A number of statistics show that people are living longer these days. As a result, many elderly people end up living in nursing homes after dealing with an extended illness. Depending on the family’s situation, medical insurance and finances, an elderly person may live the rest of his/her life in a nursing home.
Family members place a great deal of trust in nursing homes or assisted living facilities to care for their loved ones. However, due to negligence, there have been instances where the patient ends up in worse shape than when they arrived.
Injuries can be caused either as a result of intentional acts or unintentional acts. When this happens, you need a Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer who will fight for your loved one’s rights.
Why Choose a Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Nursing home abuse can involve intentional harm or unintentional neglect that leaves residents vulnerable. Families need legal guidance from professionals who understand both the emotional and legal challenges. A dedicated Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer helps families take action when facilities fail to provide proper care.
Intentional and Unintentional Acts of Nursing Home Abuse
Intentional abuse includes sexual, physical, and verbal harm. Many residents suffer sexual assault because physical limitations prevent them from resisting.
Documented cases show staff members striking residents out of frustration. Verbal abuse is also common, with employees yelling, using racist language, or calling residents derogatory names. Security cameras have recorded many of these acts, providing undeniable evidence of nursing home abuse.
Unintentional abuse often results from negligence. Poor staffing makes it impossible to meet every resident’s needs. When patients miss daily hygiene care, they can develop bed sores that lead to severe or life-threatening infections. Understaffing also forces employees into long hours, leaving them overtired or impatient.
This stress increases the likelihood of critical mistakes, such as giving the wrong medication to a patient. These negligent acts still cause serious harm and highlight why families may need a Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer to protect their loved ones
How Negligence Can Impact Patients
A well-documented case showed a nursing home employee giving the wrong pills to a patient because he shared the last name of another patient in the nursing home. Fortunately, the patient survived. However, it could have had serious consequences if the patient was allergic to the medication.
It is the responsibility of the nursing home to ensure that they are correctly staffing & vetting employees. All nurses and doctors should have regular on-the-job training and certification. This makes sure that all staff members follow proper practices and can effectively operate medical devices. Failure in this department can be considered negligence, and a nursing facility can be held responsible for injuries that take place.
Contact a Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If your loved one suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home, you should speak with an attorney immediately. At Costa Ivone, our legal team protects victims of nursing home abuse with compassion and skill. We also represent clients in related cases as personal injury lawyers or workers’ compensation lawyers.
Contact us at (708) 400-0000 or use our online form for more information about our services or to schedule a free consultation. Our team is ready to provide the legal help you need and fight for justice for your family.