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Nursing homes are expected to maintain a certain level of cleanliness not only because residents deserve to live in a facility that is sanitary and clean, but also because unsanitary conditions promote the spread of bacteria and infections. Unfortunately, not all workers in these facilities recognize how serious it is to maintain a healthy level of sanitation. 

If your loved one is currently living in a facility in Chicago that appears to be unsanitary or you have noticed certain measures not being implemented by staff members that aim to prevent the spread of germs and infections, there are a few ways you can address the issue.

1. Report your findings to the administrative team. 

A nursing home resident’s health and safety and two very important things that should never be put in jeopardy. If a nursing home resident is put at risk of contracting a deadly virus or an infection simply because staff members aren’t being cautious or cleaning up behind themselves or the residents they care for, this should be brought to the administrative team’s attention. 

If nursing home workers aren’t implementing certain measures to help keep residents healthy and well, they could be accused of being neglectful. Residents who aren’t provided with the care and attention they are expected to receive may be a victim of neglect. Nursing homes that promote neglectful behavior or fail to intervene after an incident has been reported can be held financially liable for causing a resident to suffer from one or more health conditions.

1. Report the issue to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). 

There are many different public and private agencies that regulate and inspect nursing homes in Illinois, the IDPH being one of them. The agency is responsible for conducting on-site inspections to ensure nursing homes are in compliance with mandatory state regulations. If a home is found to have a deficiency, the facility can rebut the allegations. However, if the home ends up being cited, it will be given 10 days, according to the IDPH to “submit a written plan of correction” that details “how and when each deficiency will be corrected.”

How to report a nursing home to the IDPH? 

Because the IDPH is responsible for investigating complaints involving a lack of infection control, you can file a health care complaint with the agency if you feel the home is putting their residents’ health and safety at risk and aren’t doing anything to correct the issue. To file a complaint with the IDPH, you will need to either submit a Healthcare Facilities Complaint Form via mail or fax or call the agency at 800-252-4343. 

The complaint form along with the agency’s mailing address and fax number can be accessed by clicking here.

When should I contact a Chicago, IL nursing home neglect lawyer? 

The nursing home neglect attorneys at Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. are always here to answer your questions and address your concerns. Therefore, you can contact us anytime you feel there is an issue that is putting your loved one at risk. We also advise that you contact us if your loved one has been the victim of abuse or the neglect they have been subjected to has caused them to experience adverse effects.

What can a Chicago nursing home neglect attorney do for me?

Nursing homes are required to meet certain state and federal standards as well as respect a resident’s rights. Facilities that fail to meet these standards and cause a resident to suffer can be sued for damages. For example, let’s say your loved one was exposed to a deadly virus as a result of staff members being neglectful and their health declined as a result. They had to undergo medical treatment and later passed away. Because their decline in health along with their death could have potentially been avoided, the facility could be held financially liable for them passing away.

A facility might also be held accountable for the pain and suffering a resident experienced as a result of workers failing to implement an effective infection control plan. 

When a nursing home fails to meet certain standards or becomes lax and allows the facility to become unsanitary, a nursing home abuse lawyer will look to see if one or more employees’ actions are responsible for causing your loved one to suffer. If a connection can be made, you may have the grounds to file a civil lawsuit and request that your loved one being awarded compensation. 

The Chicago Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers at Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. Will Walk You Through the Lawsuit Process

If we determine you have a viable case against a nursing home in Chicago, you can rest assured that we will help you through each phase of the lawsuit process. In fact, you can count on us to handle most of the work for you. Learning that a loved one is being neglected is never easy to digest, but there are ways to address the issue and even obtain justice for the pain and suffering a facility has caused your loved one to experience.

If you are interested in receiving a free consultation to learn more about how our firm may be able to help you, contact us today at 1-312-384-1920.

