Posted on October 09, 2023 in Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home injuries can indeed result in high-dollar settlements, especially in cases involving abuse, catastrophic injuries, and falls. Sadly, negligence and misconduct are too common in Illinois nursing homes. If your loved one has been badly injured in a nursing home, they may be eligible to recover significant compensation for their injury. Speak with a lawyer today to ensure your injured loved one can pursue the essential compensation they need to move on from their injury and continue their life.

Falls in a Nursing Home Are a Big Deal

Falls are no big deal for younger members of the population, as younger people tend to heal quicker from falls. However, falls can be devastating for older adults, resulting in serious injuries and prolonged recovery periods. Nursing home patients, especially those with limited mobility or medical conditions, are at a higher risk of falling. Suppose a nursing home resident falls and seriously hurts themselves, perhaps because of a lack of proper safety measures, regular monitoring, or because they do not have the necessary assistance with their mobility. In that case, residents can seek large damages to make up for the negligence and wrongdoing of the nursing home facility and its staff who were negligent. 

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 Posted on September 29, 2023 in Nursing Home Abuse

Bringing a nursing home abuse case is a serious matter that requires careful consideration and understanding of the legal process. While it is natural to wonder about the duration of legal cases like this, the timeline can vary significantly depending on different factors. If you are looking to pursue a nursing home abuse claim, contact a lawyer to begin the process. Discuss with your attorney how long you may expect the case to last. Experienced counselors have likely seen a wide variety of nursing home abuse claims and may have a better idea of the timeline you can expect from the case.  

Gathering Evidence and Filing a Complaint

The first step in any nursing home abuse case in Illinois is gathering evidence to support your claim. This may mean obtaining medical records, witness testimonies, photographs, or any other relevant evidence. Once the necessary evidence is collected, a complaint is filed against the facility or individual responsible for the abuse. This initial stage can take weeks or even months, depending on the case's complexity and the evidence's availability.

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 Posted on September 22, 2023 in Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing homes serve as essential institutions that care for our elderly population, providing them with the support and assistance they need in their later years. However, it is disheartening to acknowledge that some nursing homes fail to uphold the high standards of care and respect for their residents, leading to emotional abuse. If you believe your loved one is suffering from emotional abuse in a nursing home, contact a lawyer to begin the process of ending the abuse and seeking justice for your loved one. 

Recognizing Emotional Abuse in Nursing Homes

Emotional abuse refers to any behavior that causes psychological harm or distress to an individual. In the context of nursing homes, emotional abuse can manifest in various forms, including verbal attacks, threats, isolation, humiliation, and manipulation. Caregivers and staff members who engage in emotional abuse may exploit the vulnerability of residents, exerting power and control over them. 

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 Posted on September 13, 2023 in Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse is a distressing reality that many vulnerable individuals face. Sadly, the consequences of such abuse can extend beyond immediate physical harm. One serious health complication that can arise from nursing home abuse is sepsis. If you have a loved one in a nursing home facility who is suffering from sepsis, contact a lawyer to ensure your loved one has the support and legal guidance necessary to ensure that their situation is improved to appropriate levels and that any injustices being perpetrated upon them can be taken care of immediately. 

Ways in Which Sepsis Can Result from Nursing Home Abuse

It must be noted that not every instance of sepsis in nursing home residents is because of abuse they have endured. However, sepsis can certainly be a serious warning sign of abuse that may be occurring behind the scenes. Here is how:

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 Posted on September 11, 2023 in Nursing Home Abuse

Unreasonable restraint is a form of nursing home abuse that occurs when a resident is unnecessarily confined, restricted, or physically restrained in a manner that goes beyond what is necessary for their safety or the safety of others. If you have a loved one who is experiencing nursing home abuse in the form of unreasonable restraint, contact a lawyer as soon as you can. The lawyer will examine the facts of the case and gauge whether compensation may be pursued on behalf of the abused nursing home resident. 

Further Defining Unreasonable Restraint

Unreasonable restraint refers to the inappropriate and excessive use of physical or chemical restraints on nursing home residents. Physical restraints may include devices such as straps, belts, or bed rails, while chemical restraints involve using medication to control a resident’s behavior. Restraints should only be used as a last resort, and even then, they should be employed in a safe and necessary manner, following established guidelines and Illinois state law. 

