Nursing Home Neglect Attorney | Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd

How To Improve Your Parent’s Care At A Nursing Home

April 14, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

If you have a loved one in a nursing home, then you need to know what a care plan is. It can mean the difference between your loved one being neglected or receiving the care that they need. Watch the video to learn more.

A care plan is essentially an individualized road map of the care that your loved one will receive. It takes into account the resident’s diagnosis and individual needs. What kinds of therapies will they receive for their conditions? What kind of nutrition do they need? How about their daily schedule? Do they need daily exercise? Are they bedridden and require repositioning? These are all questions that will be discussed during their care plan conference. Any staff or doctors that will be in charge of your loved one’s care should be in attendance so that all parties can be on the same page.

Once the care plan is complete, it’s your job to ensure that the plan is being enacted. You have to make sure to stay in constant communication with staff and doctors so that they know you are serious about the care your loved one is receiving. If any changes occur with your loved one, you have to make sure that the care plan is updated and that all those are who are a part of the plan are on the same page. Watch the video to learn more.

If you suspect nursing home neglect abuse or is happening to your loved one it’s important to contact a well-experienced nursing home neglect attorney. At the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., with over 60 years of combined experience, we handle these type of cases all the time. If you have questions, please email or call us at 312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW. Our Chicago nursing home abuse lawyers are here for you. You may also learn more about nursing home neglect and abuse through our media page where you will find more videos and content on this important issue.

What Happens When A Resident Falls In A Nursing Home?

March 10, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse, nursing home neglect, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

If you have a loved one in a nursing home, chances are that they have fallen at least once. The scary part is that sometimes serious injuries can’t be sustained. Nursing homes do not always react to falls and injuries as they should.

Studies have shown that 50% of nursing home residents have fallen at least once. These falls can cause injuries that can lead to serious conditions. Contusions or abrasions can cause broken skin. Broken skin can lead to bed sores in patients that are bed-ridden. In some cases, bedsores can lead to infections such as Sepsis due to the open wound and bodily positions that may contribute to this serious problem.

Other types of injuries that can be sustained are broken bones and head injuries. The broken bones can either be displaced or non-displaced. This means that the break can be a complete break, in which the bone snaps in two and the pieces become displaced, or the break can snap partially or all the way, but still be in place. Head injuries can include concussions, skull fractures, and scalp wounds.

Because these injuries can be serious, you should be sure to make sure that the nursing home has procedures in place when a resident falls. Make sure they contact you and that they maintain proper care and oversight of any injuries that happen as a result of the fall. Watch the video to learn more.

If you have questions about nursing home falls or if you suspect nursing home neglect or abuse, please email or call us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW. Our experienced Chicago-based nursing home abuse attorneys are here for you. You may also find more videos and media content from the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. on our media page.

Who To Sue If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

March 10, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

If you have a loved one who is in a nursing home, then you expect that they will be provided with the best of care. What happens when someone abuses your loved one or neglects them? Who do you sue for nursing home abuse, and how do you do it?

Elder abuse unfortunately happens more often than we would like to think. In most cases, it is not the physician’s fault. Unless the physician is the one who specifically did the abuse, then they are not at fault. The doctor usually makes visits to the nursing home, but they do not work there full time. The director of nursing is in charge of all other medical concerns. This means that they oversee the nursing staff and medical procedures and guidelines that must be followed. The nursing home administrator handles all other departments and oversees day-to-day procedures. They are in charge of making sure that staff follows protocol, including how residents are treated.

Under Illinois state law, you can sue the corporation, the nursing home administrator, and the caregiver whose actions constituted the abuse. With constant turnover and ownership changes, it can be difficult to know exactly where to place the blame. An experienced nursing home abuse attorney can help you to determine this and to find the relevant information. Watch the video to learn more.

If you have questions about how to sue when you suspect nursing home abuse, please email or call us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW. Our experienced Chicago-based nursing home abuse attorneys are here for you. You may also find more videos and media content from the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. on our media page.

The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act: Resident’s Rights When Faced with Nursing Home Abuse, Neglect, or Bad Care

March 3, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse, nursing home neglect, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

The decision to place a loved one in a nursing home can be a difficult one. While we often have the best of intentions, caring for an elderly family member can be a strain on your family and moving an individual into a facility designed to care for the aging can be tremendously helpful. Not only do nursing homes have skilled staff on hand, but facility resources are also designed to help loved ones transition into their autumn years.

Unfortunately, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) provides data indicating that approximately one out of every 10 Americans over the age of 60 will experience some form of elder abuse. Many times, this is nursing home abuse comes at the hands of caregivers at a senior care facility. Nursing home neglect and abuse takes many forms, such as:

Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Emotional Abuse
Confinement
Passive Neglect
Willful Deprivation of Medicine, Care or Food.
Financial Exploitation

The elderly who are experiencing nursing home abuse or neglect are at an increased risk of death at a rate of 300% more those who do not experience such cases of elder abuse. During a time when your loved one is supposed to be enjoying their golden years, the last thing you want is another’s misconduct causing harm to your loved one. What can you do to ensure nursing homes and elder care facilities are following the law and treating their patrons with the respect they deserve?

