Nursing Home News & Legal Updates

A nursing home can be reported anonymously to the state health or licensing agency, the long-term care ombudsman, Adult Protective Services, and 911 if the resident is in immediate danger.  Under 42 C.F.R. § 483.10(j), nursing home residents have the right to voice grievances to the facility or another agency without discrimination or reprisal, and…

Hip fractures can become fatal in elderly adults because they often lead to complications such as pulmonary embolism, infections, and heart failure. If the fracture happened after a preventable nursing home fall or delayed medical response, a lawyer can review the records and determine whether neglect contributed to the death. Statistics on the Increased Risk…

Sepsis can go unnoticed at first because its early signs often look like the flu, exhaustion, or a routine infection. In some people, that period may last only a few hours. In others, symptoms may seem vague for a day or longer before the condition becomes unmistakably dangerous. The problem is that once sepsis progresses,…

Symptoms of sepsis from a UTI in elderly adults can include confusion, rapid breathing, an elevated heart rate, low blood pressure, fever, chills, weakness, and reduced urine output. In a nursing home, signs like these may suggest failures in monitoring, reporting condition changes, or obtaining timely treatment. Our nursing home sepsis lawyers stand with families…

The main risk factors for wandering and elopement are cognitive impairment, dementia-related confusion, prior wandering attempts, poor supervision, understaffing, unmet physical or emotional needs, medication-related changes, and facility security failures that make it easier for a resident to leave unnoticed. 42 C.F.R. § 483.25(d) requires nursing homes to keep the resident environment as free of…

A broken femur is dangerous because it can lead to immobility, surgical complications, blood loss, blood clots, infection, and long-term decline in an elderly resident. 42 C.F.R. § 483.25(d) requires nursing homes to keep the resident environment as free of accident hazards as possible and to provide adequate supervision and assistance devices to prevent accidents.…

Summary: The worst nursing homes in Chicago are those with designations that show standards violations, infection rates, or complaints suggesting immediate jeopardy to one or more individuals in the facility.  List of the Worst Nursing Homes in Chicago As of 03/06/2026 CMS uses a Five-Star rating system, with a one-star rating indicating the worst nursing…

What Is the Best Way to Check for Nursing Home Violations? The best way to check for nursing home violations is to start with official records, then use outside sources only for added context: CMS Care Compare (Nursing Home Quality, Staffing, and Health Inspection Reports) We usually tell family members to begin with CMS Care…

Does Medicare Cover Assisted Living? Usually no. Medicare coverage does not pay the monthly assisted living bill, and it does not cover assisted living costs such as rent, room and board, or most long-term care support when custodial care is the main need. Medicare may still pay for covered medical services a resident receives while…

Summary: How long it takes to die from sepsis depends on the person’s current health and how quickly they receive treatment. Sepsis can become fatal very quickly as vital organs are compromised. If treatment is delayed, septic shock can cause death in as little as 12 hours. While some sepsis cases progress more slowly, the…