Posted on July 24, 2024 in Nursing Home Abuse

When families make the difficult and emotional decision of placing their loved one in a nursing home, the decision is often made with the hope and expectations that he or she will receive quality care and support in the facility. However, nursing home abuse remains a disturbing reality for many elderly residents. Detecting the early warning signs of abuse can be crucial in intervening and ensuring your loved one remains safe and secure in his or her facility. If your loved one is showing signs that he or she is experiencing elder abuse, contact an Illinois lawyer right away.

Depression and Confusion

One of the most telling signs of nursing home abuse is a sudden onset of depression or confusion in your loved one. While aging can naturally bring about changes in mental health, a sudden or drastic shift can be a sign of potentially deeper issues. If your loved one begins to show signs of severe depression, such as persistent sadness, hopelessness, or anxiety, this might suggest he or she is experiencing emotional or psychological abuse.

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 Posted on July 17, 2024 in Nursing Home Abuse

Understaffing is the reason given for many nursing home neglect incidents. When one caregiver is responsible for too many residents, he or she cannot provide appropriate care to each patient. Unfortunately, neglect often leads to serious injuries, malnutrition, and many other physical, emotional, and mental issues.

A new federal rule recently went into effect that requires specific nursing staff numbers for long-term care facilities. The rule will be implemented in stages. Is Illinois ready? An experienced nursing home neglect attorney explains.

What Is Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home residents rely on the facility’s staff to provide crucial care and assistance. Neglect is willfully withholding or failing to provide that assistance or care. Common forms of neglect include not assisting residents with daily hygiene, not providing appropriate medical or mental health treatments, lengthy delays in responding to resident requests for help, and failing to move residents with mobility issues regularly.

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 Posted on July 02, 2024 in Nursing Home Abuse

 Choosing a nursing home for a loved one can be a very challenging and sad decision. But when loved ones can no longer care for themselves, nursing homes become attractive options to keep your family member safe and as healthy as possible. Given the increased vulnerability of aging individuals, it is important to differentiate between elder abuse and elder neglect, especially in nursing home settings.

While both forms of mistreatment can have terrible consequences, they are different from one another. If you believe your loved one is suffering from either form of mistreatment, contact a lawyer.

Elder Abuse Involves Intentional Harm

Elder abuse in nursing homes involves deliberate actions taken to harm an elderly resident. This can be physical, emotional, sexual, or financial in nature. Physical abuse might involve hitting, pushing, or restraining a resident in an improper fashion. Emotional or psychological abuse can include verbal attacks, intimidation, or isolation. Sexual abuse, although less commonly discussed, is a particularly disturbing type of elder abuse that involves non-consensual sexual activity. Finally, financial abuse could involve unauthorized use of a resident’s funds, property, or assets.

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 Posted on June 28, 2024 in Nursing Home Abuse

When families entrust the care of their loved ones to an Illinois nursing home, they place a great deal of trust in the facilities and staff. Families count on the facility to provide not only basic needs but also to ensure the health and well-being of those we hold dear. Unfortunately, sometimes, this trust can be betrayed through abuse and neglect.

One potential red flag for nursing home abuse and neglect that many overlook is the presence of urinary tract infections (UTIs). But can a UTI truly indicate deeper issues within the nursing home environment? If you or your family is asking that question, it may be worth contacting an attorney. While some UTIs can happen for innocent reasons, sometimes UTIs can be a sign of a far more sinister reality.

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 Posted on June 20, 2024 in Nursing Home Abuse

It is well known that falls are one of the most common and serious problems faced by residents in nursing homes across Illinois. Among the various factors that contribute to these dangerous incidents, malnutrition, and dehydration play a pivotal role. These conditions can lead to muscle weakness, disorientation, and other debilitating health issues, increasing the risk of falls for vulnerable elderly residents. If your loved one was injured in a fall at his or her nursing home facility, contact a no-nonsense attorney to pursue the compensation your loved one may be entitled to.

