Arlington Heights, IL Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Negligence at a nursing home can take many forms. Some injuries suffered by residents may be the result of direct mistreatment, while others may occur due to understaffing, lack of training, or poor facility management. Patients may suffer harm due to:

• Physical Abuse: Staff members may engage in abusive actions such as hitting, shoving, or using unnecessary force against a resident.
• Emotional or Verbal Abuse: When a nursing home's staff yell at, threaten, or belittle residents, these actions can lead to severe emotional distress, depression, or social withdrawal.
• Sexual Abuse: Staff members or others may engage in non-consensual sexual contact with nursing home residents. These cases may involve vulnerable victims who are unable to defend themselves or who cannot tell others what happened due to dementia or related issues.
• Financial Exploitation: These forms of abuse may involve the unauthorized use of a resident's funds, manipulation to defraud a person out of their money or property, or identity theft.
• Neglect of Basic Needs: A nursing home may fail to provide residents with food, water, hygiene assistance, clean clothing, or access to the restroom.
• Medical Neglect: Staff members may fail to administer medications correctly, ignore symptoms of illnesses, or fail to provide proper wound care or monitoring for conditions like bedsores.

Injuries Caused by Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing home residents may be physically frail, and they may be vulnerable to injuries or serious medical conditions that could affect their overall health. As a result, even minor lapses in care can have severe consequences. Examples of injuries that may be caused by nursing home negligence include:

• Falls and Fractures: A lack of supervision or failure to assist with mobility can lead to falls, causing broken bones, head injuries, or other forms of bodily harm.
• Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers): These painful and dangerous wounds can develop when a resident is left in one position for too long without being turned or moved.
• Dehydration or Malnutrition: Inadequate nutrition or hydration can lead to deteriorating health. Existing medical conditions may become worse, and a person's life may be put at risk.
• Medication Errors: Administering the wrong medications or providing incorrect dosages may result in serious side effects or medical emergencies.
• Infections: Poor hygiene practices, unclean facilities, or failure to treat wounds can lead to dangerous infections. Issues such as sepsis can put a person's life at risk.
• Emotional and Psychological Trauma: Abuse and neglect can cause nursing home residents to experience anxiety, fear, withdrawal from social activities, or a rapid decline in mental health.

How an Attorney Can Help Hold a Nursing Home Accountable

With our experience in nursing home negligence cases, the team at Schwartz Injury Law can take steps to pursue justice for a resident who has suffered harm and make sure a family can receive financial compensation. We can:

• Investigate Incidents: We will review medical records, staff logs, surveillance footage, and prior complaints to uncover signs of neglect or abuse.
• Interview Witnesses and Family Members: We will gather statements from staff members, other residents, or visitors who observed the conditions in a nursing home or abusive conduct.
• Consult With Medical and Elder Care Experts: We will take steps to evaluate the care provided and show that it fell below accepted standards.
• FilePersonal InjuryorWrongful DeathClaims: We will work to recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, or other damages suffered by a victim.
• Report Violations to Government Agencies: We will ensure that regulatory bodies such as the Illinois Department of Public Health are made aware of violations so that the proper corrective actions can be taken.
• Demand Corrective Measures: In addition to helping recover compensation for a victim's damages, legal action can lead to changes in policies, staffing levels, and training to protect other residents against neglect or abuse.