Nursing home abuse

What Distinguishes a Good Nursing Home Facility From a Bad One?

August 13, 2018/in Blog, nursing home neglect, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

The latest innovations in technology have helped ensure our elderly loved ones can be safer in a nursing home facility today than what was the case a decade ago. But are all the nursing homes taking advantage of today’s technology? To distinguish a good nursing home facility from bad one, there are many things you can review before selecting a place.

Background Checks

The emergence of electronic records that can be shared between law enforcement across various states have made background checks more reliable and easier to complete. But it’s the hiring practices of the nursing home that can reveal whether it does background checks in a thorough manner, or if at all.

Safety Alert Systems

While only 5% of the elderly population lives in nursing homes, 20% of elderly falls and accidents occur in them. Almost 2,000 nursing home residents die each year from these falls, and many suffer from other injuries. Good quality nursing homes have extensive training and safety systems in place to minimize the risk of injury among their residents. This includes alerting systems that can buzz and communicate to the nursing home staff when a fall-risk resident gets up unassisted. Top quality nursing homes have these systems so that the onus is not simply on the elderly resident to press a call button to get assistance. Always ask a nursing facility to demonstrate their safety alert system.

Caring For Residents Suffering From Alzheimer’s Disease

Good nursing homes invest in training staff to properly care for residents suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers who have extensive training in how to cope with behavior linked to Alzheimer’s are less likely to verbally abuse a resident. These caregivers often understand how to best handle situations that may arise, and are more likely to respond appropriately.

Administering Medicine

Often times, one caregiver is responsible for administering medicine to many residents, and there is a risk that pills can get mixed. These dangers increase if caregivers are overwhelmed, or working in a nursing home that doesn’t hire adequate staff. Good quality facilities will have a highly organized method for administering medications.

Such nursing homes will put daily medication doses in sealed packets and cross-reference them to a medication list before administering them to residents. Don’t be afraid to ask a facility about its procedures for administering medications before placing your loved one there.

Infection Prevention & Control

Infections can have deadly results, especially for our elderly loved ones. Be sure that your loved one’s nursing home facility takes the threat of infections seriously. Are patients kept separately when they are contagious? Does the nursing home offer infection prevention & control training to its staff? Do you see such training enforced? For example, do you see the staff washing hands regularly, wearing gloves, and using clean medical devices?

Renovations & Floor Plans to Prevent Falls

Good nursing homes often get renovations when they are needed and the layout of such nursing homes is designed to make it easier for the elderly to navigate. This includes slip-resistant flooring, light beams that guide along hallways and exits, unobstructed walkways, supportive furniture, (such as chairs with padding support and armrests), low-pile carpet that’s properly secured to the floor as opposed to loose rugs, shag or high-pile carpets, which are all considered a fall risk for the elderly.

While we hope these tips help you select the right facility for your elderly loved one, it’s not uncommon to see some nursing homes go back on their promises after admitting your loved one. If you notice that the care of your mom or dad is not what was promised, you may need a dedicated and experienced nursing home neglect or abuse lawyer. Our nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers in Chicago have over 50 years of combined experience with verdicts and settlements reaching millions of dollars. Contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. to fight for you and your loved one. We offer free initial consultations and can be reached by email or phone at 1 (312) 384-1920 or 1 (800) 693-1LAW.

Wife Comforting Senior Resident With Dementia

When Filing a Nursing Home Complaint is Not Enough

June 11, 2018/in Blog, Elder abuse, nursing home neglect, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

If your loved one resides in a nursing home facility, chances are they are there because they need assistance in doing the things they used to be able to do independently. Nursing home facilities are utilized because they are able to provide 24-hour care and they have experienced medical professionals on site. These medical professionals monitor your family member’s prescriptions, meals, and build a care plan around your loved one’s dietary, medical, and social needs. Remember, you or your loved one signs a contract when entering the nursing home that both highlights your loved one’s needs and promises that these needs will be attended to.

