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The Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC are committed to protecting the legal rights of patients who have been neglected, injured or abused during an admission to a skilled nursing facility. We are committed to holding negligent facilities accountable to the fullest extent of the law in Illinois.
If you are looking for experienced Chicago nursing home lawyer to investigate and prosecute an accident or injury case involving an Illinois nursing home, contact our office today for a complimentary case review of your legal rights and litigation options.
Our Nursing Home Lawyers See Abusive Conditions Chicago and Across Illinois
Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is not a term created by attorneys to grab headlines. Nursing home abuse is real. Most disturbingly, it is an unfortunate fact of life for many of the 100,000+ patients and residents in Illinois who are reliant on the care of nursing homes for their basic living and medical needs.
There currently are 723 licensed nursing homes in Illinois. A disappointing 41.5% of them are deemed to be below average according to Medicare data. The statewide numbers are similar in the Chicagoland area with 77 of the areas 186 nursing homes rated as below average. Our nursing home attorneys have reviewed all inspection data from Medicare and the Illinois Department of Public Health and compiled information on each facility. View our facility look-up here.
Injuries & Medical Complications Arising in Chicago Nursing Home Negligence Cases
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC has experience prosecuting a diverse portfolio of circumstances involving patient injury and untimely death in a skilled nursing facility. Among the cases we’ve successfully prosecuted include some of the following scenarios which may be categorized as nursing home abuse or nursing home neglect.
- Bed Sores: Bed sores, also referred to as pressure sores, pressure ulcers and decubitus ulcers result from patients being left in one position for extended periods of time. Advanced stage bed sores can result in pain, infection (sepsis / osteomyelitis) or and even death.
- Falls: 10-20% of patients falls in nursing homes result in an injury requiring medical attention. Many falls result in broken bones, subdural hematoma or even death. Nursing homes have a duty to assess each patient’s fall risk and implement safeguards to prevent falls. When facilities fail to do so and a patient is injured, the facility may be liable.
- Fractures: A fractured bone in an elderly person is not only painful but has a significant impact on their quality of life. Significant fractures to major bones such as legs and hips may require surgery with extensive rehabilitation.
- Choking: Many nursing home patients have difficulty swallowing known as dysphagia. Nursing homes have a responsibility to assess patients for swallowing. When facilities fail to do so, patients can choke on food. Another swallowing complication is aspiration pneumonia, when food or liquids enter the lungs.
- Dehydration: A leading cause of the elder abuse is when nursing home patients do not receive the fluids needed to maintain their physical well-being. It is the responsibility of nursing home staff to monitor fluid intake and output of residents to avoid dehydration which can lead to overall decline and even organ failure.
- Malnutrition: When nursing home staff neglect the nutritional needs of patients, the lack of nutrients can result in weight loss which can ultimately lead to a variety of medical complications and decline in the quality of life. In order to avoid malnutrition, nursing homes must conduct regular assessments of patients including weigh-ins.
- Dropped Patients: When a nursing home patient is dropped by a staff member during a transfer or from a Hoyer lift, the facility is likely responsible for not following transfer protocol. Dropped patients may suffer from a fractured bone or even death.
- Elopement: Also referred to as wandering, elopement cases involving a patient leaving the safety of the facility without the knowledge of the staff. Most elopement cases involve dementia or Alzheimer’s patients. When a patient is injured as a result of an elopement, the nursing home can be held accountable in court.
- Sexual Assault: Disturbingly little information is known about sexual assaults in nursing homes. What we do know is that these cases frequently involve disabled patients who are unable to verbally communicate the extent of their injuries. Signs may include visual distress, withdrawal, sexually transmitted disease, bloody to torn underwear or clothing.
- Medication Errors: Staff in nursing homes are frequently responsible for distributing many different medications to different patients. This is frequently done via a cart that runs up and down the halls. When patients receive the wrong dose or wrong medication and sustain an injury, the facility is responsible.
- Infections: Unsanitary conditions or advanced stage pressure sores, can contribute to systemic infections or sepsis. These conditions can be life-threatening when left untreated or medical attention is delayed.
- Unexpected Death: When a loved one suddenly dies during an admission to a nursing home there may be cause for concern. This may lead to questions and an investigation into the circumstances by the family or regulatory agencies. If the death is causally related to negligence on the part of a facility, the family may have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Skilled Nursing Corporations Putting Profitability Over Your Loved One's Care
There are currently 1.4 million people living in approximately 15,600 nursing homes across the United States. As the population ages, this number is expected to grow substantially in the coming decades. Recognizing this, many corporations are entering the industry to profit from an emerging area of senior care.
With nearly 70% of all nursing homes operated as for-profit business, much of the individualized care once present with nursing home care is gone. In many instances, nursing home operators’ trim staff to bare-bone levels to maximize profitability.
When staffing levels are reduced patients suffer as there are simply not enough R.N.’s, L.P.N’s and C.N.A.’s to sufficiently tend to immediate and developing patient needs. In a study commissioned by the American Association for Justice, 90% of nursing homes were under-staffed. Consequently, the medical needs of patients may go unsatisfied resulting in patient injury or death.
Some of the Corporately Owned Nursing Home Chains in Illinois Our Elder Abuse Attorneys Handle Include:
- Alden Health Care Facilities
- Aperion Care Centers
- Brookdale Senior Living
- Helia Healthcare Services
- Heritage Healthcare Services
- Kindred Healthcare
- Manor Care
- Rosewood Care Centers
- Sava Senior Care
- Sunrise Living Center
- Symphony Nursing Homes
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Law FAQs
Contact Our Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Today
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC appreciates the feelings of anger and guilt after a loved one has suffered an injury from abuse after an admission to an Illinois nursing home.
We encourage you to contact our office for a free review of your legal rights and options for pursuing a claim or lawsuit against a facility. Our Chicago nursing home negligence attorneys are available 24-7 and we can schedule a meeting at your home or our office. We handle cases across Illinois and are happy to travel to a location that is accessible for you.
