Our Naperville, Illinois, nursing home abuse lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center, LLC have handled many personal injury cases of elder abuse, neglect, and mistreatment and have seen a significant rise in the incidence of nursing home negligence in Naperville and throughout Illinois.
Any time abuse takes place in a caregiving facility, families who entrusted the care of their aging parents to these nursing homes, feel justifiably angry. Was your loved one injured or did they die unexpectedly from neglect while living in a Naperville nursing home? Let the affiliate Illinois personal injury attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center protect the rights of your family.
Contact the Naperville nursing home abuse lawyers at (800) 926-7565 (toll-free phone number) today to schedule a free consultation to discuss filing a claim for compensation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Nursing Home Abuse: A Serious Issue With Devastating ConsequencesDealing with the aging process is difficult for disabled and elderly individuals and their loved ones. Unfortunately, it's all too common and many cases go unreported, leaving the victim feeling frightened or alone in their struggle of mistreatment at the hands of those whom they trusted to provide care or live among in the facility.
Many cases go unreported - leaving those who are suffering from mistreatment even more vulnerable than before they were placed into nursing homes.
US Nursing Home Abuse StatisticsNursing homes can be a good option for some elderly or disabled loved ones needing around-the-clock care that cannot be provided by family members. However, many nursing home residents suffer abuse and neglect which is why it's important to investigate your options before putting someone in this type of facility
National Center on Elder Abuse research shows ten percent (10%)of people staying in nursing facilities at intervals receive abusive treatment. About seventeen percent (17%) of long-term nursing home residents experience mistreatment spanning from minor to severe according to the National Center on Elder Abuse.
As referenced by the World Health Organization (WHO), elder abuse is a "single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person".
Illinois/Naperville Nursing Home Abuse StatsIn Illinois, it is estimated that one in six nursing home patients receiving long-term care experiences abuse each year.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is responsible for investigating all complaints related to abuse, mistreatment, and neglect in nursing facilities
In 2018, the IDPH substantiated 2,241 complaints of physical assault, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, financial exploitation, and gross neglect in Illinois nursing homes.
Of the substantiated complaints:Elder abuse is a serious problem in the United States and, unfortunately, it is only getting worse as the baby boomer population continues to age. Nursing home abuse can have devastating consequences for victims, both physically and emotionally.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse and NeglectThere are many different types of nursing home abuse, mistreatment, and neglect that leave injured victims devastated, including:
Do you suspect that your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect? Act now to prevent further harm and get your loved one the help they need.
Nursing Home Abuse, Mistreatment and Neglect: Common CausesNursing homes have often been seen as a safe haven for senior citizens who need assistance with daily living tasks. However, nursing staff members and residents alike can be victims of abuse in these facilities that go unnoticed or unpunished due to poor reporting procedures by facility owners.
Nursing Home Abuse Are Tragic Realities That Can Be Prevented!Identifying neglect and abuse at the facility can help protect yourself or your loved one from becoming a victim. Some of the most common causes of abuse and neglect include:
These are just some of the common causes of nursing home abuse, mistreatment, and neglect. If you suspect that your loved one is the victim of any type of abuse or neglect, it is important to act quickly to get them the help they need.
The Most Vulnerable Nursing Home Residents With High Risk of Abuse or NeglectAbuse and neglected nursing home residents are often scared to speak up, especially if they are elderly or disabled. These individuals are often unable to care for themselves and rely on staff members to meet their needs. Those most at risk could include:
Providing substandard care can lead to life-threatening medical conditions, including urinary tract infections, influenza, pneumonia, gastrointestinal infections, and soft tissue infections.
Preventing Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse: What to Do to Protect a Loved OneNursing home residents often feel powerless when it comes to protecting themselves or another person in their life. However, there are steps that everyone has power over how they live out the last days on earth because of this issue - being proactive will help prevent any harm coming your way.
With enough knowledge about what constitutes normal behavior for nurses and certified nursing assistants at elderly care facilities (and whether something seems right), we all have control over whether our family member(s) receive optimal treatment.
The following are some things you can do to prevent nursing home abuse and neglect:
Protect your loved one by understanding the common signs of abuse and neglect, including:
Have you noticed any of these signs? Speak up and talk with the facility administrator. You should also report your concerns to the proper authorities including Adult Protective Services and the police.
Discuss your legal issues with our abuse and neglect lawyers. Our Naperville, IL legal team can help you seek justice and receive a fair settlement if your loved one (victim) suffered needlessly through someone else’s negligence, mistreatment, or abuse.
