308 West State Street Suite 210 Rockford, IL 61101

Rockford Personal
Injury Lawyers:
Legal Insights for Victims

Contact Us Today
sub-banner

An Overview of Nursing Home Neglect in Illinois

Nursing Home Neglect Attorney

Sometimes, people do not have a choice but to send their elderly loved ones to a nursing home because they cannot provide proper care to ensure their well-being. However, it can be absolutely catastrophic to find out that the nursing home you have put your trust to provide care is responsible for the illness, injury, or even death of your elderly loved one.

According to Illinois law, a nursing home, elder care facility, rest home, or convalescent can be held liable when they have committed an act of negligence or abuse towards a patient or resident, leading to any kind of harm. It is essential that you have basic knowledge of what constitutes as a nursing home negligence to ensure the safety and well-being of your elderly loved one, and take appropriate legal action if it has been compromised.

Common Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

The signs of neglect of a nursing home in terms of patient care can be in a variety of forms. In a majority of cases, a family member of the resident is in the best position to determine whether their elderly loved one has been receiving inadequate care. The Nursing Home Abuse Center classifies nursing home neglect into four broad categories, namely, neglect of basic needs, neglect of personal hygiene, social or emotional neglect, and medical neglect. The following are some common examples of negligence in a nursing home:

  • Malnutrition
  • Lack of appropriate clothing or basic hygiene
  • Bed sores and pressure ulcers
  • Lack of medical care
  • Abandonment or confinement in bed without regular check ups
  • The room being dirty, cluttered, or in disrepair
  • Lack of proper facilities in the institution, such as heating and cooling, refrigerator, stove, electricity, or plumbing

What Kind of Nursing Home Behavior can lead to a Lawsuit?

There are several acts and behaviors on part of the nursing home staff and administration that can get a medical facility on the legal hook. Here are a few examples:

  • Negligent Hiring and Training: This includes hiring an employee without any proper screening and background checks. Such an employee may not be suitable for the job, and indulge in negligent or abusive acts, or may even intentionally harm a resident. It may also be due to improper training and supervision of employees.
  • Improper Medical Treatment: The failure to provide the standard medical care as per the specific circumstances of a resident.
  • Inadequate Safety of the Premises: This refers to the dangers and hazards that the staff and administration is aware of, and they have not taken any measures to overcome them. This may include everything from keeping one resident from abusing another resident to preventing a slip and fall.
  • Understaffing: This refers to the residents being neglected because of insufficient number of employees to attend them and provide adequate medical care.

If you think that your elderly loved one is being neglected at the nursing home, you should report the situation to the authorities. If their negligence has caused harm to your loved one, you may file a claim against the institution. For legal assistance, contact Fisk & Monteleone Ltd. today at 815-209-9030 to schedule a free case consultation with one of our experienced nursing home neglect attorneys.