Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers In Chicago
Sadly, nursing home abuse and neglect happen even under unlikely circumstances. If you suspect your loved one is experiencing abuse at their nursing home, you have every reason to be upset. The nursing home abuse lawyers at our Chicago personal injury law firm can take decisive legal action against the responsible party. If you want to proceed with a case, contact us for a free case review and legal consultation.
Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC is here to help you and your family deal with the challenges of a nursing home abuse case. We can help you pursue compensation for your loved one’s suffering and other costs related to the incident.
Call us at 312-346-8620 to set up a free consultation today.
The decision to trust your loved one’s care in a nursing home was likely complicated for your family. Once your family selected a facility and trusted its staff to care for your loved one, you had every reason to believe they would only receive dignified and compassionate care throughout their stay. In such cases, we’re ready to help when a long-term care facility fails to meet its legal obligation and moral duty.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Below, we outline the most common types of abuse and neglect that our clients come to us with.
Physical Abuse
While the more egregious forms of physical abuse will be immediately apparent, residents of nursing homes may experience a range of other behaviors that constitute physical abuse. For example, it would be considered abusive for unreasonable force to be used to restrain a resident. Similarly, another example of physical abuse is medication errors, such as administering prohibited medications or withholding prescribed medications.
After safeguarding your loved one, we can aid in pursuing legal action against the abusers.
Sexual Abuse
Allegations of sexual abuse are serious and will need to be duly investigated by the appropriate authorities. If, by any chance, you suspect unwanted or non-consensual sexual contact, act swiftly to protect your loved one. In addition, while we can use the official report as a basis for our claim against the responsible party, we will do everything possible to demonstrate how devastating this has been for your loved one.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse may be subtle and go undetected, as it can take multiple forms. It may involve verbal or nonverbal actions, and this type of abuse can be highly damaging to an elderly person.
The following behaviors are all types of emotional or psychological abuse:
- blaming the victim
- ridiculing or humiliating the older person
- causing the person to be isolated
- intimidation or other threatening actions toward the person
Signs of emotional or psychological abuse can include:
- withdrawal from activities and socialization
- that a caregiver will not allow the older adult to be alone with any family members
- that the older adult seems to be controlled by someone else
Like other abuse forms, it’s critical to act decisively to ensure your loved one’s safety. Contact our team for support and guidance regarding the options available to you.
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse of the elderly is also frequently referred to as material or financial exploitation. This type of abuse occurs when someone illegally or improperly takes another person’s funds, property, or assets.
Moreover, in nursing facilities, residents are extremely vulnerable to this type of mistreatment. Whether an abuser dupes them into giving up their property, don’t know of the theft, or cannot recognize or stop it, it is an all-too-frequent occurrence in elder care and assisted living facilities across the U.S.
In the event that you notice the signs of financial abuse of an elderly loved one, an attorney could help you put an immediate stop to it and help you hold the responsible party accountable.
Negligence
It is not only the actions of nursing home staff that can cause harm to your loved one. According to the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act, any willful failure to provide adequate care deemed “necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish, or mental illness of a resident” constitutes neglect.
If you suspect nursing home staff negligence has harmed your loved one, contact our team promptly.
Malnutrition and Dehydration
Nursing home staff must diligently monitor residents’ eating and drinking habits, despite its apparent obviousness. In fact, there are no circumstances under which any person living in a nursing home should become malnourished or dehydrated.
Considering this, you have every reason to be angry on discovering that your loved one has suffered the thoroughly avoidable consequences of either condition. Furthermore, we can help you take the responsible party to court, where they will be held accountable for their deplorable neglect.
Bed Sores
First and foremost, nursing home staff members should know how often residents with limited mobility will need assistance shifting in their beds to prevent bed sores from forming. Residents probably need assistance shifting positions more frequently just to be comfortable. Regardless, bed sores can be as potentially dangerous as they are thoroughly avoidable, and we can help you develop a claim that shows just how complicit the nursing home was in your loved one’s injury.
