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Nursing home abuse and neglect affect the elderly all over the country each year. Unfortunately, long-term facility abuse and neglect can often result in physical and mental health injuries. Anyone who suspects their loved one is suffering abuse should contact a skilled personal injury attorney immediately.
Moving your loved ones to a long-term facility or nursing home, and trusting they will care for them properly, is often a tough decision for families. When you make that choice, you trust that the caregivers will treat them with the same love and respect that you would. If you suspect a facility of breaking that trust, the assistance of a Cook County nursing home abuse lawyer could prove to be invaluable.
Nursing home neglect and abuse can occur for many reasons, not all of them on purpose. In addition to the possibility of a staff member with illegal intentions, the following are also scenarios that could lead to abuse or neglect.
Nursing home facilities care for some of the most vulnerable people in the community. To protect them from harm, state and federal governments create strict regulations that these facilities must adhere to at all times. Facilities will often take shortcuts or bend the rules in order to avoid these rules, unintentionally harming residents in the process.
Caregiver training and retraining are essential to maintaining a safe environment. When facilities ensure their staff is capable and knowledgeable, they cut down on mistakes and neglect. If new staff is brought on without proper training, the odds of a severe mistake increase.
Many facilities face severe staffing shortages, which leaves workers with high workloads and far too many patients to look after. When facilities operate without enough staff, unintentional neglect is likely, and it opens that facility up for a lawsuit.
In many situations, the elder who is suffering abuse in a nursing home is mentally or functionally impaired. Their disabilities make it difficult for them to perform regular daily tasks without the assistance of nursing home staff.
Because they rely so heavily on help from the caregiver, they are often afraid or unable to report the abuse on their own. For these reasons, others must know what signs to look for and report any possible abuse or neglect that is taking place. The most common forms of abuse include:
Any person who suspects their loved one is suffering abuse in the care of a long-term facility should contact a Cook County nursing home abuse and neglect attorney right away. Reporting abuse not only helps the person in question but could prevent future harm from occurring to other people.
According to Illinois Compiled Statutes 210 ILCS 30/2, the state health department must investigate any reports of neglect or abuse of the elderly, and prevent further harm. Under the statute, they will defend the person for whom they received a report, and others who could be in similar danger.
When there is suspected abuse, the department completing the investigation will use other agencies to protect residents of the facility in question. A compassionate and qualified nursing home neglect and abuse lawyer in Cook County could answer questions on state facility regulation and how it relates to a personal injury claim.
Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is more common than you might think. When you place your loved one in the care of one of these facilities, and they suffer abuse as a result, you have every right to pursue justice by holding the employer accountable. Cook County nursing home abuse lawyers have the experience necessary to help you collect evidence and build your case. Call today to schedule a consultation.