There comes a time for many when we make the choice about where our elderly loved one, whether it is a parent or other relative, will live for the remainder of their life. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the place you choose will provide the care your loved one deserves, and if you noticed that your loved one has poor hygiene, it could be an indicator of deeper, more serious problems.
Call our team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free consultation. We will discuss your options for investigating your loved one’s treatment, as well as any legal options you have for compensation.
A Lawyer Is Invaluable in Protecting Your Loved One
If you suspect that poor hygiene could be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to inadequate care for your loved one, then you should consider how a lawyer can help you. Many lawyers have dealt with elder abuse cases before, and they could be familiar with the telltale signs of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Speaking with them can be helpful for you.
If you ultimately decide to go ahead with legal action against one or more defendants, then a poor hygiene lawyer serving Stickney can handle your case from start to finish. They may do this by:
- Documenting you and your loved one’s accounts of mistreatment, which may include some combination of abuse, neglect, and mistreatment.
- Filing your case in court as soon as possible (this is important, as the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Illinois is generally two years from the date of discovery).
- If possible, interviewing any employees or administrators suspected of abuse, as they may admit wrongdoing.
- Going through all available evidence, such as closed-circuit security footage, to see if mistreatment of your loved one was caught on film.
- Reviewing your loved one’s medical records to see if there was any mistreatment.
- Speaking with medical professionals who can confirm signs that abuse took place.
- Establishing communication with counsel for the defendant(s) in your case to remain aware of any settlement offers.
- Completing every step necessary to bring your case to a judgement or settlement, the two most likely being conclusions in legal proceedings.
- Defending your rights throughout the legal process.
There is no number that can represent the value of a lawyer when fighting for compensation for your loved one. You are likely dealing with some level of trauma due to the revelation that your loved one suffered abuse, and a lawyer can handle the entire legal burden necessary to pursue awards for your loved one.
If Your Lawyer Is Successful, You May Collect Compensation
The fine details of your case will determine whether you or your loved one can receive, but the goal of your claim remains the same: your loved one suffered mistreatment, and the liable party should pay.
Each case of mistreatment is unique, and possible awards will depend on the details of your case. Awards that you may be granted might cover:
- Pain and suffering that your loved one endured, which may be extensive depending on the length of time they suffered mistreatment and the severity of the mistreatment.
- The time that they spent in the nursing home where the mistreatment occurred.
- Medical care, including specific procedures, that could be the result of mistreatment.
- Punitive damages against administrators at the location where the mistreatment took place, as they may be ultimately responsible for failure to protect your loved one.
- Punitive damages against the parties who perpetrated the abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
The details of your case may mean that you (or your loved one are entitled to further awards. Call our team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free discussion about possible awards that could come from your claim.
Poor Hygiene May Only Be the Tip of the Iceberg
Part of the value of a lawyer can be perspective. Poor hygiene may be a sign of neglect, but a lawyer may be able to help you see other signs that further mistreatment took place.
Signs of Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, and Neglect
If individual employees and higher-ups in a nursing home will allow your loved one to go unbathed or unshaven, who is to say that worse forms of mistreatment did not happen?
You are the one who must look out for signs of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect, which, according to the National Center On Elder Abuse (NCEA), may include:
- The presence of cuts, scrapes, burns, and bruises, especially in the genital region or near the breasts (this could indicate sexual abuse).
- Changes in your loved one’s personality for the worse, such as depression or signs of fear such as rocking back and forth or recoiling from your touch.
- Unexplained infections or venereal disease.
- Fractures and more serious injuries that do not have a reasonable explanation, or happen frequently.
- Broken personal items, such as eyeglasses or necklaces.
- Any findings that your loved one was being overprescribed medications, especially sedatives.
- Outbursts by your loved one that are not characteristic, especially if they include violence.
- Your loved one telling you that they suffered abuse in any way.
The elderly are not always in a position to understand that they are being abused, or to communicate that abuse to you. You must keep an eye out for any indication that your loved one is being abused.
If you suspect mistreatment of your loved one of any kind, call law enforcement. Next, call a lawyer.
For a free legal consultation with a Poor Hygiene Lawyer serving Stickney, call (800) 842-6336
Call a Stickney Poor Hygiene Lawyer With Our Team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today
It is our mission to protect your loved one from any further harm and seek justice for mistreatment that occurred in the past. We will treat you and your loved one like family, so call our team of Stickney poor hygiene lawyers today for a free consultation. You pay nothing out of pocket, as we collect a fee only if you receive awards.
Call or text (800) 842-6336 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
