A nursing home is supposed to help provide nursing care and rehabilitation services. When you visit your loved one residing in a nursing home, you expect that they will receive the highest level of care possible from empathetic and kind caregivers who will keep them safe. Unfortunately for some nursing home residents, instead of excellent care, they suffer from nursing home abuse at the hands of their caregivers.
Under no circumstances is nursing home abuse ever tolerable. Even in understaffed facilities where caregivers are burnt out, there is no place for abuse in nursing homes. Those that commit such crimes should be held accountable for their own actions.
If you or a loved one suffered nursing home abuse in Forest View, IL, it is time to evaluate your options when it comes to getting the justice and compensation that you deserve. A Forest View nursing home abuse lawyer may be able to assist you. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to schedule a no-cost consultation with a member of our legal staff to discuss your possible legal case.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse comes in many forms. Your loved one could suffer from multiple types of abuse during their stay. Some of the most common types of nursing home abuse include:
- Physical abuse: This can include hitting, pushing, or shoving a loved one. This can often happen when caregivers are burnt out or if a nursing home is severely understaffed.
- Financial abuse: This type of abuse happens too often. It is when someone uses a nursing home resident’s financial information to make unauthorized purchases or steals money from them.
- Neglect: This is simply not providing care at the level expected for the standard of care. Perhaps the resident was not given nutrition according to what is specified or left a resident in a soiled adult diaper for too long.
- Verbal abuse: This includes yelling, screaming, and name-calling.
- Sexual abuse: Sexual abuse can range from unwanted sexual acts or rape to molestation.
- Emotional abuse: This occurs when the abuser says things to intentionally cause the victim distress.
These are just some examples of nursing home abuse. However, there are many different types of elder abuse that are possible. If you suspect that your loved one is a victim of abuse, there is a good chance that something is wrong and that there is more worth investigating. It is important to communicate with your loved one on a regular basis to monitor signs of distress.
Investigating Nursing Home Abuse
Any claims of nursing home abuse should be investigated carefully, even if the claim comes from a family member who has a hunch about what might be happening. In particular, nonverbal nursing home residents may not be able to communicate about the abuse to others to let them know. This is why it is important to monitor for signs of nursing home abuse in all residents.
The abuse of residents of long term care facilities is a serious problem in the United States. Although you should not expect nursing home abuse to occur, it is more common than one would expect. It happens in luxury nursing homes in wealthy areas and in state-run facilities. No matter where your loved one resides, it is possible that they could become a victim of nursing home abuse.
For a free legal consultation with a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer serving Forest View, call (800) 794-0444
Determining Liability in Nursing Home Abuse Cases
Determining liability in nursing home abuse cases is not always straightforward. Many people are part of a resident’s care team. This includes nursing home administrators, CNAs, nurses, and doctors. There are also other people who are around your loved one who could cause them harm, such as custodians, administrators, and insurance billing representatives. If a staff member abuses a nursing home resident, they should be held responsible for their criminal actions.
But what about the facility itself and its HR team? How was this person hired? Were proper screening measures in place that could stop this person from working at the facility? If the staff member has a criminal record but the facility hired them anyway, the nursing home could face charges, too. Nursing homes have an obligation to screen and monitor their staff members to ensure that residents stay safe.
Nursing homes may also work with external contractors and other service providers that could abuse residents. This can make figuring out liability more challenging. Working with a Forest View nursing home abuse lawyer can help you to identify which parties are responsible and come up with a plan for legal action.
Forest View Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Some nursing home residents are unable to let you know that something bad happened to them. They may not even identify that the actions are a form of abuse. Some of the signs of nursing home abuse to look out for include:
- Dehydration.
- Agitation.
- Bedsores.
- Broken bones.
- Malnutrition.
- Frequent infections.
- Elopement.
- Poor hygiene.
- Depression.
- Withdrawal.
- Lost money.
Your loved one may display other signs of abuse if it happens. This is not a comprehensive list and it is important to trust your loved one if they disclose that abuse occurred. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team to discuss what happened. You do not need to go through the legal process unsupported and alone.
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Statute of Limitations for Nursing Home Abuse
The state of Illinois typically gives two years for prosecuting nursing home abuse cases. However, in some circumstances, especially if the abuse is widespread and systemic, cases could be prosecuted later. This exception is rare. It is always a smart idea to consult with a nursing home abuse attorney as soon as possible to discuss if you have a case. You may just have a potential legal avenue to recover compensation for medical expenses along with the pain and suffering felt by your loved one without even realizing it.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
Navigating the justice system can be difficult without a Forest View nursing home abuse lawyer on your side. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for support after a loved one experiences nursing home abuse. You do not have to do it alone.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