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 Posted on August 28, 2023 in Neglect

Nursing homes have a duty under Illinois state law to provide adequate staffing levels corresponding to the number and care needs of residents. However, understaffing continues to be a widespread problem that frequently results in devastating, avoidable injuries through neglect and oversight.

Nursing Shortages Lead to Rushed, Poor Care

Staff levels at too many nursing homes fall dangerously short of meeting resident needs. Too few nurses, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), orderlies, and attendants is an underlying cause of many nursing home tragedies. Staff shortages lead to incredibly rushed, low quality care as the limited staff scramble to care for too many people. Important aspects of care and supervision inevitably fall through the cracks.

Bedsores and Dangerous Infection

For bedridden patients, insufficient staffing translates directly to painful, infected bedsores and pressure ulcers due to lack of repositioning and proper hygiene care. Turning schedules slip through the cracks when rushed CNAs care for double or triple the recommended number of residents. Unnoticed soiling further complicates bedsores.

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 Posted on August 18, 2023 in Nursing Home Abuse

Falls are an unfortunately common occurrence in nursing homes, often leading to devastating injuries for frail residents. While some falls may be unavoidable, many result from negligent conditions or oversight for which nursing homes should be held accountable. This article discusses how falls happen, the subsequent injuries that can occur, and how to pursue legal action if a loved one is severely harmed due to preventable causes.

Understanding the Responsibilities of Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are legally obligated to provide adequate supervision and a safe living environment for elderly and infirm residents. Preventing hazardous conditions that could lead to slips, trips, or falls. However, staffing, training, and safety protocol negligence leaves nursing home patients vulnerable to significant injuries.

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 Posted on August 11, 2023 in Nursing Home Abuse

When an elderly person cannot live safely at home anymore, they may need to be placed in a skilled nursing facility. A nursing home’s main duty is to look out for the health and safety of its residents. Each individual living in a nursing home should have their particular needs met daily. Unfortunately, many nursing homes are currently severely understaffed. This may mean that your loved one’s nursing home may or may not have enough staff to provide the full amount of care they need. Even a nursing home that is well-staffed can be neglectful of residents. It is important to check up on your loved ones who live in nursing homes to make sure that they are receiving all necessary care. If your loved one has been harmed due to neglect in a nursing home, they may have a case against the home and be entitled to compensation. An attorney can help assess your particular situation to determine whether your loved one may have suffered harm caused by inadequate care. 

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 Posted on August 07, 2023 in Neglect

As loved ones reach their later years, many families face the difficult decision of entrusting their care to a nursing home facility. These facilities are meant to provide a safe and secure environment for aging family members, ensuring that they receive the proper medical care, supervision, and assistance with their daily needs. Unfortunately, there are a variety of reasons why nursing home patients may be injured. In some cases, incidents of wandering and elopement can lead to dangerous situations that may cause an elderly person to suffer serious harm.

The Dangers of Wandering and Elopement

Wandering refers to patients who roam around unsafely and without proper supervision within the confines of a nursing home facility. This behavior can pose significant risks, as patients may get lost, trip over hazards, or become involved in altercations with other residents. On the other hand, elopement occurs when a resident leaves the facility unnoticed or without authorization.

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 Posted on July 28, 2023 in Medication Errors

Medication errors in any type of medical facility can present a serious safety concern. While younger and healthier people may be better able to withstand minor errors in medication, the ill and elderly people who make up Chicago’s nursing home population can suffer serious harm after even a single mistake. While a younger and healthier person can often notice and speak up for themselves if they are about to be given the wrong medication, the average nursing home resident is unlikely to become aware of the error on their own. Nursing homes must take their duty to comply with industry standards for the protection of the elderly very seriously, or serious harm can come to a resident. If you have noticed changes in your elderly loved ones’ behavior or health, or if they have suffered an unexplained adverse health event, they may have been injured due to a medication error. An attorney can help you investigate further to determine whether your loved one may be owed compensation. 

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