In recent years, big companies have begun to get their hands into the nursing care industry and have placed their profits above the care of their residents. Our elderly deserve kindness, dignity and respect and there are few things more heinous than nursing home abuse or neglect.
The majority of injuries that occur in nursing facilities can easily be avoided and are the result of understaffing and poorly trained or managed workers. The Chicago Injury Center is committed to protecting the defenseless and hopes to change Illinois nursing home practices by holding negligent homes accountable for their misdeeds.
How to tell if your loved one is the Victim of Abuse
More disheartening than the fact that so many elderly patients are mistreated are the attempts that a nursing facility may make to hide the abuse or neglect. If they put as much effort into taking care of the medical needs of their patients, they may provide the adequate care that every resident is entitled to. If you notice sudden changes in your loved one’s behavior, he or she may be the victim of neglect or abuse. The following are some common warning signs that require further investigation into how your loved one is being treated.
- Presence of bed sores which have not been attended to. Bed sores can be prevented by periodically moving the patient and for them to go unnoticed or to be allowed to progress into deeper stages is completely unacceptable.
- Sudden changes in appetite or weight that can signal malnourishment or dehydration.
- Poorly maintained facility, dirty living space or other evidence that cleaning staff have not performed their duties.
- Sudden change in behavior, shame or unwillingness to talk to family. In some cases, the victim feels ashamed of the abuse while in others; an abusive staff member may actually be silencing the patient through threats.
- Your loved one accuses a staff member of abuse and the staff member tries to claim that he or she is confused or suffering from dementia. Regardless of your loved one’s mental state, any accusations of mistreatment should be investigated.
Chicago Nursing Home Lawyers Seeking Change One Case at a Time
If the actions or failure of staff to notice or act upon a medical condition or injury caused undue harm or wrongful death, you may be able to file a lawsuit on behalf of your loved one. The Nursing Home Care Act of Illinois protects the victims of and holds offending care institutions liable for negligent acts that cause injury or harm to their patients. This law provides the legal framework for the Chicago Injury Center to pursue justice one case at a time by holding negligent homes accountable and making an example in the hopes other facilities will improve their quality of care.
Attorneys With a Track Record of Holding Illinois Nursing Homes Fully Accountable For Harm To Patients
Rarely are facilities forthcoming about an incident or extended period of patient neglect. Truth is, there is very little incentive for a facilitator to come clean as to how an incident occurred. The nursing home lawyers at Chicago Injury Center have litigated hundreds of nursing home negligence cases and know how to get to the heart of the issue and clearly establish how an incident occurred. After we have established liability, we can then address the extent of our client’s injuries and damages.
Contact us today so that an attorney can evaluate your case, inform you of your rights and guide you through the entire legal process. Our consultations are free and we will never ask for payment upfront. If we are unable to collect on your behalf, you will owe us nothing.