How to Recognize the Early-Stage Warning Signs of Bed Sores
Falls
Notably, few other accidents will carry the same potential to seriously affect an elderly person’s health as a fall. Additionally, nursing home facilities and their staff should be aware of this and, more importantly, take steps to prevent falls on their premises. For example, caregivers must take precautions to ensure walkways are well-maintained, level, and clear of obstructions. Additionally, nursing homes could be held responsible for not safeguarding residents, despite the impossibility of preventing all falls.
Alzheimer’s Mistreatment
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It affects memory, language, and thought. Memory loss is one of the first symptoms people notice. As the disease progresses, they can struggle with speech, judgment, and performing routine tasks.
Those suffering from Alzheimer’s rely on their caregivers to provide compassionate emotional and physical support. If you suspect elder abuse in a nursing home, look for signs of emotional, physical, financial, or sexual mistreatment.
Improper Use of Restraints
We trust nursing home staff with the care and protection of our loved ones. However, not all staff members are conscientious, nor are they all trained to the same degree.
Physical or emotional restraints can be used unnecessarily upon your loved one to control their behavior. You may notice bruising on your loved one’s limbs or restraints left attached to the bed frame.
In such cases, you will want to investigate promptly if you believe a facility unnecessarily restraining your loved one. Our attorneys stand ready to help you secure answers and compensation for mistreatment stemming from improper restraints.
Resident-to-Resident Abuse
Sometimes nursing homes are understaffed, overpopulated, or have improperly trained staff. In such cases, cognitively impaired but not physically impaired residents may bully or act aggressively toward more docile residents.
If, by any chance, your loved one has experienced abuse from another resident at their nursing home facility, you should contact Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC immediately. Furthermore, our nursing home abuse lawyers have years of experience with nursing home abuse cases. They will not only assist in stopping the abuse but also assess whether the nursing home administration or others should have been monitoring your loved one during the abuse. In addition, they could bear liability for injuries your loved one sustained due to abuse.
Real Stories of Nursing Home Abuse
Chicago Area Nursing Homes
The experienced Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys at Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC are committed to pursuing justice for elderly abuse and neglect victims. If your elderly loved one has suffered injuries due to negligence or an intentionally harmful act by a caregiver or facility, call us now at 312-346-8620 to schedule a free consultation.
We handle elder abuse and wrongful death claims from all nursing homes in the greater Chicago area, including but not limited to the following nursing homes:
- Alden – Founded in 1971, the Alden Network has over 40 sites. Alden offers short-term rehabilitation, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and independent senior living. The headquarters is at 4200 W Peterson Ave. Ste. 140 in Chicago.
- Aperion – Founded in 2014, Aperion Care has dozens of facilities in the Chicago area, many of which specialize in the needs of long-term care residents, including individuals who need assisted living or hospice and those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The headquarters is in Lincolnwood, Illinois, at 4655 W Chase Ave.
- Arden Courts (now ProMedica) – A ProMedica company, Arden Courts has memory care and assisted living locations in Chicagoland. Arden Courts are organized by “house,” each with a living room, dining room, kitchen, and bath.
- Astoria Place – Astoria Place residents can choose private or semi-private rooms. The facility was recently renovated and has newly redesigned accommodations. Headquarters are at 6300 N. California Ave. in Chicago.
- Belmont Village – Founded in 1997, Belmont Village offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care. They have over two dozen communities in the U.S. and Mexico City. The corporate office is in Houston, Texas.
- Bria –Founded in 2010, Bria offers long-term care options, including specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care. The headquarters are in Skokie, Illinois.
- Fair Oaks – Fair Oaks Health Care Center is a non-profit Medicare-certified skilled nursing home with private and semi-private rooms. Fair Oaks recently underwent an expansion and remodeling, adding an inpatient rehab therapy wing and a therapy gym. Fair Oaks is at 471 W. Terra Cotta Ave. in Crystal Lake, IL.
