Deciding to place a loved one in a nursing home is not easy. You are trusting the facility’s staff to care for someone important to you, without being able to supervise that person’s day-to-day care. While some long-term care facilities adhere to care standards, the sad fact is that many nursing home residents suffer from abuse or neglect.
Do you know what the most common kinds of neglect and abuse are? What can you do if you suspect nursing home abuse? A compassionate attorney who focuses on similar cases can help answer these questions.
What Are Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?
According to the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act, abuse is “any physical or mental injury or sexual assault inflicted on a resident other than by accidental means in a facility.” Neglect happens when a nursing home facility purposefully or unintentionally does not give a resident the medical care, physical care, mental care, or any other type of help they need with daily living.
Nursing home facilities, administrators, and staff must adhere to specific standards in every aspect of care for their residents. Unfortunately, abuse and neglect are more common than you might think.
Common Forms of Abuse
Nursing home caregivers and staff can abuse residents in many ways, causing physical, emotional, and mental distress. Commonly reported forms of abuse include:
- Emotional: Insults, manipulation, intimidation, isolation
- Financial: Persuading residents to relinquish control of their assets or funds
- Physical: Hitting, kicking, shoving
- Sexual: Forced, non-consensual sexual actions (including when residents are mentally incapacitated)
- Verbal: Yelling, threatening, and using inappropriate language
The unwarranted use of restraints, whether using drugs and chemicals to keep residents sedated or limiting a resident’s movements, is another type of abuse often seen in nursing homes.
Frequent Complaints of Neglect
Whether due to understaffing, poor training, or other causes, nursing home neglect can have harmful effects on residents. Neglect may be:
- Failing to provide residents with food and water
- Not helping residents with limited mobility to move
- Delaying or withholding medical or personal care
- Ignoring residents
- Not administering prescribed medications as directed
A recent federal standard mandates minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes in hopes that having adequate personnel will decrease instances of neglect. As of July 10, 2024, the majority of Illinois nursing homes do not meet these standards.
If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect, Contact a Compassionate Peoria County, IL Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Proving that a nursing home is abusing or neglecting your loved one is often challenging. Fortunately, the experienced attorneys at Nursing Home Injury Center know how to prove negligence and help you address these issues properly.We are part of a large firm, meaning you will benefit from our extensive resources; however, you will get the caring personal attention you deserve. Call 309-524-6900 today to request your free consultation with a knowledgeable Peoria, IL nursing home abuse lawyer.