Therefore, it is very important to say something if you notice instances of lacking care. Nursing home administrators should be notified immediately if you see:

A delayed response to your loved one’s call light
A fellow resident or staff member is rude and disrespectful
Prescriptions are not administered properly when they are needed
Your loved one’s hygiene suffers, such as their linens or undergarments are not regularly changed
Their possessions are missing
Your loved one is given food they don’t like, or is inedible, or against their dietary plan
The meals arrive late, or meals are being skipped entirely
Your loved one is isolated or afraid around particular caregivers

After your discussion with the facility’s administrators, such as the Director of Nursing, the Dietary Manager, and/or the Activities Director, your loved one’s concerns should be addressed immediately. Instead, if you see the same lacking care continue, it may be time to contact a knowledgeable and experienced nursing home neglect attorney.

While it always helps if you complain to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), for many residents, this is not enough to rectify the problem. Sometimes, IDPH may take longer than normal to investigate the complaint. Also, many nursing homes fall back on their old habits of bad care once they know the complaint is closed. In the meantime, your family member should not be suffering due to administrative back logs or the nursing home’s persistent wrongs. Contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. right away so our Chicago nursing home neglect attorneys can offer help for mom or dad. We can be reached at 1 (312) 384-1920 or 1 (800) 693-1LAW, or by email. Contact us to schedule a free initial consultation.

380,000 Preventable Infection-Related Deaths Per Year

March 23, 2018/in Blog, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

The Department of Health & Human Services estimates that 380,000 people die each year due to infection-related complications. Many of these deaths happen in nursing homes where lapses in infection control have become a norm. Simple steps to prevent infections, such as hand-washing, isolating sick patients, and preventing sick employees from coming to work are being ignored across America’s nursing homes.

The Chicago Sun Times reported that four years of inspection records show 74% of nursing homes were cited for failing to meet infection control standards.

This investigation revealed that while repeat citations are being commonly issued for infection control violations, disciplinary actions against nursing homes, such as fines, are rare. Nationwide, only 1 in 75 nursing homes that was found deficient for infection control in these four years has received a high-level citation that results in a financial penalty.

Infections, many avoidable, cause a quarter of the medical injuries Medicare beneficiaries experience in nursing homes, according to The Department of Health & Human Services’ report. Infections are also among the most frequent reasons residents are sent back again to the hospital.

While the deaths from infection-related complications grow, the nursing home industry is getting the message that they don’t need to act. Low-level warnings given year after year are falling on deaf ears. Nursing homes need to hire adequate staff, properly train staff about infection control, and provide sufficient paid sick leave to staff to encourage them to stay home when they are sick. While these changes are easy to implement, they will not happen unless The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees nursing home inspections, recognizes that nursing homes need accountability.

While it may take some time for CMS to update their regulations for nursing homes, don’t feel that you or your family member is alone. If you or a loved one was injured due to an infection caused in a nursing home, you are entitled to justice and fair compensation for the harm caused. The Chicago nursing home neglect attorneys of the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. have over 50 years of combined experience in taking on some of the largest corporate-chain nursing homes. With a reputation for tough litigation and verdicts and settlements in the millions of dollars for our clients, we understand the tactics nursing homes use to protect their bottom lines. Contact us for a free initial consultation. Call 1 (312) 384-1920 or 1 (800) 693-1LAW, or reach us by email.

What are Nursing Homes in Illinois Being Fined For?

January 23, 2018/in Blog, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

Long-term care facilities that cater to the elderly and the immobile have a difficult job to do. It takes hard work and compassion to provide the care and treatments these patients/residents require. Sadly, there are many facilities that hire workers who are not in the business of “caring” which places many residents at risk of suffering an injury or contracting an illness. While these facilities are required to follow federal regulations, evidence has proven that there is little repercussion when laws are broken.

