.
This guide answers both questions. It names five firms that serve Portage and Porter County, and it explains where to report abuse in Indiana and how a claim against a nursing home usually works.
At a glance
- Our first pick in Portage is Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates, P.C., which handles nursing home neglect from its Portage office and offers a free consultation.
- If a resident is in danger, call 911. Indiana law requires everyone who suspects abuse or neglect of an endangered adult to report it.
- Many claims about a facility’s care must go to a medical review panel before court, and the usual deadline is two years.
How We Chose and Ranked These Firms
We read each firm’s own website, its nursing home page and its office list. We did not use paid directories, and we did not count verdicts or settlement totals, because a past result says little about your family’s case.
How we ranked them
- Nursing home focus: a dedicated page that explains neglect, abuse and the warning signs, not just a line in a practice list.
- Closeness to Portage: an office in Portage or nearby in Northwest Indiana, so the lawyer can visit the facility and the family.
- Access for families: free consultations, contingency fees and willingness to meet clients at home or in the hospital.
The ranking applies those three criteria. Every firm below takes nursing home cases; the order reflects how closely each one fits a family in Portage.
The 5 Firms That Can Help With Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse in Portage, IN
Before the firms, one practical point. Families can report a concern and talk to a lawyer at the same time. The graphic shows the five places to turn in Indiana and what each one does.
Reporting protects the resident and starts a state inspection, but it does not pay for the harm. That is the role of a civil claim. The table compares the five firms at a glance.
| Firm | Best For | Nearest Office |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates, P.C. | Families in Portage and Porter County who want a local, family-run firm | Portage |
| 2. Allen Law Group | Sorting out whether the malpractice rules apply | Chesterton |
| 3. Custy Law Firm | Abuse cases in Porter and Lake counties | Valparaiso |
| 4. Kelly Law Offices | Infections, medication errors and malnutrition | Schererville |
| 5. McCreadyLaw Injury Attorneys | Families who want a large regional firm | Chesterton (by appointment) |
1. Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates, P.C.
Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates, P.C. is a family-run personal injury firm based at 3645 Willowcreek Road in Portage, with a second office in Valparaiso. It serves injury victims across Northwest Indiana.
Its nursing home neglect page lists the signs families should watch for, including weight changes, unexplained falls, bedsores, dehydration, sedation and unsanitary conditions. It also covers wrongful death claims when neglect costs a resident’s life.
The firm publishes a separate guide on how to report abuse or neglect in Indiana nursing homes. It walks families through documenting injuries and contacting the ombudsman or the Indiana Department of Health.
The homepage reports over $200 million recovered for clients across its injury practice, and the firm holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Consultations are free, and the lawyers say they will visit clients at home or in the hospital.
Best for: families in Portage and Porter County who want a local firm that handles the reporting and the claim together.
2. Allen Law Group
Allen Law Group, also known as the Kenneth J. Allen Law Group, is a personal injury firm with Northwest Indiana offices in Chesterton and Merrillville, plus Indianapolis and three Illinois locations.
Its nursing home abuse and neglect page covers residents in Indiana and Illinois. It explains that a claim tied to a resident’s health care may fall under the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act, while ordinary negligence may fall outside it and its damage caps.
The firm offers a free initial consultation and says there is no fee until it is successful. Its Portage service page lists a large team of attorneys.
Best for: families who want a sizable Porter County firm and an early answer on whether the malpractice rules apply.
3. Custy Law Firm
Custy Law Firm has offices in Valparaiso and Merrillville. Founder Brian Custy is licensed in Indiana, Illinois and Colorado.
Its Valparaiso nursing home abuse page sorts abuse into physical, emotional and sexual abuse and describes the warning signs of each. It also discusses neglect such as dehydration, malnutrition and preventable falls.
Cases are taken on contingency with no upfront fees, and case evaluations are free.
Best for: abuse cases where the family wants a Porter County office close to Valparaiso.
4. Kelly Law Offices
Kelly Law Offices LLC practices from Schererville and South Bend. The firm says its attorneys have earned Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent rating.