- Generations – Founded in 1991, Generations Healthcare Network offers skilled nursing, rehabilitation, long-term care, and independent living. Its headquarters is at 6840 N. Lincoln Ave. in Lincolnwood, IL.
- Grove – The Grove at the Lake provides skilled nursing care, rehab therapy, in-house beside hemodialysis, and dementia & Alzheimer’s care. There are eight Grove locations throughout Illinois. The headquarters is at 2534 Elim Avenue in Zion, IL.
- Heritage – Founded in 1960, Heritage Operations Group operates senior care campuses ranging from independent to assisted living. Heritage has more than 50 locations across Illinois and more than 4,000 employees. The headquarters is at 115 W. Jefferson St., Suite 401, in Bloomington, IL.
- Integrity – Integrity Healthcare Communities is a healthcare management company that oversees ten long-term care skilled nursing facilities in St. Louis Metro and Southern Illinois.
- Lexington – Lexington Health Network offers health care and living options for the elderly. The company oversees 1,700 skilled nursing beds in ten care buildings and 500 independent retirement units. The first Lexington Health Care Center opened in Lombard, Illinois, in 1984. Their corporate offices are at 665 W. North Ave. Suite 50 in Lombard.
- ProMedica Senior Care (formerly ManorCare) – ProMedica Senior Care, a not-for-profit, mission-based provider and part of the ProMedica Health System, has locations nationwide.
- Symphony – Symphony Post Acute Network consists of 30 facilities providing short-term post-hospital rehabilitation & care, long-term care, dedicated memory care, assisted living, independent living & supportive living. The headquarters are in Chicago.
- Tapestry 360 Health – Formerly Heartland Health Centers, Tapestry 360 Health is a federally qualified health center with 16 locations serving Chicago’s north side and nearby suburbs. We provide over 28,000 patients with a medical home where we offer affordable and comprehensive primary care, oral health care, and mental health care services.
- Warren Barr – Warren Barr facilities are located around Illinois and offer a variety of therapies and care services with a staff of skilled nurses, therapists, and licensed care professionals.
If you suspect your elderly loved one has suffered abuse at one of the nursing homes listed above, the nursing home abuse lawyers at Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC can help you take legal action against the responsible parties. Our highly skilled and compassionate attorneys will help you pursue compensation for your loved ones’ suffering.
Call Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC at 312-346-8620 to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
Nursing Home Advocate Resources
Nursing Home Abuse FAQs
If you have questions about nursing home abuse and what steps you can take to end this horrific mistreatment, call Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC at 312-346-8620 immediately. Review these FAQs for guidance, and seek immediate assistance if you suspect or can prove abuse in an elder care facility.
How do nursing home faculty members take advantage of the elderly?
Older citizens living in nursing home facilities are often in a state where they are physically and/or mentally fragile. Additionally, these residents rely on nursing home staff for tasks like eating, mobility, dressing, and healthcare. This power dynamic makes elderly residents vulnerable and sometimes at the mercy of nursing home staff members.
In unfortunate instances, staff members will use their fragility and vulnerability to take advantage of residents physically, emotionally, sexually, or financially. Take immediate action if you suspect abuse or foul play in your elderly loved one’s nursing home facility.
What are the common signs of nursing home abuse?
If you suspect elder abuse in a nursing home, watch for signs of emotional, physical, financial, or sexual mistreatment.
Common signs that victims of nursing home abuse display include recurring bruises, dehydration, cuts or lacerations, unexplained injuries, sudden or unusual change in behavior, unwillingness to eat or interact with others, emotional distancing, and unusual fear or behavior around staff members. You should act immediately if you notice these signs or other unusual behaviors.
The attorneys of the Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC are here to protect the rights and well-being of elders, and we are here to help your loved one get the proper care they need.
What should I do if I suspect nursing home abuse?
If you notice or suspect nursing home abuse, you should act immediately. Nursing home residents are typically frail, and inadequate care can jeopardize their lives due to their fragile health.