The Nursing Home Industry is Seeking Relief from Being Penalized for Misconduct

January 23, 2018/in Blog, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

The nursing home industry has spoken and asked for Medicare to shift their penalty protocols to help provide the industry with some relief. And surprisingly enough, President Trump seems to be answering their request. The New York Times has reported that the Trump administration “is scaling back the use of fines against nursing homes that harm residents or place them in grave risk of injury.”]. While Illinois already struggles with this issue, reducing the fines nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are faced with for behaving negligently isn’t going to help solve the issue. Perhaps it will only worsen it.

How to Choose the Right Caregiver for Your Elderly Loved One

January 2, 2018/in Blog, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

If you have come to terms that now is the time that your elderly loved one receives their regular care from a home health care company or in a long-term care facility, you want to be sure you place them in the right hands. But, how do you know which company or facility is licensed and qualified to provide the care and treatment you want rendered to your loved one? The truth is, it takes time and patience as this shouldn’t be a rushed process.

Aging Pastor Neglected by His Nursing Home Caregivers

December 22, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse, nursing home neglect, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

Robert, an aging pastor, who lived a life of service and put others first, was neglected by his care providers in an Illinois nursing home.

Robert was admitted into a nursing home with severe illnesses that required 24-hour care. Robert suffered from Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and dysphasia, among other medical conditions. Dysphasia causes one to have trouble swallowing food and therefore, the person must be monitored closely to ensure proper digestion. Failure to monitor this food intake can cause the person to choke or aspirate, meaning the food gets stuck in the throat or lung. Because of these risks, Robert should never be allowed to eat alone. What did the nursing home do to monitor these health concerns? Watch the video to learn more.

Just a few weeks after being admitted, a care giver at the nursing home noticed Robert was eating poorly and pocketing food. This is critical because since Robert was pocketing food, he could later eat that food while he wasn’t being watched and could suffocate as a result. The caregiver did absolutely nothing after noticing that Robert was pocketing food, like alerting the doctor or the head nurse.

After a few days, Robert was found to be lethargic with concealed food on him. He developed a cough and congestion, had labored breathing, and a fever. These symptoms worsened.

Finally, the nursing home sent Robert to a hospital. Only after going to the hospital was Robert diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. You see, Robert had likely ingested the pocketed food that became lodged in his lung, causing the aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia happens when substances, such as gastric contents, are inhaled into the lungs. This also creates a bacterial infection in the lung, leading to aspiration pneumonia.

Robert was a total-assist resident, meaning he needed to be fed, clothed, and changed. The nursing home ignored these responsibilities even though they fully understood Robert’s physical and mental limitations when they agreed to admit him into their facility.

Robert’s wife Michelle contacted the administrators at this nursing home to get them to properly care for Robert. They all made promises, yet the same pattern of unreasonable care continued.

I want all families like Michelle’s and all nursing home residents to know that nursing homes are accountable for the promises they make to you. There are remedies when nursing homes do wrong and cause you harm.

I know you may be watching this video because you probably have questions about your own loved one in a nursing home. Contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW. We answer questions like yours every day.

Is Your Loved One the Victim of Resident to Resident Elder Mistreatment (RREM)?

December 1, 2017/in Blog, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

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.

I Think My Loved One is Being Abused or Neglected in a Nursing Home. Who Can Help Me?

October 16, 2017/in Blog, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

While the state of Illinois requires that its professionals report nursing home abuse and/or neglect, not always do they take the necessary measures to do so. Unfortunately, many cases of elder abuse go unnoticed and unaddressed. However, you have the power with the right Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer to make a difference in your family member’s life.

What Does Nursing Home Neglect Look Like?

October 12, 2017/in Blog, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

If your loved one is in a nursing home in Chicago, IL, you probably visit them regularly to check in, and spend quality time with them and stay on top of their living conditions, right? While things may appear to be going well, it is important to be aware of what’s going on under the surface.