Chicago Assisted Living Facility Accident Lawyer

In many ways, assisted living centers are the gateway between independent living and full nursing care facilities. Although residents at assisted living centers have more independence and are generally in better health than nursing homes, they still depend on the caregivers at the facility for many of their needs. 

It is this reliance that can put many elderly living in these facilities at risk of injury, neglect and even abuse by poorly managed assisted care centers. The Chicago assisted living facility (ALF) accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC are committed to holding facilities in Illinois responsible for the injury they cause to their residents.

Safe Environment Required for Illinois Assisted Living Residents

• Falls. Elderly people over 65 years of age are highly susceptible to injury from falls. According to the CDC, 1 out of 3 older adult falls each year, with over 19,000 having fatal injuries from falls in 2009. Assisted living centers must provide a safe environment that prevents falls that can result in broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, hip fractures or even death.
• Malnutrition. If residents are not given proper nutrition their health will be affected. Many elderly have specific dietary needs that must be met to ensure they are getting the nutrition they need to avoid permanent injuries.
• Supervision. Although assisted living is not full of nursing care, staff members have a responsibility to supervise their residents. When there is inadequate staff to monitor and supervise residents, physical abuse and catastrophic injuries may occur that could have been prevented.

Abusive Conditions Commonly Found in Assisted Living Facilities in Illinois

These care facilities have an obligation to keep their residents safe from abuse and neglect from staff and caregivers. Types of elder abuse and neglect that can occur are:

• Physical. Using physical force to hurt or discipline residents should never be tolerated.
• Emotional. Harassing, verbal abuse, bullying and emotionally abusing residents can be just as destructive as any other kind of abuse.
• Sexual. Assisted living centers have a responsibility to protect those under their care from sexual abuse both from workers and other residents.
• Financial. An increasingly common abuse of the elderly is financial abuse. These facilities need to protect those who depend on them from workers that steal and embezzle money and identities.
• Neglect. Those who live in assisted living still may have some independence but do require assistance. Neglecting their nutritional, medical or personal hygiene should never be tolerated.

Sample Legal Actions and Awards Against Assisted Living Facilities in Illinois

$400,000 Settlement; Assisted Living Lawsuit; Chicago, Illinois (Cook County)

The accident victim of this Illinois assisted living center was eighty-four. He had been a resident of the facility for a considerable period of time. During that time, doctors diagnosed and treated him for a number of serious health issues. For instance, he had deep vein thrombosis in his lower legs. This required injections of Lovenox are given directly to his abdomen. However, on one occasion, the nurse administering the shot injected the medication into his muscle. This caused a number of complications. He developed a hematoma in his abdomen. He started bleeding profusely. He went into shock. Then, he passed away not long after this chain of events. Personal injury lawyers for the man’s estate brought a wrongful death action against the facility. They sought compensation for his catastrophic injuries, medical treatment, pain, untimely death, and expenses. They argued that the negligent administration of medicine was the reason why he died. Therefore, Illinois ALF should pay damages. In the end, the two sides reached an agreement to settle for $400,000.

$175,000 Settlement; Assisted Living Neglect; Chicago, Illinois (Cook County)

This dispute involved neglect, malnutrition, and dehydration at a Chicago-area assisted living center. The victim was a woman in her early eighties. She had dementia. She entered the care center because she required day-to-day help and medical attention. The staff helped her eat, change, and wash. She lived at this facility over a period of roughly five years. However, at some point during this time, it appears that she was not getting the help that she needed. She lost over ten pounds. Also, she suffered from the effects of dehydration and malnutrition. Her medical bills alone were nearly $5,000 just to bring her back to good spirits. She still sustained catastrophic injuries. For that and similar losses, she sued the ALF. She sought compensation for the harm that the center’s neglect caused her. Prior to the end of the case, the two sides decided to wrap up the matter. She received $175,000 in settlement compensation.

$450,000 Settlement; Assisted Living Neglect; Chicago, Illinois (Cook County)

The plaintiff in this controversy was nearly ninety years old and suffering from dementia. She had been living in and out of nursing homes and long-term care facilities for a long time. On the day in question here, she was walking around the center. She went outside and strolled along the fence. A part of the fencing was not secured. The landscapers left some of it bare for people to walk up to. When she did that, she fell down and injured herself. She broke her rib bone and her left hip. These required immediate medical care and then long periods of medical treatment. Even then, she was stuck with the bills, future suffering, and disability. She sued the assisted living facility to recover monetary compensation. Through her ALF injury lawyer, she argued that as a result of the carelessness she fell. Also, she complained that the center, as well as the landscaping company, should have better secured the fencing. She suffered several economic and non-economic damages as a result. She stated in court documents that they should pay for that because of their negligence. They ended up doing so. She got a combined $450,000 settlement from the pair.

$317,500 Settlement; Assisted Living Fall Case; Stark County, Illinois

This controversy arose in an assisted living center in Stark County, Illinois when a 92-year-old woman got stuck between her bed and her nightstand. The incident left her with compressional asphyxia and brain injuries. She eventually died. She was only survived by one of her children, a son. Lawyers for the woman brought legal action alleging that the assisted living center could not give her the proper care she needed due to her declining health. Further, they thought that the assisted living center should have transferred the woman to another facility with better equipment and personnel. Also, they alleged that the center did not realize the risk of entrapment that the woman faced because of the setup of the furniture in her room. For all of these errors, the plaintiffs sought compensation from the defendant assisted living facility. The defendant center offered to settle, and the plaintiffs agreed. They received $317,500.

Legal Help for Those Mistreated at Assisted Living Facilities in Chicago, Illinois

No one deserves to be treated poorly or be injured while under the care of an assisted living facility. If you or a family member has been abused, neglected or injured while living at one of these centers, you may be able to receive compensation for these transgressions.