Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Despite having strict regulatory bodies and laws, Illinois reports more nursing home abuse cases than any other state in the United States. Nursing home abuse can cause devastating effects on residents like physical injuries, mental disorders, sexually transmitted infections, malnutrition, and so on.
Many nursing home abuse cases go unreported, both by residents and nursing home staff. When you suspect your loved one is experiencing nursing home neglect or abuse from staff members, suing Illinois nursing homes and their insurance companies is no easy task. That’s where we come to the victim’s rescue.
Our skilled Illinois nursing home abuse attorneys provide strong legal representation for victims of negligence and abuse. Contact our law firm, the Injury Lawyer Team and schedule a free case evaluation.
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Contact our Illinois nursing home abuse lawyers to schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information shared with your Illinois nursing home abuse lawyer remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Statistics and Facts on Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Cases
Illinois is home to more than 1,200 nursing homes out of the nation’s 15,600, caring for approximately 100,000 residents.
Nursing home facilities in Illinois are supervised by various state and federal agencies such as the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA).
A report from the National Center for Victims of Crime shows that nursing home abuse can take several forms: 27.4% physical abuse, 19.4% psychological abuse, 15.3% nursing home neglect, 7.9% sexual abuse, and 7.9% financial exploitation.
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) reports that up to 5 million older Americans experience abuse annually, many within nursing homes.
Financial abuse alone causes a yearly loss of at least $36.5 billion for older Americans.
Recent studies highlight that roughly 6,000 nursing home residents in Illinois were hospitalized for sepsis, with 1 in 5 not surviving. In fact, Illinois lags behind the national average in treating bed sores effectively.
Furthermore, 88% of nursing homes in Illinois fail to adhere to proper infection control measures.
How Illinois Defines “Nursing Home Abuse”?
The Administration on Aging defines abuse as “the willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation or cruel punishment with resulting physical harm, pain, or mental anguish or deprivation by a person, including a caregiver, of goods or services that are necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish, or mental illness”.
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) identifies the 5 most common forms of nursing home abuse as physical, neglect, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse. Self-neglect and abandonment are other forms of nursing home abuse and neglect.
Signs of abuse include physical injuries, sadness or depression in nursing home residents, financial problems, or malnutrition. Many times, nursing home neglect or abuse by staff members can cause severe harm or death.
If you or your loved one has suffered at the hands of a nurse, contact an Illinois nursing home abuse lawyer from our law firm to hold responsible parties liable.
Different Forms of Nursing Home Abuse in Illinois
Nursing home abuse may take various forms and may differ in severity. It can be intentional or unintentional, but legal action but legal action is necessary to hold those responsible accountable. If you suspect abuse, contact a Chicago nursing home abuse attorney to protect your loved one’s rights and seek justice.
Types of Illinois nursing home abuse include:
- Physical abuse: Hitting, pushing, kicking, slapping, unnecessary use of restraints, or rough treatment.
- Mental and emotional abuse: Verbal abuse, belittling, name-calling, isolating nursing home residents, or withholding essentials.
- Sexual abuse: Rape, unwanted touching, or exposure of intimate parts by nursing home staff staff, visitors, or other nursing home residents.
- Neglect: Lack of proper hydration, nutrition, medication, medical care, hygiene, or assistance with mobility and restroom needs.
- Financial exploitation: Nursing home staff may exploit residents’ finances by forging signatures, stealing money or possessions, or deceiving residents into financial transactions.
- Abandonment: This occurs when nursing staff or family members leave a nursing home resident without basic necessities like food, water, or medical care.
What are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?
