Some memory care facilities do not live up to the required standard of care, and employees may abuse or neglect patients. Your vulnerable loved one can suffer the consequences of neglect or deliberate abuse, but you have options for justice.
If a memory care facility in the Chicago area did not treat your loved one properly, and you suspect abuse is the reason, you could seek and recover awards against the facility through an insurance claim or a lawsuit.
Explore your legal options today during a free consultation with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Call (800) 794-0444 to speak with a team member to learn how a Chicago memory care facility abuse lawyer may be able to help you.
Memory Care Facilities Should Offer Quality Care
Memory care facilities understand the needs of adults who are living with memory loss and other cognitive difficulties. They specialize in providing a structured environment for them that includes helping them with their daily tasks, such as eating, bathing, and walking, and engaging them in activities that help improve or maintain their cognitive development.
Staff at these facilities are also responsible for keeping residents safe. Wandering is an issue among people with dementia, so these centers are charged with monitoring them and taking the proper measures if they attempt to stray outdoors or into an unsupervised area.
If the facility where your loved one lives is not doing these things, this is a danger to your loved one. Get them to a safe location as soon as possible and notify the proper authorities.
In Illinois, memory care facilities are licensed and regulated by the Illinois Department of Public Health (DPH). You can contact the department or file a report that addresses your concerns.
If you suspect abuse, start by documenting your observations about the facility. Your notes, videos, photos, and other evidence you collect can help your Chicago memory care facility abuse lawyer establish your case. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for more information.
Spotting Abuse in a Memory Care Facility
Not all abuse is apparent to the naked eye, but you can tell if something does not seem right. Abuse may be present if you notice facility staff shortages that could reduce the quality of care your loved one deserves.
Sometimes facilities stretch their staffs thin, making it challenging for workers to do their jobs properly. A facility could also be negligent if it did not hire qualified staff members or failed to perform the proper background checks. As a result, if you notice the following, abuse or neglect could be an issue:
- Residents wearing soiled clothes or exhibiting poor hygiene
- Residents not receiving help with their toileting or mobility needs
- Bruises, scars, cuts, and other unusual marks on the body
- Signs of malnutrition, dehydration
- Residents wandering around the facility unsupervised
- Outside visitors wandering the property or in resident areas
If you have noticed your loved one has missed doses of medications they must take, or if you discover they have been given the wrong medication or the wrong dosage of a medication, this is a sign of neglect or abuse.
If you observe that your loved one is acting differently, perhaps sleeping more or less, or showing behavior or personality changes, such as increased irritation or anxiety or social withdrawal, abuse could be the issue.
Residents with dementia have problems remembering events and can even have trouble speaking and communicating. If you have noticed changes in their behavior, talk with your loved one to see if they are trying to tell you something is wrong.
For a free legal consultation with a Memory Care Facility Abuse Lawyer serving Chicago, call (800) 794-0444
You Can Hold a Memory Care Facility Responsible
If you believe a memory care facility violated its responsibility to care for your loved one, you must first prove the facility is liable for harming them, which an attorney can help you do.
A lawyer can help you establish that the facility did not meet the standard of care expected of it and that your loved one was harmed and suffered damages as a result.
A Chicago memory care facility abuse lawyer can also help you navigate the legal process and request awards for the abuse your loved one suffered. You may be able to recover awards for:
- Mental health care expenses (for psychotherapy, counseling)
- Moving expenses if you had to relocate your loved one
- Property loss if any of their belongings were damaged or stolen
- Pain and suffering
- Mental or emotional anguish
- Medical expenses
An attorney can help you calculate your awards properly, negotiate with the facility’s insurer or legal representative, and file your case on time if your case must go to court. This could be the scenario if both sides fail to reach a settlement that meets your needs. In many injury cases, the parties end up settling out of court.
An attorney can explain complex laws and update you on all case developments. They can also ensure you file your lawsuit with the court on time. You generally have two years to bring forth an injury lawsuit in Illinois under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. This two-year deadline starts on the date the injury occurred.
If you are considering legal action, you want to move as quickly as possible. Once this deadline expires, you risk losing your chance to recover compensation.
Chicago Memory Care Facility Abuse Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today
The team at Pintas & Mullins wants to help you protect your loved one’s rights. We also want to help ensure they suffer no further harm and that the facility and other liable parties are held responsible for their actions. Call our legal team today at (800) 794-0444 for a free consultation.
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