Every year, nursing home abuse drastically impacts the lives of thousands of elderly individuals and their families. The physical and emotional toll that nursing home abuse causes can be devastating, but the suffering endured by the victim need not go unheeded.
If you believe your loved one to be a victim of elder abuse, you may bring a civil injury claim against the individuals and/or facility perpetrating the abuse with the help of a dedicated injury attorney. To learn what legal recourse you or your loved one may have, reach out to a skilled Joliet nursing home abuse lawyer today.
Although it may not always be easily detectable, there are certain signs indicating family members that their elderly loved one is suffering negligence or abuse from the nursing home facility they live in or the facility’s employees. Some of these warning signs may include:
Such signs and symptoms may worsen over time, making early detection vital when preparing to file a claim of abuse or neglect against a nursing home facility. Once it is discovered that a nursing home resident is the victim of elder neglect or abuse, the discoverer should act quickly to protect the elderly individual from suffering any further harm at the hands of their negligent or violent caretaker and reach out to an attorney in Joliet right away.
One of the fundamental steps a person should take if they suspect a nursing home to be perpetrating elder abuse or negligence is to report the wrongful conduct to the appropriate agency. In Illinois, elderly individuals are protected under the state’s Adult Protective Services Act, codified at 320 ILCS 20. As such, any instances of elder abuse or neglect are considered to be unlawful conduct and should be reported immediately to the Illinois Department of Health.
Once a case of nursing home abuse or negligence is reported, the next step to take is to make note and keep a record of any signs or symptoms the elderly victim may be exhibiting. In cases where a criminal investigation or lawsuit arises from suspected nursing home abuse, retaining adequate documentation could drastically help a person’s case when going to court. Such evidence can also assist with the pursing of a nursing home neglect or abuse claim in Joliet by an attorney.
Despite the state and federal protection laws in place, nursing home abuse is a great travesty that plagues the United States today. Hundreds of new cases arise every year involving elderly citizens who suffer neglect or abuse at the hands of their caretakers or the nursing home facility in which they reside.
Although it may be difficult for families to detect the abuse or neglect of their elderly loved one, legal action may be brought against the individuals and/or nursing home facility responsible once it is discovered. If someone you love has been neglected or abused while residing in a nursing home, call today to schedule a risk-free consultation with an experienced Joliet nursing home abuse lawyer.