As a nursing home abuse lawyer, our law firm understands that family members may not witness abuse and neglect directly, so it’s crucial to recognize key signs that something may be wrong. These include:
- Bedsores (pressure ulcers)
- Injuries from unexplained falls
- Rapid weight loss or signs of malnutrition
- Dry, cracked lips indicating dehydration
- Unsanitary living conditions
- Low staff-to-resident ratios or unqualified staff
- Overmedication
- Sudden changes in behavior or prognosis
- Indicators of sexual abuse or genital infections
- Staff obstructing visits of family members
- Hospital transfers for infections, wound care, or malnutrition
- Transfers for unexplained wounds
- Unexpected, sudden death
If you suspect neglect or abuse, reach out to a nursing home abuse attorney in Illinois for legal guidance and support.
5 Steps to Take For Initiating a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in Illinois
If you suspect nursing home abuse involving your loved one, take immediate action. Many abuse cases go unnoticed or unreported, which encourages further exploitation of nursing home residents. Illinois residents must take these five essential steps if they suspect abuse and neglect at nursing homes;
Step 1 – Contact law enforcement to investigate, as some abuse and neglect may be criminal. Report the abuse to the Illinois Department of Aging or call the Nursing Home Hotline.
Step 2 – Next, contact the Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to share your concerns.
Step 3 – Document all possible abuse by noting observations, wounds, and your loved one’s statements.
Step 4 – Gather evidence such as records of medical expenses and photographs. Speak to witnesses and obtain their contact information.
Step 5 – Consult an Illinois nursing home abuse attorney to assess the situation and consider legal action. Your Chicago nursing home attorney will guide you through the process to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Illinois?
Illinois residents generally have two years from the time they discovered nursing home abuse or the last instance their loved one was wrongly given psychotropic medication to file a claim. However, the statute of limitations period to file a nursing home abuse claim may change depending on the case.
When a nursing home resident is temporarily or permanently incapacitated or there has been financial exploitation, the nursing home cases may have extended deadlines. Furthermore, there is a two-year limit for filing wrongful death lawsuits related to nursing home abuse and neglect.
Speak with an Illinois personal injury lawyer experienced in nursing home abuse cases to understand what exceptions apply to your case.
Who Can Be Responsible in an Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit?
In Illinois, several parties can be held responsible for nursing home abuse and neglect:
Nursing Home Owners and Managers: They can be held liable for failing to ensure the safety and well-being of nursing home residents, such as hiring qualified staff, providing proper training, maintaining equipment, and monitoring staff performance.
Nurses and Caregivers: They can be held accountable for neglectful or abusive behavior, as they must provide proper medical attention, hygiene, and general care.
Third Parties: This includes maintenance staff who fail to maintain safe environments and manufacturers of defective products that cause harm to any nursing home resident.
Other Residents or Visitors: They may be held responsible for causing harm to other residents, and the facility can also be liable for failing to protect residents from such harm.
In all personal injury cases, the Illinois nursing home abuse lawyer can sue the responsible parties and seek fair compensation for damages.
Types of Compensation Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Can Help You Seek
The amount of compensation you can recover from a nursing home abuse claim depends on the damages suffered by you or your loved one. This varies based on the type of abuse and the severity of the harm.
A nursing home abuse victim may seek compensation for both economic and non-economic damages:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Funeral expenses
- Cost of shifting to another nursing facility
- Victim’s legal fees
- Compensation for victim’s stolen possessions
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Disability or disfigurement
- Reduced quality of life
Our skilled nursing home abuse attorneys strive to secure a fair settlement for your loved one for their financial losses and emotional damages. Let us help you seek justice and compensation.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Illinois nursing homes have a legal responsibility to provide high-quality care to all elderly residents. If they fail to do so, residents can experience injuries, disabilities, trauma, or even death, which is a violation of their human rights.
Have you or a loved one experienced nursing home neglect or abuse? The Injury Lawyers Team, supported by Rosenfeld Law Offices, can represent you in the nursing home abuse case and seek financial compensation from the nursing facility. Contact our law firm today at (888) 424-5757 to schedule a free consultation.
Our Illinois nursing home attorneys have years of experience in achieving justice for abuse victims. Our nursing home abuse lawyers accept all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients don’t pay legal fees unless they win their case.