Is Your Loved One At Risk for Dangerous Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse?

 Posted on January 23, 2023 in Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

Despite the fact that our elderly family members and loved ones are often vulnerable and need help with even the most basic tasks, they are also often at risk of terrible abuse and neglect at the hands of those we trust to take care of them. Illinois law guarantees nursing home residents a standard of care that is intended to protect them from abuse or neglect, but employees and managers at nursing homes and other residential care centers do not always respect or follow the law. 

Because elderly people can have a hard time communicating clearly or remembering what happened, it can be difficult to identify potential signs of abuse or neglect and distinguish them from other behaviors that are typical to this age group, such as injuries caused by tripping and falling. However, there are warning signs that could indicate your loved one is in need of urgent assistance. Responding to these warning signs and taking action against the person or organization responsible could save a life. 

Warning Signs of Abuse and Neglect in Illinois Nursing Homes

The most important thing to be aware of is that you know your loved one best. If you notice any substantial changes in their behavior that seem suspicious or unexplained, it is important to follow up on those behaviors to determine their cause. Other warning signs of neglect or abuse include, but are not limited to: 

• Strange injuries - Elderly people do get injured more often, and much of the time there is a harmless explanation for these injuries. However, if your loved one seems to have a sudden or unusual number of unexplained injuries, including cuts, bruises, welts, or bedsores, it is important to assertively determine the cause. 

• Anxiety, depression, or fear - Certain mental conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and other degenerative brain diseases, can make someone feel paranoid or nervous without a good reason. But if your loved one has a sudden or unusual change in their behavior, especially towards certain staff members in particular, they may have a legitimate reason for being afraid - even if they cannot articulate that reason. 

• Symptoms of medication errors - Sometimes medication errors are legitimate mistakes, but other times people are overprescribed medication in an effort to sedate and restrain them. Without proper authorization, chemical restraint is illegal and endangers the health of the person who is being restrained. The same goes for unauthorized or unnecessary physical restraints. 

• Unclean clothes, diapers, or room conditions - Your loved one is entitled to be well cared for. If they are not clean, smell bad, or always seem to have dirty sheets, clothes, or diapers, they may be being neglected by their care team. 

• Sudden weight loss - If your loved one is not being given the care and attention they need at mealtime, they may suffer from malnutrition or dehydration. 

Call a Winnebago County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer 

Nursing home abuse and neglect can be serious and escalate quickly into a dangerous situation for your loved one. If you have a parent or grandparent in a nursing home and are worried about their safety, trust your instincts and contact a Rockford, IL nursing home neglect attorney who can help you take action. By intervening, you may be able to protect not only your loved one, but future potential victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. Call Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law today at 815-215-7561 for a free, confidential consultation. 

Source: 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=1225&ChapterID=21