The residents who occupy the rooms of Chicago nursing homes are there for a reason. They are elderly, fragile, or simply cannot take care of themselves in the manner that supports overall health and wellness. While nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are expected to care for these individuals and protect them from danger, nursing home abuse is evident in many facilities located all across the country, not just in Illinois.
Sadly, nursing home abuse comes in many forms. Staff members physically abuse residents, some fail to feed them which results in malnourishment, and other residents have been recognized for harming other residents whom they are living with. Although it is important to be able to recognize the various forms of nursing home abuse and what each might look like, we are focusing on resident-on-resident abuse as it is a concern that sometimes is left unaddressed.
If a loved one of yours is being abused in the long-term care facility they are living in, call Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. in Chicago today at 1-312-384-1920 to speak with a qualified nursing home abuse attorney regarding the matter.
What is RREM?
The Consumer Voice defines RREM, or Resident to Resident Elder Mistreatment, as “negative physical, sexual, or verbal interactions between long-term care residents that in a community setting would likely be construed as unwelcome and have high potential to cause physical or psychological distress in the recipient.”
Some examples of verbal RREM might include:
- Cursing
- Making verbal threats
- Screaming
- Bossing another resident around
- Using racial or ethnic slurs toward another resident
Some examples of physical forms of RREM include:
- Kicking
- Grabbing
- Biting
- Spitting
- Scratching
- Pushing
- Hitting or striking
The fact is, many individuals who go into nursing homes suffer from things like dementia and Alzheimer’s which can affect their cognitive ability. They sometimes get angry and forget who they feel aggression towards. This could result in one resident harming another simply because they are confused and upset. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why nursing home staff members are expected to monitor the residents living there and separate someone who has a violent past or is known for abrupt outbursts from the others.
While you can’t be present in a nursing home to protect your loved one at all hours of the day, you do want to be cognizant of the fact that resident to resident elder mistreatment occurs far too frequently.
If you are under the impression that your elderly relative is being abused or mistreated by another resident or even a staff member, the Chicago nursing home lawyers at Dinizulu Law Group in Chicago are ready to investigate the matter. Many cases often go unaddressed and our nursing home mistreatment attorneys will work to determine if someone is behaving negligently or if the facility isn’t properly caring for your loved one.
Contact our firm today to speak with a legal representative who is willing and able to help you.