Nursing Home Abuse Takes Many Shapes

Under the Nursing Home Care Act, the state of Illinois ensures that nursing home patrons and their families have recourse if the unthinkable happens and the facility or one of their agents neglects or mistreats an individual. For example, every nursing home resident has a right to manage their own financial affairs. Additionally, residents must be allowed their own personal physician if requested, albeit at their own expense. In addition to the hard line rules, Illinois law also requires that caregivers treat residents with dignity, ensuring privacy and respect in treatment programs.

Although sometimes patients or residents may need restraints to prevent them from harming themselves, these restraints may never be used as punishment. The facility, however, may not use restraints without the informed consent of the resident or the resident’s guardian.

Sometimes physical neglect or abuse in a nursing home is obvious, but emotional trauma is less apparent, particularly when a resident suffers from an ailment that prevents them from effectively communicating.

Chicago Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers and Elder Abuse Attorneys Can Help You

It may appear that nursing home lawsuits resulting from the injury of a loved one are straightforward. Although the law does prohibit certain neglectful or abusive acts, administering justice remains complicated. A skilled nursing home lawyer will help you determine who to bring an action against and also what claims to assert.

The experienced Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys at Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. understand the complicated nature of bringing caretakers and nursing home facilities to justice in the unfortunate event of nursing home negligence and abuse. Let our nursing home abuse lawyers in Chicago help you. Please contact us today at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW.

Questions To Ask a Nursing Home Administrator

February 17, 2017/in Blog, nursing home neglect, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

Do you have a loved one that needs to reside in a nursing home? Our loved ones mean the world to us. We would do anything to make them happy including researching the best care for them. Ask staff and administrators the following questions when searching for a nursing home.

The first thing that you want to inquire about is her staff’s education. What kind of experience and education do they have? Is continuing education available to them on an ongoing basis? Are they up to date in new medical techniques and care giving techniques? The next thing that you’ll want to inquire about is what the caregiver-to-resident ratio is. You want your loved one to have interactions with the same set of caregivers each day because it promotes stronger bonds and ensures that the caregivers really get to know what your loved one needs and wants.

You’ll also want to inquire about how the staff is trained in handling special conditions. Do they have training and experience working with residents who may have Dementia or Alzheimer’s? Do they know the signs, and are the able to handle any obstacles?

Finally, you’ll want to ask about the care they offer. Is staff trained in infection prevention? How about preventing bedsores or ulcers? What about best hygiene practices? These are all things that should be included in the care plans for residents. They are also all important factors in determining what facility your loved one resides in. You don’t want them somewhere where the staff are inadequately trained. Watch the video to learn more.

If you have questions about what questions to ask nursing home administrators, please contact our nursing home abuse attorneys by email or call us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW. Our experienced Chicago-based nursing home abuse lawyers are here for you. You may also find more educational videos and media content from the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. on our media page.

The Top 5 Questions For Nursing Homes According To The CDC

February 17, 2017/in Blog, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

The CDC or Center for Disease Control has a lot of guidelines on preventing infections. One set of guidelines involves the questions you should ask your nursing home about infection prevention. You want to become familiar with their protocols and how they handle that situation.

Let’s start with one point. Nursing homes are known for spreading infections. Many of the residents are elderly, and has such, may have a hard time caring for themselves. What is the nursing home staff doing to prevent infections from spreading?

You want to ask what their protocols are and how they are enacted. You want to ask about their time frame for protocols. The next question you’ll want to ask is about the staff. What are their credentials? How are they being trained, for what kinds of practices or conditions, and for how long? Do they receive continuing training and education?

What about flu shots? The flu can be devastating for the elderly and those in compromised health. Are staff and residents required to get flu shots? If so, how often? How does the nursing home handle hygiene? Do they use gloves and sanitize shared equipment regularly before using it with other patients?

Finally, you want to ask the staff how they handle infections. If an infection begins, are they going to notify you right away? How do they protect your loved one? You need to know the answers to these questions. Watch the video to learn more.

If you have questions about what you should ask the nursing home about infection prevention, policies, and procedures, please contact our nursing home abuse attorneys by email or call us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW. Our experienced Chicago-based nursing home abuse lawyers are here for you. You may also find more educational videos and media content from the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. on our media page.

Laws That Every Nursing Home Must Follow

January 27, 2017/in Blog, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

If you are a resident in a nursing home or you have a loved one who is a resident in a nursing home, then you need to be aware of the rights to which nursing home residents are entitled. There are a lot of rights that you receive as a nursing home resident for your protection. Let’s look at the most important five.

The first right is the right to respect. Staff should always respect you and your wishes. You should not be forced into anything. You should have control of your own schedule and control over what you choose to do with your day. If you aren’t getting this, then you need to file a complaint.

The next right is the right to freedom from nursing home abuse or neglect. If you are ever in a situation in which you feel physically, mentally, sexually, or verbally abused, speak up. It is your right. If you are not receiving adequate care, such as regular meals and hygiene practices, speak up.