Firstly, if you feel it is necessary, you will want to remove your loved one from the care of the facility, at least temporarily, so that you know they are safe.
Then, you need to report the facility to your state’s nursing home abuse hotline. For the state of Illinois, you will report the abuse to the Illinois Department of Public Health at 1-800-252-4343.
This will prompt an investigation and evaluation of the nursing home.
Finally, contact a tough and qualified nursing home abuse attorney to protect your rights, the rights of your loved one, and the lives of all elderly residents.
The attorneys of the Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC are devoted to protecting our society’s elders, and we will do all we can to fight for the care they need. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.
Nursing Home Abuse Statistics
Nursing home abuse and elder abuse are issues that affect millions of senior citizens across the United States every year. Unfortunately, this type of abuse is often invisible. For instance, victims don’t report abuse due to fear or intimidation. Though commonly believed rare, nursing home abuse is far more widespread than perceived.
The Illinois Department of Public Health’s 2023 Long-Term Care Annual Report provides comprehensive statistics on complaints of abuse and neglect as well as violations and penalties for nursing homes in Illinois. Additionally, the report tracks complaints received through the state’s Central Complaint Registry hotline, email, mail, and fax.
In 2022, there was a substantial increase in total complaints against long-term care facilities, which rose 9.5 percent to 10,350 complaints (up from 9,732 in 2021). The most frequent types of allegations in these complaints were:
- Physical abuse: 349 complaints
- Sexual abuse: 137 complaints
- Verbal abuse: 107 complaints
- Neglect: 4 complaints
- Mental abuse: 263 complaints
- Sexual assault by another resident: 89 complaints
- Physical assault by another resident: 179 complaints
The Department categorizes violations into different levels based on severity:
- Level AA violations are the most serious, defined as creating conditions that proximately cause a resident’s death. In 2022, there were 23 Level AA violations.
- Level A violations create a substantial probability of death or serious physical/mental harm to a resident or result in actual harm. There were 445 Level A violations in 2022.
- Level B violations are more likely than not to cause more than minimal harm to a resident. There were 493 Level B violations in 2022.
- Level C violations create a substantial probability of less than minimal harm to a resident. Ninety-eight Level C violations were issued in 2022.
Beyond tracking complaints, the state closely monitors violations and penalties. In total, there were 1,019 violations across all nursing homes in Illinois in 2022. Fines totaling $12.7 million were imposed for 964 of these violations. The state actually collected $4.5 million in fines, a significant increase from the $2.6 million it collected in 2021.
In summary, complaints, violations, and penalties against Illinois nursing homes rose substantially in 2022 compared to 2021. Furthermore, the state issued more violations at the most severe levels of A.A. and A. Additionally, the total fines imposed nearly doubled from approximately $8.9 million in 2021 to $12.7 million in 2022.
While the increase in complaints and violations is worrisome, it also indicates improved oversight and accountability for care quality in Illinois nursing facilities. Additionally, the Department of Public Health diligently tracks complaints, penalizing facilities to safeguard vulnerable populations from abuse and neglect.
The prevalence of nursing home abuse, as evidenced by available statistics, is staggering. Elder abuse is an unfortunate reality we can all work to prevent. Some nursing homes neglect elderly care, making residents vulnerable to abuse from staff and visitors.
Understanding nursing home abuse forms and vigilantly monitoring caretaker actions is crucial. There must be a commitment to providing adequate training and oversight to protect vulnerable adults from abuse or neglect.
Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Chicago
If someone you love has been mistreated while being cared for in a nursing home facility, you have every right to be angry. Our legal team can help you fight for your loved one’s rights and help you pursue compensation for all the pain and suffering your loved one was forced to endure. In addition, our team has a reputation for empathy, compassion, and getting results.
To schedule a free consultation to speak with a nursing home abuse attorney at the Chicago offices of Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC, please call 312-346-8620 to get started today.
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