What to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse or NeglectIf you suspect that your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, there are a few steps that you can take to help them:
Act now to protect your loved one from further harm. Nursing home abuse, mistreatment, and neglect are serious problems that can have devastating consequences.
Acting now can help ensure that your loved one gets the justice and compensation they deserve.
Relocating an Abused or Neglected Loved One into Another Nursing HomeFinding the right nursing home for a loved one is a daunting task when searching for a facility that will provide the best possible care. Families relocating a disabled, rehabilitating, or elderly loved one abused or neglected in their existing nursing residence must ensure they are placed somewhere that will ensure they are protected.
Medicare.gov maintains a database with continually updated information on all nursing facilities in the community. The information identifies all problems, investigations, complaints, and violations of the nursing home.
Things to consider before relocating a loved one into a new nursing home residence include:
Take your time when making a decision about where to relocate your loved one. Research all available options to ensure you are making the best decision for their safety and well-being.
Visit the Nursing Facility FirstYour research must include visiting the nursing facility and meeting the nursing staff and administrator. Taking a tour of the facility can help you identify any potential safety concerns and get a feel for the overall atmosphere.
Make sure to ask plenty of questions about the facility, its policies, and procedures. Some important questions to ask include:
Once you have gathered all the information, take some time to think about your decision. If you have any doubts, it is always best to err on the side of caution and choose another facility.
Preventable Bed Sores: Life-threatening Health ConcernsThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reports any developing bed sore (pressure sore, pressure wound, pressure ulcer, decubitus ulcer) as a "never event." The agency claims that nearly all pressure wounds are preventable at any stage when doctors, wound care specialists, and the nursing staff follows skin care protocols.
Most bed sores develop in a hospital setting or nursing home environment due to:
Bed sores are painful and can lead to a number of serious health complications, including:
There are a number of steps that can be taken to prevent bed sores, including:
The number of deaths each year in the United States caused by elderly abuse is difficult to determine because elder violence often goes unreported.
However, an NIA (National Institute on Aging) study and NCIPC (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control) report found that approximately 1,600 nursing home residents die annually as a result of physical or sexual abuse.
Losing a loved one is always challenging, but when they die as the result of abusive or neglectful behavior in a place that was in charge to protect them, it is heartbreaking.
Families can file a nursing home abuse case involving wrongful death to recover financial compensation when their loved one died of negligence or abuse at the facility. Qualifying family members could include a surviving spouse, child, grandchild, or other dependents.
Nursing home abuse claims that are successfully resolved through a negotiated settlement or jury award should provide compensation to pay for:
The first thing that families should do when they suspect mistreatment is to contact an experienced Naperville nursing home abuse lawyers who handle these types of cases.
Proving a Case for Wrongful Death in a Nursing Home SettingTo prove a case for wrongful death against a nursing home, the following must be established:
Resolving a compensation case takes time and a comprehensive understanding of Illinois civil tort laws. Typically, victims will hire a personal injury lawyer specializing in nursing home abuse/neglect cases.
Our Naperville nursing home abuse lawyers will work with you to investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death, gather evidence, interview witnesses, and file all the necessary paperwork in court.
Should the nursing home abuse case goes to trial, your Naperville, IL, personal injury lawyer will also represent you in front of a judge and jury, present evidence and hire professional experts to provide testimony to hold the defendants accountable.
Most nursing home abuse and neglect cases are resolved through settlement negotiations between the victim’s personal injury lawyer and the nursing home’s insurance company.
In some cases, though, a trial may be necessary to get the full amount of compensation that you deserve. If this happens, your Naperville nursing home abuse lawyers will be with you every step of the way to ensure that your rights are protected.
Speak to Naperville Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers About Your Personal Injury CaseThe Naperville nursing home abuse lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center have represented many victims of nursing home neglect and abuse in Illinois. Our team of dedicated and knowledgeable nursing home abuse lawyers currently provides legal representation in cases involving neglect and abuse occurring in nursing facilities in
Contact our affiliate Naperville nursing home abuse lawyers today at (800) 926-7565 or use an online contact form. You can schedule a free consultation to speak with one of our skilled personal injury attorneys for a free case review.
Our personal injury law firms handle all cases of abuse, neglect, and mistreatment through contingency fee agreements. It means we are only paid for our legal services after obtaining an award for you in court or negotiating an out-of-court settlement on your behalf.
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