It is natural to feel nervous about enrolling a loved one in a long-term care facility. Recent studies show that nursing home abuse is alarmingly common in the United States. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, there is no way to know for sure just how prevalent elder abuse is, but researchers estimate that nearly 50 percent of people with dementia have been victims of some kind of abuse.
Caring for an aging loved one can be a full-time job, and even the most devoted children may not be able to commit the time it takes to provide sufficient care and attention. If you are in this situation, you may be considering the benefits of finding a high-quality nursing home for your relative; however, it is important to remember that nursing home abuse and neglect are alarmingly common, and all it takes is one poorly trained staff member to injure your loved one.
Chronic stress is incredibly detrimental to your overall health, and it can have a negative effect on every organ system in the body. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, researchers have already found a link between stress and diseases like heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and certain kinds of cancer. Now, they have started exploring the link between chronic stress and the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
If you have a loved one in a nursing home, chances are that they have fallen at least once. The scary part is that sometimes serious injuries can’t be sustained. Nursing homes do not always react to falls and injuries as they should.
Studies have shown that 50% of nursing home residents have fallen at least once. These falls can cause injuries that can lead to serious conditions. Contusions or abrasions can cause broken skin. Broken skin can lead to bed sores in patients that are bed-ridden. In some cases, bedsores can lead to infections such as Sepsis due to the open wound and bodily positions that may contribute to this serious problem.
Other types of injuries that can be sustained are broken bones and head injuries. The broken bones can either be displaced or non-displaced. This means that the break can be a complete break, in which the bone snaps in two and the pieces become displaced, or the break can snap partially or all the way, but still be in place. Head injuries can include concussions, skull fractures, and scalp wounds.
Because these injuries can be serious, you should be sure to make sure that the nursing home has procedures in place when a resident falls. Make sure they contact you and that they maintain proper care and oversight of any injuries that happen as a result of the fall. Watch the video to learn more.
If you have questions about nursing home falls or if you suspect nursing home neglect or abuse, please email or call us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW. Our experienced Chicago-based nursing home abuse attorneys are here for you. You may also find more videos and media content from the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. on our media page.
If you have a loved one who is in a nursing home, then you expect that they will be provided with the best of care. What happens when someone abuses your loved one or neglects them? Who do you sue for nursing home abuse, and how do you do it?
Elder abuse unfortunately happens more often than we would like to think. In most cases, it is not the physician’s fault. Unless the physician is the one who specifically did the abuse, then they are not at fault. The doctor usually makes visits to the nursing home, but they do not work there full time. The director of nursing is in charge of all other medical concerns. This means that they oversee the nursing staff and medical procedures and guidelines that must be followed. The nursing home administrator handles all other departments and oversees day-to-day procedures. They are in charge of making sure that staff follows protocol, including how residents are treated.
Under Illinois state law, you can sue the corporation, the nursing home administrator, and the caregiver whose actions constituted the abuse. With constant turnover and ownership changes, it can be difficult to know exactly where to place the blame. An experienced nursing home abuse attorney can help you to determine this and to find the relevant information. Watch the video to learn more.
If you have questions about how to sue when you suspect nursing home abuse, please email or call us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW. Our experienced Chicago-based nursing home abuse attorneys are here for you. You may also find more videos and media content from the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. on our media page.
Abusing nursing home residents is deplorable, and altering medical records to hide the effects of the negligence is downright immoral. That is what the staff at an Illinois nursing home has allegedly been doing, though, but two ex-employees refuse to let it continue.
The decision to place a loved one in a nursing home can be a difficult one. While we often have the best of intentions, caring for an elderly family member can be a strain on your family and moving an individual into a facility designed to care for the aging can be tremendously helpful. Not only do nursing homes have skilled staff on hand, but facility resources are also designed to help loved ones transition into their autumn years.
Unfortunately, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) provides data indicating that approximately one out of every 10 Americans over the age of 60 will experience some form of elder abuse. Many times, this is nursing home abuse comes at the hands of caregivers at a senior care facility. Nursing home neglect and abuse takes many forms, such as:
The elderly who are experiencing nursing home abuse or neglect are at an increased risk of death at a rate of 300% more those who do not experience such cases of elder abuse. During a time when your loved one is supposed to be enjoying their golden years, the last thing you want is another’s misconduct causing harm to your loved one. What can you do to ensure nursing homes and elder care facilities are following the law and treating their patrons with the respect they deserve?
Nursing Home Abuse Takes Many Shapes
Under the Nursing Home Care Act, the state of Illinois ensures that nursing home patrons and their families have recourse if the unthinkable happens and the facility or one of their agents neglects or mistreats an individual. For example, every nursing home resident has a right to manage their own financial affairs. Additionally, residents must be allowed their own personal physician if requested, albeit at their own expense. In addition to the hard line rules, Illinois law also requires that caregivers treat residents with dignity, ensuring privacy and respect in treatment programs.
Although sometimes patients or residents may need restraints to prevent them from harming themselves, these restraints may never be used as punishment. The facility, however, may not use restraints without the informed consent of the resident or the resident’s guardian.
Sometimes physical neglect or abuse in a nursing home is obvious, but emotional trauma is less apparent, particularly when a resident suffers from an ailment that prevents them from effectively communicating.
Chicago Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers and Elder Abuse Attorneys Can Help You
It may appear that nursing home lawsuits resulting from the injury of a loved one are straightforward. Although the law does prohibit certain neglectful or abusive acts, administering justice remains complicated. A skilled nursing home lawyer will help you determine who to bring an action against and also what claims to assert.
The experienced Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys at Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. understand the complicated nature of bringing caretakers and nursing home facilities to justice in the unfortunate event of nursing home negligence and abuse. Let our nursing home abuse lawyers in Chicago help you. Please contact us today at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW.
Malnutrition is a widespread problem among senior citizens in nursing homes. According to The Commonwealth Fund, at least 33 percent of nursing home residents in America suffer from dehydration, malnutrition, or both.
NBC Chicago recently reported on a tragic case involving nursing home abuse and the law that might prevent the family of the deceased from attaining justice. The 88-year-old victim spent the last 10 months of his life in a nursing home and required around-the-clock care after suffering a stroke.
Physical, sexual and emotional abuse can all occur in a nursing home setting, and such abuse is a very real problem in the United States. According to the National Council on Aging, as many as 5 million seniors experience some kind of elder abuse annually.
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