You can contact Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at:

221 North La Salle Drive, Suite 1100

Chicago, IL 60601

Phone: 1-312-384-1920

Website: www.dinizululawgroup.com

CHICAGO, IL – Around 1 in 6 people ages 60 and older experience some form of abuse in community settings during the past year according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Nursing home abuse may be as widespread in the community as child abuse as some evidence suggests.

Elder abuse is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distrust to an elderly individual. This type of violence is a violation of human rights and includes physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional abuse; financial abuse; abandonment; neglect; and serious loss of dignity and respect.

Elder abuse has been on ongoing public health problem for years. A 2017 showed people in 28 countries from diverse regions, including 12 low- and middle-income countries, estimated that over the last year, nearly 16% of people 60 and older were subject to some form of abuse.

Elderly individuals are more vulnerable to becoming a victim of abuse if they suffer from chronic diseases or suffer from a physical or cognitive impairment.

Abusive acts in long-term care facilities may include physically restraining a resident; depriving them of dignity (for example, leaving them in soiled clothing), and choice over daily affairs; intentionally providing insufficient care (like allowing them to develop bed sores); over and under-medicating and withholding medication from residents; and emotional neglect and abuse.

Elder abuse can lead to physical injuries – ranging from minor scratches to broken bones and disabling injuries. Sometimes injuries can cause long-lasting, psychological consequences such as depression or anxiety. A study by WHO found that victims of elder abuse are twice more likely to die prematurely than people who are not victims of elder abuse.

Risk Factors

Risk factors may increase the potential for your loved one to become a victim of elder abuse that can be identified at individual, relationship, community, and socio-cultural levels.

Individuals

Risks at the individual level include poor physical health and mental health of the victim, and mental disorders and alcohol or substance abuse in the abuser. Another individual factor which may increase the chance of abuse includes the gender of the victim and if they live in a shared living situation. Older men have the same risk of abuse to women; however, in some cultures where women have inferior social status, elderly women are at a higher risk of neglect and financial abuse when they are widowed. Women may also be a higher risk of more persistent and severe forms of abuse and neglect.

Relationship

A shared living situation is a risk factor for elder abuse. An abuser’s dependency on the older person (mostly financial) also increases the risk of abuse. In some situations, a history of poor family relationships may worsen because of stress when the older person becomes more care dependent.

Community

Social isolation of caregivers and older persons, and ensuing the lack of social support, is a significant risk factor for elder abuse. Many elder individuals are isolated because of loss of physical or mental capacity.

Socio-Cultural

Socio-cultural factors that may affect the risk of elder abuse include:

• Erosions of the bonds between generations of a family
• Ageist stereotypes where older adults are depicted as frail, weak, and dependent
• Systems of inheritance and land rights, affecting the distribution of power and material goods within a family
• Migration of young couples, leaving older parents alone in societies where older people were traditionally cared for by their offspring
• Lack of funds to pay for care

Within institutions, abuse is more likely to occur where:

• Standards for health care, welfare services, and care facilities for elder persons are low
• Staff is poorly trained, remunerated, and overworked
• Physical environment is deficient
• Policies operate in the interest of the institution rather than the residents

Preventing Elder Abuse

Many strategies have been implemented to prevent elder abuse and to act against it. Interventions have been implemented to prevent elder abuse including:

• Public and professional awareness campaigns
• Screening (of potential victims and abusers)
• School-based intergenerational programs
• Caregiver support interventions (including stress management and respite care)
• Residential care policies to define and improve standards of care
• Caregiver training on dementia

Efforts to respond to and prevent further abuse include interventions such as:

• Mandatory reporting of abuse to authorities
• Self-help groups
• Safe-houses and emergency shelters
• Psychological programs for abusers
• Helplines to provide information and referrals
• Caregiver support interventions

Multiple sectors and interdisciplinary collaborations can contribute to reducing elder abuse, including social welfare sector, the education sector, and health sector.

Social welfare sectors can contribute through the provision of legal, financial, and housing support; education sectors through public education and awareness campaigns; and health sectors through the detection and treatment of victims by primary health care providers.

Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Chicago, Illinois

If you believe your loved one is a victim of elder abuse, please call our experienced nursing home abuse attorneys at Dinizulu Law Group. Our skilled attorneys have the knowledge and resources to bring justice for your loved one. Call our firm today for a free consultation at (312) 384-1920 or visit our website for more information.

Chicago, IL—Many issues exist within nursing homes that lead to poor quality care and unhealthy living conditions. One of those issues is understaffing. When a facility fails to ensure there is ample staff available to tend to the residents living there, it can lead to abuse, neglect, and mistreatment. Sadly, many nursing homes are aware of the risks associated with having low staffing levels but still choose not to bring on enough staff members in each work shift so that it doesn’t interfere with the facility’s ability to profit.

Although understaffing can serve as an issue in any type of nursing home, an article shared by the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health cites that it is predominately a problem in for-profit homes and for-profit chains. According to the source “profit incentive is linked to low staffing because for-profit homes and for-profit chains operate with lower staffing and more quality deficiencies than nonprofit and publicly owned facilities.” The source also cites that the facilities that have earned the most are the ones that often have the poorest quality.

If you have a loved one who is living in a nursing home that appears to be understaffed, you are encouraged to read on to learn more about how it can affect the residents who are living there.

How does understaffing affect nursing home residents?

Understaffing can have a multitude of effects on nursing home residents. Based on a study that involved 12 separate nursing home facilities, it was found that understaffing led to the following:

1. Call lights were not answered in a timely manner. 

Many residents rely on their call lights to notify staff members when they require assistance or have a concern that needs to be addressed. When a call light goes unanswered and a resident cannot get up and tend to their own needs, it can lead to serious outcomes. For instance, if a resident is not feeling well and their call light is ignored for hours, their condition could quickly worsen and reach a point where it may be more difficult to treat.

Based on the study, many residents claimed that because their call lights were not answered, they were unable to get up and use the restroom which resulted in them soiling their clothing and bed. Some residents said they were left in feces and/or urine for long periods of time.

     2. Residents were left unbathed or left in the same soiled clothing for days.

When there aren’t enough staff members to tend to all the residents who are living in a facility, it is expected that certain needs are not going to be met, including providing a resident with a clean change of clothes on a daily basis or after an accident.

     3. Bad odors filled the halls as linens were not changed regularly.

When clothing and linens are not changed, especially after a resident has soiled them, it is not only unsanitary and could lead to the development of infections, but it also can cause a resident’s room and even the halls to become filled with a foul odor.

     4. Poor oral care and personal hygiene.

Many residents complained of having poor oral care and personal hygiene as they were not helped out of bed to tend to their basic needs such as brushing their teeth, combing their hair, and getting dressed.

     5. Residents were not repositioned every two to four hours as needed.

It is especially important for residents who are bedridden or limited in their physical abilities to be repositioned every few hours to prevent from them developing bedsores. Bedsores develop on the skin as a result of pressure being applied to the same area.¹ This pressure cuts off the blood supply to the skin. Once a bedsore develops and is left untreated, it can worsen and eventually become an open wound. 

The longer a resident is left in the same position, the more likely they are to develop a bedsore.

What are a nursing home residents’ rights when they are a victim of neglect?

Nursing home residents should always be provided with the proper level of care and should never be subjected to neglect, regardless of whether a facility is understaffed or not. The fact is, the individuals who live in these facilities depend on the health care workers to meet their needs and when they fail to do so, it is the residents who have to suffer both physically and psychologically. 

With that said, if your loved one has been neglected by nursing home staff members which has led to them suffering, they may have a civil case against the nursing home. Illinois nursing homes are required to meet certain state and federal standards, and when these standards are not met, and a resident is harmed, they can potentially sue the facility for financial relief. If you are interested in learning more about bringing a lawsuit against a Chicago nursing home, you can contact Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at 1-312-384-1920 to speak with one of our trusted Chicago nursing home neglect lawyers.

