Pennsylvania Nursing Homes Can Be Deadly

What the Marie Eltz Case Tells Us About Elder Neglect

When you entrust a nursing home with the care of your loved one, you expect them to receive the dignity, compassion, and medical attention they deserve. Tragically, that’s not always the case.

In a heartbreaking example out of Bucks County, the family of 92-year-old Marie Eltz has filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that severe understaffing at Neshaminy Manor, a publicly funded nursing facility in Warrington, Pennsylvania, contributed to her preventable injuries and ultimate death.

The story of Marie Eltz is not just a personal tragedy — it’s a cautionary tale for every Pennsylvania family with a loved one in long-term care. At KBD Attorneys, we’ve seen far too many cases like this, and we’re committed to holding negligent nursing homes accountable.

A Trusted Nursing Home — With a Hidden Staffing Crisis

Neshaminy Manor has been praised in public rankings. It was even named one of the “Best Nursing Homes” by U.S. News & World Report in 2024 and 2025. But behind the glossy accolades, court documents reveal a disturbing pattern of understaffing and neglect.

According to the lawsuit filed by the Eltz family, Medicare records show that Neshaminy Manor was understaffed every quarter between 2021 and 2023. That staffing shortfall reportedly saved Bucks County and its contractor Genesis HealthCare LLC over $2.7 million — money that should have been used to provide essential nursing care.

This isn’t just an accounting issue. It’s a public safety crisis that affects some of our most vulnerable citizens.

A Fall, A Broken Hip, and Months of Unrecognized Pain

Marie Eltz was a resident of Neshaminy Manor for nearly three years. She had a known fall risk and a medical history that required careful monitoring. Yet, according to her family’s lawsuit, no individualized care plan was created to address these safety concerns.

On Valentine’s Day 2023, Eltz fell from her wheelchair — an incident that was apparently not documented in detail in her nursing home records. The staff reportedly dismissed the fall as minor, and did not contact a physician. Instead, they gave her over-the-counter medication.

Over the next several weeks, Eltz reportedly cried out in pain, but nursing staff still failed to escalate her care. Only a month later, when her leg was visibly swollen and turned inward, did anyone take her to the emergency room. An X-ray revealed a broken hip.

By that time, she had also developed a deep vein thrombosis, a life-threatening condition. Eltz died two months later, never fully recovering.

Understaffing Is a Form of Elder Neglect

What happened to Marie Eltz is not just medical oversight — it’s systemic neglect. Nursing homes that prioritize profits or budget savings over proper staffing put residents at significant risk of injury, illness, and death.

At KBD Attorneys, we’ve handled many cases where:

• Bedsores developed because no one regularly repositioned a resident

• Falls occurred due to lack of supervision or safety equipment

• Infections spread because hygiene protocols weren’t followed

• Pain and serious injuries went untreated for days or even weeks

In every case, understaffing plays a central role. When there are too few nurses or aides to monitor residents, critical warning signs are missed. Individualized care plans are overlooked. Pain is dismissed. And families are left with unanswered questions and unimaginable grief.

How to Know If Your Loved One Is at Risk

If you have a parent or grandparent in a Pennsylvania nursing home, ask yourself:

• Are there frequent unexplained injuries or bruises?

• Has your loved one complained about pain or being ignored?

• Does the staff seem rushed, inattentive, or overwhelmed?

• Have there been recent falls or hospitalizations?

• Are you receiving updates and care plans in writing?

If the answer to any of these is “yes,” it may be time to investigate further.

The sad reality is that not all neglect is easy to spot — especially when a facility has a polished public image or high ratings. But what matters most is not what’s on paper; it’s whether your loved one is truly being cared for.

Why Families Turn to KBD Attorneys

KBD Attorneys has built a reputation for taking on powerful nursing home chains, local government-run facilities, and national for-profit operators. We understand the complexities of nursing home lawsuits, including:

• Proving inadequate staffing through Medicare and facility records

• Demonstrating violations of Pennsylvania and federal elder care regulations

• Holding third-party healthcare contractors accountable

• Pursuing compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and wrongful death

In the Eltz case, Bucks County, Neshaminy Manor, and Genesis HealthCare are all named in the lawsuit. This kind of multi-defendant case is not uncommon in nursing home neglect litigation. It takes experienced attorneys to follow the paper trail, uncover systemic failures, and fight for justice.

We’ve helped families across Bucks County, Montgomery County, Lehigh County, and throughout Pennsylvania seek answers and accountability. If your family has been affected by neglect, we are here to help.

Protect Your Loved Ones — and Their Legal Rights

Nursing home abuse and neglect are deeply emotional issues, but they also involve serious legal rights. Whether your loved one suffered a fall, bedsores, untreated infections, or unexplained injuries, you don’t have to face this alone.

Our attorneys will investigate what happened, gather evidence, consult with experts, and build a strong case. Most importantly, we’ll listen — because we know that behind every lawsuit is a grieving family and a life that mattered.

Call KBD Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation

If you believe your loved one has suffered due to nursing home negligence in Pennsylvania, call KBD Attorneys today. We offer free, confidential consultations, and we don’t get paid unless we win your case.

No family should have to endure what the Eltz family is going through. Help us fight for safer nursing homes and the dignity every elder deserves.