Arlington Heights, IL Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Lawyer for Victims of Abuse and Neglect at Long-Term Care Facilities in Cook County

In the United States, an astounding number of nursing home residents are victims of abuse and neglect at the hands of facility staff. Elderly residents often have few defenses against abusive behavior, and in many cases, signs of abuse and neglect go unnoticed for quite some time. However, when evidence of nursing home abuse or neglect surfaces, Illinois law treats these cases very seriously, including by allowing victims to pursue compensation for their damages.

If you or a family member has been abused or neglected at a long-term care facility, Adler Law Offices, LTD. can help you secure protection and recover the compensation to which you are entitled. With over 40 years of litigation experience, Attorney Charles Adler knows what it takes to build a strong case and achieve a successful outcome for his clients, and he only charges a fee if he is able to collect compensation for a client.

Recognizing Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Nursing home residents may rely on medical care from health professionals, as well as personal care from nursing home staff and administrators. When a resident is injured due to the negligence of a doctor or health care provider, the case typically falls within the realm of medical malpractice. However, if the injuries are caused by a staff member, recovering damages often relies on demonstrating abuse or neglect.

Nursing home abuse generally involves intentional actions on the part of staff members that cause a resident physical, mental, or emotional injury. This could include physical or sexual assault, excessive restraint, verbal abuse, attempts to isolate the resident from family and friends, or the intentional withholding of necessary care. In many cases, these actions are accompanied by financial abuse, including theft, fraud, threats, and undue influence.

Nursing home neglect, on the other hand, generally refers to inaction on the part of nursing home staff that contributes to a resident's injury or the deterioration of their health. This could include failing to provide a resident with sufficient food and water or failing to keep the resident and their living environment clean and hygienic. It could also involve abandoning a resident or leaving them without proper supervision.

Family and friends of nursing home residents should look for signs that may indicate abuse or neglect, including:

• Bruises and broken bones
• Bedsores and infections
• Malnutrition and dehydration
• Fear, anxiety, and depression
• Confusion and deterioration of mental capacity

Responding to Abuse and Neglect in an Illinois Nursing Home

If you have been the victim of abuse or neglect, or if you know or suspect that your loved one has been, one of the first things you should do is report it to the Illinois Department of Public Health by calling their hotline at 1-800-252-4343. When the department is made aware of such a situation, they can take action to prevent further abuse from occurring.

You should also hire an attorney as soon as possible to help you investigate the abuse or neglect and determine who is responsible. Abuse could come at the hands of an individual staff member or multiple employees, and neglect is often a sign of negligence on the part of facility administrators or the organization as a whole. Staff members who are aware of the abuse or neglect and fail to report it may share some liability, and they may also face misdemeanor charges under Illinois law.

Your attorney can work with you to build a case demonstrating abuse or neglect using evidence including photographs of the victim and their living environment, facility records, and testimony from other residents and staff members. Victims of abuse and neglect may be entitled to compensation for the cost of necessary medical care related to their injuries, as well as for their physical and emotional pain and suffering.

Contact a Palatine, IL Nursing Home Neglect Attorney

No one should have to suffer from abuse or neglect in a nursing home, and those who have been victims deserve an attorney who can help them make the situation right. If you need legal guidance and representation in a case involving nursing home neglect or abuse, contact us for a free consultation at 847-394-0100 or 312-236-2700 today. We represent clients in Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, and throughout Cook County and the Chicago area.