Knox County Nursing Home Injury Lawyers

How to Report Elder Abuse in a Nursing Home?

Nursing home injuries can have devastating consequences for elderly people or other residents. Families of nursing home patients who suffer harm due to neglect or abuse will often be horrified to learn that the people they trusted to provide quality care were responsible for causing harm or failed to address safety issues. In these situations, family members will need to understand their options, including the steps they can take to address ongoing safety concerns and ensure that a loved one in a nursing home will receive the proper care and treatment.

At Nursing Home Injury Center, we are dedicated to helping families in Knox County fight for justice for loved ones who have experienced injuries because of nursing home negligence. We work to help family members find out who was responsible for nursing home injuries, and we provide representation as they take legal action to hold a negligent facility liable for the failure to protect the safety and health of residents. Our goal is to help families ensure that a loved one will be properly cared for and that safety concerns or other risks will not cause harm to other patients in the future.

Responding to Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in Knox County

Nursing home abuse is an ongoing concern in the United States, and it affects thousands of vulnerable individuals each year. It can take many forms, including physical abuse that results in serious injuries, sexual abuse that can lead to physical harm and emotional trauma, and unreasonable restraint through physical or chemical means. Abuse may be committed by staff members, or patients may suffer harm at the hands of other residents or people who have access to a facility.

While abuse is a significant concern, nursing home neglect can also be a factor in injuries or other forms of harm suffered by residents. If a facility is understaffed, if staff members have not been properly trained, or if a nursing home is negligent in providing the proper care, patients may suffer serious harm. Injuries may occur due to issues such as lack of supervision, lack of medical care, medication errors, poor hygiene practices, improper wound care, or failure to respond to complaints by patients or their family members.

Nursing home abuse and neglect may lead to injuries such as:

• Choking – When patients are not properly monitored, they may choke on food or drinks. In some cases, patients may experience breathing tube injuries, and blockages in these tubes or a person’s airways can cut off their oxygen. Failure to respond to signs of choking or failure to address issues that could result in asphyxiation can lead to injuries such as permanent brain damage. If immediate aid is not provided, these situations may result in wrongful death.
• Infections – If a facility is not properly cleaned and maintained, or if staff members do not take steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, residents may be exposed to germs that can cause serious illnesses. These infections can lead to problems such as sepsis or other issues that could result in permanent harm or death.
• Bedsores – Failure to provide proper care for patients who have mobility issues, such as allowing a person to remain in one position in a bed or chair for extended periods of time, can result in painful sores that may lead to infections or other health issues.
• Burns – If staff members do not take the necessary steps to protect patients from safety issues such as hot liquids, heaters, stoves, or other potential causes of burns, serious injuries may occur.
• Fall injuries – If a nursing home does not have adequate staff to help patients who are at risk of falling, or if the facility fails to provide patients with fall prevention devices such as bed rails, serious injuries may occur, including traumatic brain injuries, spine injuries, and broken bones. These injuries may also be caused by tripping hazards, wet floors, or other safety issues in a nursing home.

Contact Our Knox County Nursing Home Negligence Attorneys

If your loved one has been the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse in Knox County, Illinois, it is important to take immediate action. At Nursing Home Injury Center, our team can help you understand how to proceed in these situations, and we will fight to protect your loved one’s rights and interests. Please reach out to us at 309-524-6900 and set up a free consultation.