When most people hear about nursing home lawsuits, they assume that the nursing home is being sued. But the roles may be reversed in many situations. Believe it or not, nursing homes are suing their own residents and the family members of seniors. This may occur for a number of reasons, and it goes to show that these organizations are primarily motivated by profit. Their moral responsibility to care for seniors is a peripheral concern. Of course, a lawsuit is the last thing most seniors need – especially if they are already suffering from cognitive and physical decline. These seniors may also be suffering from serious abuse at the hands of nursing homes.
If you find yourself dealing with any legal issues related to nursing homes, your best bet is to get in touch with a qualified, experienced nursing home abuse attorney at your earliest convenience. These legal professionals can guide you towards a positive outcome in a confident, efficient manner. With their help, you can defend against nursing home lawsuits while simultaneously pushing back and suing them for elder abuse. These situations are quite common in the modern era, and many seniors have received multi-million-dollar settlements for everything they have been forced to endure. It’s always a good idea to get in touch with an attorney as soon as possible. Wait too long, and the statute of limitations may prevent you from suing.
New Report Highlights Common Legal Issue Faced by Families
On July 28th of 2022, NPR published an article highlighting the prevalence of lawsuits filed against families of seniors in nursing homes. The lawsuits were targeted towards families who were behind on their bills. Nursing homes say that they have been left with few options, as they cannot continue to house and feed seniors who are not paying their bills. The only option is to sue the family members to forcibly obtain the payment they are owed. Of course, this is only one side of the argument.
Family members tell a different story. They claim that they are being contacted out of the blue and asked to pay sums that are completely unreasonable. Not only that, but distant family members are being contacted with these demands – despite not being responsible for the payments in the past. In some cases, family members who have no control over their senior loved one’s money are being asked to pay thousands of dollars. These family members may also have no legal authority to make decisions on a senior’s behalf.
According to the latest statistics, only five percent of Americans with medical debt have been sued. But for those in this minority, the consequences can be shattering. Nursing homes are perhaps some of the most likely medical organizations to pursue legal action in order to recover debt. Many experts are describing this behavior as “aggressive” or “pernicious.”
Sometimes, nursing homes accuse relatives and friends of stealing money from senior residents – completely without any evidence, of course. In other situations, nursing homes have contacted the wrong family members – accusing cousins of being mothers and making similar mistakes.
The situation becomes even more problematic when you consider the fact that a number of nursing home companies have been investigated for “deceptive billing practices.” In some cases, wages of sons and daughters have been garnished in order to pay for these debts. Sometimes, relatives are told they should have used assets from seniors’ accounts to pay for their stay at nursing homes. But how are these relatives supposed to access bank accounts owned by other people?
The truth is that few individuals hire lawyers when faced with these demands for money. This is because lawyers are expensive – especially when you’re defending yourself. However, it is possible to have these lawsuits dropped with the right legal strategies.
Where Can I Find an Attorney Near Me?
If you’ve been searching for a qualified, experienced nursing home abuse attorney in Illinois, look no further than Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. Over the years, we have helped numerous families struggling with legal issues related to nursing homes. We know that these situations can seem incredibly daunting – especially if your nursing home is using underhanded tactics to take money from you. With our help, you can protect your financial well-being and push back against nursing homes for any misconduct or abuse your senior might have suffered while in their care. Book your consultation today to explore your legal options and get started with an effective action plan.
Sources
- https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/07/28/1113134049/nursing-homes-are-suing-friends-and-family-to-collect-on-patients-bills
- https://truthout.org/articles/nursing-homes-are-suing-the-friends-and-family-of-residents-to-collect-debts/
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