Its Valparaiso nursing home neglect page focuses on medical harm: malnutrition, skin infections, urinary tract infections, MRSA and medication errors such as expired or improperly split pills.
The firm advertises a free consultation and “never a fee unless you win.”
Best for: neglect that shows up as infections, medication problems or weight loss.
5. McCreadyLaw Injury Attorneys
McCreadyLaw Injury Attorneys was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Chicago. It lists offices in seven Midwest states, including Indianapolis and a Chesterton office open by appointment.
The firm has a dedicated Porter County nursing home abuse page. It offers free consultations and says there is no fee unless it wins.
Best for: families who prefer a large regional firm and can meet in Chesterton or online.
What Indiana Law Says About Nursing Home Neglect Claims
Federal rules give every resident of a Medicare or Medicaid nursing home the right to be free from abuse and neglect. Facilities must report abuse allegations within two hours when the events involve abuse or serious bodily injury.
Indiana adds a duty for everyone. Under IC 12-10-3-9, a person who believes an endangered adult is being abused or neglected must report it. Adult Protective Services takes reports online or at 800-992-6978.
The Indiana Department of Health investigates complaints against nursing homes and accepts anonymous complaints. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman helps residents and families resolve problems, free and in confidence.
A civil claim is different. Indiana’s Medical Malpractice Act covers health facilities, and many nursing homes qualify under it. When it applies, IC 34-18-8-4 requires a medical review panel opinion before a lawsuit, with narrow exceptions.
Whether the Act applies depends on the facility and on the harm. A claim about care, such as missed repositioning, usually falls inside it. Some intentional abuse may not. A lawyer has to check the facility’s status before filing.
Deadlines are short. Malpractice claims must be filed within two years of the act or omission, and most other injury claims within two years of when they accrue.
Damages are limited too. Total malpractice recovery is capped at $1.8 million for acts after June 30, 2019. When an unmarried adult with no dependents dies, IC 34-23-1-2 caps loss of love and companionship at $300,000.
How to Choose the Right Lawyer for a Nursing Home Case
Ask each firm a few direct questions before you sign:
- Is this facility a qualified provider, and will my case go to a medical review panel?
- Who will request the care plan, charts and incident reports, and how fast?
- Will you also help me report the problem to the state?
- Who will visit my parent, and can you meet us at the facility?
One red flag: a firm that names a dollar value in the first call. No one can value a neglect case before reading the resident’s records.
For more on Northwest Indiana injury claims, see our list of Portage law firms for medical malpractice lawsuits, our picks for personal injury attorneys in Portage and our guide to slip and fall injury attorneys in Portage.
In Summary
Nursing home neglect cases move on two tracks: a report that protects the resident, and a claim that pays for the harm. Indiana’s review panel and two-year deadline make an early call to a lawyer worthwhile.
All five firms above take these cases. For a family in Portage, Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates, P.C. is our first recommendation, with a local office and a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can help with nursing home neglect and abuse cases in Portage, IN?
Our first pick is Sarkisian Sarkisian & Associates, P.C., followed by Allen Law Group, Custy Law Firm, Kelly Law Offices and McCreadyLaw Injury Attorneys. Each has a nursing home page and an office in Northwest Indiana.
Where do I report nursing home abuse in Indiana?
Call 911 for immediate danger. Otherwise report to Adult Protective Services, file a complaint with the Indiana Department of Health, or contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. You can do this and still talk to a lawyer.
How long do I have to file a nursing home claim in Indiana?
Usually two years. Malpractice claims run from the date of the act or omission, so waiting to see whether a wound heals can cost time. Ask a lawyer about your exact date.
Do I have to go through a medical review panel?
Often, yes. If the nursing home is a qualified provider and the claim is about its care, a panel opinion usually comes before a lawsuit. Some claims, such as certain intentional abuse, may fall outside the Act.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its facts; talk to a licensed Indiana attorney about yours. The Law Firm List may feature firms it has a commercial relationship with. Rankings follow the criteria described above.