You can contact Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at:

221 North La Salle Drive, Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 1-312-384-1920

Website: www.dinizululawgroup.com

Sources:

1. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/bedsores 

Bed bugs can become an issue for anyone, even nursing home residents. These “public health pests” as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) refers to them, often travel from one place to the next by attaching to clothing, furniture, or even boxes. Given the size of these insects, they do have the ability to hide in small spaces and remain inconspicuous.

Once bed bugs are introduced to a new area such as a nursing home, they can easily travel from room to room making it even more difficult to prevent them from reproducing and spreading.

Common Places Bed Bugs Hide

Once bed bugs have made it into a nursing home, the Mayo Clinic says these insects can often be found in the following areas:

• Mattresses
• Bedframe
• Headboards
• Clutter near the bed
• Under peeling paint
• In upholstered furniture seams
• Under light switch plates or electrical outlets

Are bed bugs a health concern?

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says bed bugs are not known to spread disease, they can cause an aging individual to suffer from one or more health conditions if they are bitten. For instance, the EPA says an individual might experience any of the following symptoms after being bitten by bed bugs:

• Allergic reactions. Bed bugs affect people in different ways. While some may have no reaction at all, others could go into anaphylaxis shock. Although anaphylaxis is a rare reaction to a bed bug bite, it is possible for a person to experience a severe allergic reaction to it. When anaphylaxis is not treated immediately, it can cause an individual to go into shock and lead to a fatal outcome.

• Secondary infections. After an individual is bitten by a bed bug, they might experience a secondary infection such as impetigo, ecthyma, or lymphangitis. If an individual does develop an infection and it is left untreated, it could lead to more serious health issues.

• Mental health impact. The EPA says some individuals who are living with bed bugs might experience anxiety, insomnia, and/or systemic reactions.

How can I tell if there are bed bugs in the nursing home my loved one is living in?

You may be able to tell if bed bugs are present by looking for physical signs in your loved one’s living area or even on their skin. Some of the physical signs that might appear when bed bugs are present include:

• Rusty or reddish stains might show up on bed sheets or mattresses. If your relative’s sheets are washed regularly, you may not notice these as easily, however, if your loved one is living in a home where their needs aren’t tended to frequently, these signs may be more obvious. In the event you have a relative living in a Chicago nursing home, and you have noticed signs that point to neglect, you can contact Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. to discuss this with one of our Chicago, IL nursing home neglect attorneys.

• Dark spots on fabric. Bed bugs sometimes leave dark spots on fabric if they are squished or bleed onto it.

• Dark spots around outlets or underneath a mattress.

According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the signs that might appear on an individual who is living with bed bugs include:

• Red spots with a darker red spot in the middle.
• The individual might complain of being itchy.
• The red spots might appear in an arranged line or even in a cluster.
• You may notice these spots on a person’s neck, arms, hands, or face.

What to do when you notice signs of bed bugs in a nursing home?

If you think bed bugs are present in your loved one’s nursing home, you should bring this to the attention of an administrator immediately so the issue can be addressed. Generally, bed bugs can be removed with the proper pest management, however, there are other steps health care workers can take to gain control of the situation.

Important: If you think the nursing home your loved one is living in is performing below state or federal standards, you can report the home to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

When to Contact a Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer in Chicago, IL

When a nursing home fails to address an issue or subjects a resident to abuse or neglect, you should then consider contacting a nursing home abuse lawyer. The attorneys at Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. can assess the situation and determine what needs to be done to get it resolved. In the event your loved one is not only being neglected but you think staff members may be mistreating him/her, we can help you to take the necessary legal action to hold the home and workers accountable for their behavior.

If you would like to schedule a time to speak with one of our Chicago, IL nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers, contact us at 1-312-384-1920.

You can contact Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at:

221 North La Salle Drive, Suite 1100

Chicago, IL 60601

Phone: 1-312-384-1920

Website: www.dinizululawgroup.com

Each year, the U.S. experiences the flu season which occurs in the fall and winter. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says cases of the flu typically spike in December and February, it isn’t uncommon to see cases as late as May and sporadically throughout the remainder of the year. The flu, like many other viruses, can easily be spread from person to person and is particularly threatening to older adults, especially those residing in nursing homes.