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 Posted on June 14, 2024 in Wandering and Elopement

Caring for elderly loved ones is a significant responsibility, and nursing homes play an important role in providing this care. One worrying issue that arises in these settings is wandering. But does nursing home wandering constitute abuse and neglect? The answer is yes.

Wandering can be dangerous and indicate that something is seriously wrong with the care provided in the nursing home. If your loved one was injured in a wandering incident, contact a lawyer in Illinois immediately.

Why is Wandering Dangerous?

Wandering occurs when residents move around without supervision, often due to cognitive issues like dementia or Alzheimer's disease. This can be extremely dangerous for several reasons:

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 Posted on June 06, 2024 in Bed Sores

Stage 4 bedsores are considered an extremely serious nursing home injury. In many cases, the severe nature of stage 4 bedsores is the result of nursing home negligence. Negligence often arises from chronic understaffing, poor caregiver training, and insufficient monitoring of vulnerable residents.

When nursing home staff fail to perform routine checks, properly reposition patients, or address initial signs of skin damage promptly, minor sores can rapidly escalate to stage 4 bedsores. Since effective prevention often relies upon vigilant care practices and commitment to maintaining the well-being of residents, stage 4 bedsores are usually a sign that the nursing home facility is not doing everything it can or should do to uphold the health of all its residents.

How Do Stage 4 Bedsores Differ from Other Stages?

Here is how stage 4 bedsores differ from other stages:

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 Posted on May 28, 2024 in Nursing Home Abuse

In Illinois, in-home care for elderly and disabled people is a critical service offered by many home nursing care companies. These companies employ healthcare professionals to ensure that people who need assistance can receive it in the comfort of his or her own home. However, when the unthinkable happens, and a patient dies due to the actions or inactions of a caregiver, the question arises: Can the home nursing care company be held liable for wrongful death? Depending on the circumstances the answer is often yes, depending on the particular circumstances. If such an event has happened to your loved one, a lawyer can help.

Understanding Wrongful Death in Illinois

Wrongful death is a legal concept that allows the family members of a deceased person to file a lawsuit against the parties responsible for the death. Under Illinois law, for a wrongful death claim to be successful, the plaintiffs must prove the death happened because of negligence or intentional actions of the defendant. In the context of home nursing care, this often involves scrutinizing the conduct of the company’s employees and the company itself.

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 Posted on May 20, 2024 in Nursing Home Abuse

It is quite common for loving families to place a loved one in a nursing home facility when the loved one is no longer able to care for themselves on his or her own. Families rightfully expect the standard of service and care their loved one will receive to be of the highest standard. Family members may become concerned if signs of nursing home neglect are present, even if no actual injuries have occurred yet. Families may wonder if they can pursue meaningful legal action in this type of unique circumstance. If you and your family are considering legal action but have questions about how to proceed, an experienced attorney in Illinois is ready to help.

What the Legal Action Without Injury is Grounded On

One way to enforce a lawsuit against a nursing home without the actual manifestation of physical harm is if the implied or explicit contractual terms are violated. That is, nursing home workers do not do what is required of them, fail to maintain a clean environment, or do not provide activities or other procedures according to the agreement. 

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 Posted on May 15, 2024 in Breathing Tube Injuries

Breathing tube injuries in nursing homes are a concerning issue that requires careful attention. For many nursing home residents, especially those with respiratory issues or those in critical condition, breathing tubes are a lifeline.  However, when these essential medical devices are mishandled, the consequences can be severe, leading to infections, oxygen deprivation, and lung damage. Suppose your loved one suffered a breathing tube injury at his or her nursing home. In that case, contacting a lawyer may be a wise decision. Your lawyer will examine the circumstances of the case and offer tailored solutions to your particular situation. 

So many law offices create the illusion of being client-focused when, in reality, they rely on questionable in-take services and are most interested in maximizing their respective bottom line. At Schwartz Injury Law, however, clients speak with real lawyers. This direct client-attorney contact can provide distinct comfort to clients, especially those navigating the often upsetting circumstances surrounding nursing home injuries. 

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