Has your loved one been a victim of nursing home neglect in Chicago, Illinois? 40% of deaths due to Covid-19 are linked to nursing homes according to the New York Times. The Times reports that 62,000 nursing home residents have died from the virus. Now, many of those families are asking for answers. Some families were kept in the dark about what was happening at their loved one’s nursing home. Across the nation we are hearing stories about the breakdown of communication between families and staff, failures of staff to properly isolate sick residents or to seek more critical medical care for sick residents in time. In other situations, nursing homes didn’t have emergency plans in place, didn’t have enough protective equipment, and overall failed to properly care for the residents in their nursing home.
The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. is a nursing home neglect law firm in Chicago, Illinois that works with families who have lost a loved one due to Covid-19 or whose loved one was injured in a nursing home due to nursing home neglect or elder abuse. If your loved one died of Covid-19 and you are looking for answers, or if a loved one suffered an injury in a nursing home and you have questions, reach out to the nursing home negligence attorney at the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. in Chicago, Illinois today. We are here to help you.
Nursing Home Responsibilities During the Covid-19 Outbreak
Nursing home populations are particularly vulnerable to the worst symptoms of Covid-19. Older Americans and Americans with underlying health conditions are particularly at risk of developing severe illness and dying from their illness. Because of these unique risks, nursing home staff and leaders have a special responsibility to prepare for, and to prevent outbreaks before they happen. According to the Centers for Disease Control, every nursing home should have one person on staff to provide management of infection prevention and control. Does your loved one’s nursing home have a staff member assigned to infection prevention and control? Now might be the time to find out.
Some basic infection control strategies include requiring visitors and staff to wear face masks at all times. If residents can wear face masks, they should be required to do so when they are in common areas. Nursing homes should screen visitors and possibly take steps to limit the number of visitors by restricting visitation to certain areas, and limiting visitor’s hours to prevent the spread of disease. Nursing homes should also educate visitors, families, and residents about how Covid-19 spreads and about the unique needs that nursing home residents have.
Nursing homes should also have a clear plan in place for testing residents and for isolating residents should a resident get sick. When it comes to monitoring nursing home staff, nursing homes should have flexible sick leave and encourage workers to stay home should they feel sick. Nursing homes should also have a staffing plan in place should multiple staff fall ill at once. Staff should also be screened for fevers before they interact with residents and be sent home if they have a fever. Finally, nursing homes should also make sure to have sufficient personal protective equipment available for staff, have sufficient hand sanitizer, and implement proper sanitizing procedures.
These are just some of the most basic procedures that should be in place. There has been more than enough time for all nursing homes across the nation to implement a proper safety plan. Does your loved one’s nursing home have one? If your loved one has fallen ill with Covid-19, you may want to ask your loved one’s nursing home what plan is in place to handle an outbreak. And if you lost a loved one to Covid-19 and your loved one was in the care of a nursing home, you may have many questions. The nursing home neglect lawyer at the Dinizulu Law Group in Chicago, Illinois may be able to help you ask these questions and get answers. Our nursing home negligence law firm in Chicago, Illinois fights for the rights of families who have suffered losses because of nursing home neglect.
Elder Abuse Law Firm in Chicago, Illinois
Nursing home residents are vulnerable members of the population and are more at risk of abuse. What is elder abuse? Elder abuse includes physical violence, including physical punishment, hitting, slapping, or restraining an elderly person in any way. Locking an elderly person in their room is a form of elder abuse. Emotional abuse is a form of psychological abuse which can include yelling at the elderly resident, ignoring him or her, threatening him or her, or preventing close relatives or friends from seeing the elderly person. Financial abuse is when another person takes an elder’s money through manipulation or by stealing from him or her outright. Elder abuse can also include elder sexual abuse.
The signs of elder abuse can sometimes be subtle. Watch for new unexplained bruises, changes in your loved one’s appearance or mood, changes in weight, withdrawal or lack of interest in former activities, or the development of bed sores. If your loved one is wearing broken eyeglasses, shows signs of neglect, or is living in unsafe conditions, this could also be a sign of elder abuse. The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. is an elder abuse law firm in Chicago, Illinois that may be able to help you and your family seek justice if your loved one was abused. Our nursing home negligence attorney works closely with families in Chicago, Illinois to help them seek justice for their losses following instances of elder abuse or neglect. If you believe your loved one has suffered because of negligence or abuse on the part of a nursing home, the nursing home negligence attorney at the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. in Chicago, Illinois is here to help you.
