A large percentage of aging individuals today suffer from some form of dementia. Dementia is a syndrome that can affect a person’s memory and thinking abilities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and it can also lead to a person experiencing changes in their behavior. The WHO estimates that approximately 50 million people have dementia worldwide and 10 million new cases are recorded each year.
There are different forms of dementia, with Alzheimer’s recognized as the most common, and the illness is known to “cause disability and dependency among older people.” Many individuals who suffer from dementia either rely on family members or health care professionals such as nursing home staff members to assist them with simple tasks because the illness interferes with their ability to perform them on their own.
Although caring for and assisting a person who suffers from dementia can be challenging at times as they are often forgetful and sometimes struggle with communicating, never should their health or safety be put in jeopardy.
Addressing a Case of Nursing Home Abuse Involving a Resident with Dementia
Nursing home abuse comes in many forms and individuals who suffer from some type of dementia are often the ones who are at a higher risk of being mistreated. This is because they often have a more difficult time remembering something happened and therefore, are unable to report it.
If you believe your relative who suffers from dementia has been abused or neglected by nursing home staff members and are looking to gain a better understanding of what your next steps should be, you’ve come to the right place. At Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., our goal is to help you become well informed on what your loved one’s legal rights are and how they can be exercised when they are violated.
Nursing home residents have the right to live a life free from abuse and neglect and when that right is ignored and overlooked, something needs to be done to address it. And that’s where our team of skilled Chicago nursing home abuse lawyers come into the picture. In order to address a case of nursing home abuse, your first step is to contact our office for an initial consultation. From there, we will:
- Determine if you have a valid case. In order to address a case of abuse, you will need to have some sort of evidence to substantiate your claims.
- Help you take action. If your loved one is being harmed, it is important to remove them from the unsafe setting or report your concerns so that the worker who is being accused of abuse is no longer permitted to render care or supervise your loved one. There are different options that should be explored and a Chicago, IL nursing home abuse attorney will review with you what these are.
- Start your case. Before a case goes to court, you do have the option of informing the nursing home that you are planning on suing if corrective action isn’t taken and/or your loved one isn’t provided with damages to make up for their pain and suffering and other losses. Sometimes, when a nursing home is made aware that they could face legal action for abuse allegations, the facility may be inclined to work with you to reach some sort of settlement agreement. Of course, a skilled Chicago, IL nursing home abuse attorney will assist you through this process.
- File a civil lawsuit. In the event a settlement cannot be reached between you and the other party given you have a viable case, then we will discuss the possibility of filing a civil lawsuit.
Because each type of nursing home abuse case brings different circumstances, the course your case might take may differ from what is described above. Therefore, we do recommend that you take the time to sit down with a nursing home abuse lawyer to find what options are available to you and your loved one.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse Our Firm Can Help You Address
As previously mentioned, nursing home abuse does occur in many forms and some of the types of nursing home abuse cases we are equipped to handle include:
- Physical abuse
- Psychological abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Financial exploitation
- Neglect
Time Limit to Take Legal Action Against a Nursing Home in Chicago, IL
If you think you have a case or are planning on filing a civil lawsuit against a nursing home in Chicago or a nearby area, you are restricted to a time limit which is referred to as the statute of limitations. For most cases stemming from personal injury, an individual has two years from the date of the incident to file their lawsuit.1 After the statute of limitations expires, you may no longer be permitted to take legal action.
Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. is Ready to Help with Your Nursing Home Abuse Case
Finding out that a loved one is being abused by nursing home staff members is difficult news to take in but we want you to know that our team of experienced and knowledgeable lawyers are here to help. If you would like to find out what legal remedies are available to you or simply discuss your questions or concerns with a qualified Chicago nursing home abuse attorney, contact Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at 1-312-384-1920.
Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. is located in Chicago at:
221 North La Salle Drive, Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 1-312-384-1920
Website: www.dinizululawgroup.com
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