The next right is the right to file a complaint. You should be able to tell the nursing home administration when you have a problem or complaint without being afraid of retaliation. You should never feel like you are unable to speak up because you fear adverse action will be taken.

The most important right that you have is the right to receive proper medical care. You should feel well taken care of in your nursing home. You should feel well-informed about any medical issues. You should not feel confused or out of the loop about what’s happening with your medical decisions at all. If you are residing in a home that is not respecting your rights, that’s a red flag, and you should speak to our experienced nursing home abuse lawyers in Chicago. Watch the video to learn more.

If you have questions about nursing home resident rights, please email or call us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW. Our experienced Chicago-based nursing home abuse attorneys are here for you. You may also find more videos and media content from the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. on our media page.

Exposing Nursing Home Lies Makes Family Financially Secure

January 6, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

Do you have a loved one that is residing in a nursing home? Do you trust that the facility is taking the utmost of care with your loved one? What happens when they break that trust? How can you expose what you believe to be untruths? Let’s take a look at the steps involved.

When you search for a nursing facility for your loved one, you are looking for a home that you trust will follow through with their promises of care. This is usually one of the statements that nursing administrators promise when you tour their facilities. They promise that they will take special care to meet all of your loved one’s medical and dietary needs. When they don’t deliver on the promise, it is a cause for action.

Let’s look at a previous case of mine. I had a woman come to me whose father had been staying in a nursing facility. She had found a home that she liked, and had moved her father to that home. She alerted the staff that he was at a higher risk for developing bed sores, and they assured her that they would take all of the precautions necessary. Within three weeks, he had developed bed sores.

The first thing that I did was to investigate his medical records. When searching through his files, I noticed that there was a lack of re-positioning notes. A re-positioning note is one that states the date and time a resident is re-positioned. This is important because if a resident is not re-positioned frequently, they are likely to develop bed sores. These are caused by too much pressure being put on the bony extrusions of the body. The client’s father developed bed sores that developed into sepsis, a blood infection.

After noting that there were no re-positioning notes, we took sworn statements from the nurses and staff. The nurse in charge of the patient’s care assured us that she did re-position him and that she didn’t make any errors. We took that statement, along with the lack of re-positioning records, to the nursing home administrator. We also took a look at the nurse’s files and saw that she had previously been reprimanded for not re-positioning patients. With all of this information at her feet, the nursing home administrator knew she was at an impasse. She had been caught lying, and she decided to settle the case. Watch the video to learn more.

If you have questions about what to do when you suspect a nursing home of neglecting your loved one or lying about the care they have been given, please contact us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW. Our experienced Chicago nursing home abuse lawyers are here for you. You may also find more videos about nursing home neglect laws on our media page.

What To Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

December 12, 2016/in Blog, Media, nursing home neglect, Uncategorized, Video/by Yao Dinizulu

Listen as Attorney Yao Dinizulu explains what to do when you suspect nursing home abuse.

Nursing home abuse is a common occurrence. If you suspect nursing home abuse, there are immediate steps you need to take.

The first step that you need to take is seek immediate medical attention. Depending on the severity of the abuse, this can mean calling 911 or demanding that your loved one see a doctor immediately. You can’t waste time. The second step that you need to take is to gather evidence. This includes pictures of any injuries or sores, copies of medical records, and statements from witnesses. You’ll need this evidence to support your case.

You can also contact the Illinois Department of Public Health. Once you file a claim of nursing home abuse, the Department of Public Health will send someone out to inspect the nursing home. During their inspection, they will review medical records, interview staff and residents, and assess the nursing home’s policies. As a result of their investigation, the Department can make the nursing home pay fines for negligence as well as order the nursing home to implement a plan of care that targets the specific issues stated in your claim. Watch the video to learn more.

If you have questions about nursing home abuse and what to do if you suspect it, I want you to call me at 1-800-693-1LAW. I am a nursing home abuse attorney that is here for you. You may also contact me by email. Visit our firm’s media page, where you can view more videos and learn more about the signs of nursing home abuse.

Nursing Home Sues Daughter of Deceased Patient

December 12, 2016/in Blog, Elder abuse, Media, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

Listen as Attorney Yao Dinizulu explains what you can do when you are being sued by a nursing home for debts accumulated by a deceased family member.

I once had a client who was being sued by a nursing home for the debt that her deceased father accumulated. She was already dealing with the passing of her father, and to add the new debt to her life only made matters worse. She told me of all of the negligence that had happened during her father’s stay. The nursing home was not taking care of her father.

Upon further investigation of her case, I found that the contract the home wanted her to sign called for her to sign her own name on her father’s contract on behalf of her father. Law students know that for a contract to be enforceable, both parties have to fulfill the promises outlined in that contract. In this case, the nursing home promised to provide adequate medical care to her father, which they did not. Their lawsuit was dismissed, but we were able to turn around and sue the nursing home for negligence. Watch the video to learn more.

If you or a family member has experienced nursing home negligence, I want you to call me at 1-800-693-1LAW. I am a nursing home abuse attorney that’s here for you. You may also contact me by email. Visit our firm’s media page, where you can view more videos and learn more about your case.