Chicago Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyer
Thousands of innocent people are neglected or abused in Illinois nursing homes every year. If your loved one suffered at the hands of caregivers in a long-term care facility in Illinois, Lloyd Miller Law can help. With over 75 years of combined legal experience handling elder abuse cases in Chicago, our nursing home abuse & neglect lawyers will ensure that nurses, staff members, and owners, and managers are held accountable for the injuries their negligence caused.
Let our nursing home abuse & neglect lawyers be your loved one’s voice. Call Lloyd Miller Law for a free consultation.
Call: 773-838-8100
Table of Contents
Negligence and Abuse Run Rampant in Illinois Nursing Homes
It is common for Illinois residents to read about nursing home abuse and neglect cases in the news. Although maltreatment in long-term care facilities is a well-known problem throughout the state, nursing home statistics and the cases we read about in the news only tell part of the story. Like other crimes, nursing home abuse cases are not always reported. And some of the worst cases of neglect and abuse in long-term care facilities involve victims who suffer in silence. In many cases, elderly victims are unwilling or unable to report their tragic experiences.
At Lloyd Miller Law, our nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers want to help put an end to the suffering that continues to happen in long-term care facilities in Illinois. We want to make sure that wrongdoers are held accountable for the pain they have caused. Our elder abuse attorneys want to be your loved one’s voice.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence Occurring in Chicago
Nursing home abuse and negligence exist in many forms. While some symptoms of maltreatment are obvious, others may not be as readily apparent. The most common types of negligence our injury lawyers see include:
Physical Abuse by Caregivers
Physical abuse like pushing, hitting, pinching, grabbing, or using excessive force can lead to permanent or disabling physical injuries and emotional trauma. In extreme cases, physical abuse against nursing home residents can lead to wrongful death. Abuse by nursing home staff members often goes unreported by victims due to fear of retribution. Over 50% of nursing home staff members who were recently surveyed admitted to engaging in elder abuse.
Resident-on-Resident Abuse
In addition to physical violence between nursing home residents, other types of resident-on-resident abuse include bullying, name-calling, destruction of personal belongings, privacy violations, and sexual assault. Nursing homes that were aware, or should have been aware that abuse was occurring between residents and failed to report it or take steps to stop the behaviors are guilty of negligence.
Psychological Abuse
Almost 1 out of 3 nursing home staff members who were surveyed admitted to verbally or emotionally abusing residents. Psychological abuse can take the form of verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, isolation, withholding medications, food and drinks, or personal belongings, and even humiliation by posting photos or videos on social media. Victims who have been psychologically abused often show signs of withdrawal, depression, or anger.
Gross Neglect
Staffing shortages are a leading cause of neglect in nursing homes in Chicago. When nursing homes and caregivers fail to administer medications, assist residents with mobility, eating, drinking, or daily hygiene, or they inadequately monitor people who are at risk of falling or wandering, they can be held liable for injuries.
Sexual Abuse
Any form of unwanted sexual contact with a nursing home resident is abuse. Nursing home residents who are 79 or older, female, and/or suffer from disabilities, mental illness, or dementia are at the highest risk of becoming sexually abused in long-term care facilities.
Financial Exploitation
When a staff member misuses a nursing home resident’s assets, coerces a resident into giving money or personal items away, or commits identity theft, the nursing home facility and the wrongdoer can be held accountable.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
- Unexplained cuts, bruises, or broken bones
- Soiled clothing or bedding
- Poor personal hygiene
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- Bedsores
- Depression or mood swings
“Very friendly people and very persistent to stick with my case even through a pandemic, I definitely will recommend them”
FAQs About Nursing Home Abuse in Illinois
What compensation is available in a nursing home abuse or neglect case?
Victims of nursing home abuse may be entitled to compensation for:
- The costs the resident paid to stay at the nursing home
- Medical expenses related to the abuse or neglect
- Pain and emotional trauma
- Punitive damages
How long do I have to file a lawsuit for nursing home negligence in Illinois?
In most cases, nursing home abuse and neglect lawsuits must be filed within two years or when the incident occurred. In cases involving breach of contract in Illinois, victims have up to 10 years to file a lawsuit.
What do I do if I suspect my loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse or neglect?
If you suspect your loved one is suffering from abuse or neglect in a nursing home in Illinois:
- Speak with your loved one about your concerns in private, if possible.
- Document injuries or signs of neglect.
- Report the abuse or neglect to the authorities.
- If physical or sexual abuse is evident, contact the police immediately.
- Speak with a nursing home abuse attorney about filing an injury claim.
Types of Injury Cases Our Accident Attorneys Handle
The attorneys at Lloyd Miller Law handle injury cases that stem from a wide range of incident types. We are: