CHICAGO, IL – No one wants to think about nursing home abuse and neglect, but the sad reality is that it happens all too often. It’s estimated that around 1 in 6 nursing home residents experience some form or abuse or neglect, which can cause significant physical and emotional harm. If you believe your loved one has been a victim, you can seek justice by filing a claim against the facility to pursue compensation for the damages that have been.
What is Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?
Nursing home abuse and neglect is a serious problem affecting thousands of people annually. Abuse involves direct action against a resident and can take many forms, including physical, emotional, financial and sexual abuse. In contrast, neglect is failing to provide required care and basic needs such as food, shelter, medical treatment, or supervision.
Abuse and neglect can have devastating effects on nursing home residents. Victims may suffer from physical injuries, emotional trauma and even death. In addition, nursing home abuse and neglect can lead to financial exploitation.
What Constitutes as Abuse and Neglect?
Many types of conduct can be considered nursing home abuse or neglect. They include the following:
- Physical abuse involves physical force used against a resident without their consent. Examples include hitting, slapping, kicking, shoving or using a weapon. Signs that physical abuse has occurred include, but are not limited to, broken bones, bruises, scratches or other injuries.
- Sexual abuse consists of sexual contact or conduct made without the resident’s consent. Acts can include fondling, rape or sodomy. Residents subject to this abuse may withdraw from social activities or avoid specific individuals.
- Psychological abuse is verbal or nonverbal communication that causes emotional anguish or distress. Residents might endure name-calling, threats, humiliation, intimidation or isolation.
- Financial abuse is the unauthorized use of a resident’s money or property. This can include stealing cash, checks, credit cards or jewelry. It may also involve the perpetrator tricking the resident into “voluntarily” giving up assets.
- Lack of care is when a nursing home fails to provide necessities to a resident. Negligent conduct might include withholding food, water, shelter, clothing or personal hygiene items. Neglected residents can develop a range of health conditions, including bedsores, infections, dehydration or malnutrition.
Causes of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Various factors can contribute to nursing home abuse and neglect. One of the most common is understaffing. When facilities are short-staffed, employees are often overworked and stressed, which can lead to burnout. This can result in them taking shortcuts with resident care or even acting out in frustration.
Another issue is inadequate training. Staff members can make mistakes if the facility does not properly train them in handling difficult behaviors or providing quality care.
Finally, negligent hiring practices can also lead to abuse and neglect. If background checks are not properly conducted or red flags are ignored, dangerous individuals can slip through the cracks and end up working with vulnerable residents.
Filing a Claim
When an older person is abused or neglected in a nursing home, their loved ones may want to take legal action. First, they may report the incident to local authorities, which can result in criminal charges against the perpetrator and/or facility. Next, they can file a claim against the nursing home to seek justice further.
Victims of nursing home abuse or neglect may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. They may recover damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses and expenses. In some cases, punitive damages may be available. Filing a claim can also help prevent future abuse.
Contact the Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyers at the Dinizulu Law Group
Taking legal action against a nursing home can help hold it accountable for its staff’s wrongful conduct. It can also send a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated. Filing a claim against a nursing home can be a complicated process. If someone you love has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, reach out to an experienced attorney to discuss your options.
Contact the Dinizulu Law Group today by calling (312) 384-1920 or fill out this form to get started today!