The CDC estimates that from October 1, 2019, through April 4, 2020, between 24,000-62,000 deaths were recorded in connection with the flu, and between 410,000-740,000 individuals were hospitalized after contracting it. Because the flu spreads easily and carries some rather serious symptoms, long-term care facilities such as nursing homes must ensure they are doing their part to prevent a flu outbreak.

Steps Nursing Homes Can Take to Prevent a Flu Outbreak

According to the CDC, there are a number of steps nursing homes in Chicago and all across the U.S. can take to help prevent a flu outbreak. Here are a few of the CDC’s recommendations:

1. Administer the flu vaccine to those who consent to it.

The flu vaccine is typically made available to the public year-round, although the CDC says it should be administered before influenza (i.e. flu) season starts. Typically, nursing homes will begin to administer the vaccine at the beginning of September but may continue to offer it later in the year. In the event a facility receives a new resident after their influenza vaccination program has ended, the CDC recommends that the facility discuss the benefits of the vaccination with the resident or their legal representative and administer it as soon as possible if they have given consent to receive it.

      2. The CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all healthcare personnel get vaccinated annually.

Because healthcare workers go in and out of nursing homes on a daily basis, they could potentially contract it from an outside source and bring it into the nursing home. However, healthcare workers who choose to get vaccinated may be able to help reduce the transmission of the flu.

      3. Facilities should continuously monitor the health conditions of residents, staff, and visitors.

The CDC recommends that nursing homes conduct daily surveillance of residents, staff members, and visitors to ensure anyone who is entering the facility isn’t displaying symptoms closely related to the flu. If anyone entering a nursing home shows flu symptoms, they should not enter the facility until their symptoms have subsided.

      4. Administer flu tests when necessary.

If healthcare staff members at a nursing home witness signs and symptoms of the flu among residents, they should administer a flu test so that the resident can be treated promptly in the event they did contract the flu.

How should nursing homes handle a flu outbreak when one occurs?

When two or more residents in a nursing home have contracted the flu, the CDC says an influenza outbreak might be occurring. When a nursing home suspects that it may have a flu outbreak, staff members must take immediate action. Some of the steps the CDC recommends nursing homes take include:

1. Continuously monitor residents, staff members, etc. to see if anyone is showing signs related to the virus.
2. Implement outbreak control measures. Each nursing home should have outbreak control measures in place and should implement them when situations like these arise.
3. Healthcare workers should take standard precautions such as:

• Wearing gloves when coming in contact with potentially contaminated surfaces or respiratory secretions.
• Wearing a gown when coming in contact with clothing that is soiled with a resident’s respiratory secretions.
• Change gloves and gowns with each resident encounter.
• Always wash their hands before and after touching a resident or touching something in their environment.

In addition to the CDC’s recommendations outlined above, nursing homes are also expected to provide a sick resident with the appropriate level of treatment immediately to prevent from having their condition worsen. If necessary, a resident who has contracted the flu virus should also be isolated from other residents until he/she has gotten better.

What if nursing home staff members fail to implement the recommended safety precautions during a flu outbreak?

If staff members at a nursing home are aware there is an active flu outbreak in their facility and fail to implement the necessary safety measures to get it under control, there are ways a family member can recognize the facility for their negligence. For starters, a family member may file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). If a resident was harmed because he/she was neglected or did not receive the proper care during a flu outbreak, their family can also contact the Chicago, IL nursing home neglect lawyers at Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. for legal advice on how to address the issue. If you would like to set up a free consultation to learn more about our firm and how we can help you, contact us at 1-312-384-1920.

Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. can be reached at:

221 North La Salle Drive, Suite 1100

Chicago, IL 60601

Phone: 1-312-384-1920

Website: www.dinizululawgroup.com