Experienced Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

The Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC are committed to protecting the legal rights of elderly residents who have been abused, neglected, injured or abused during an admission to a skilled nursing facility in the Chicago area. We are committed to holding negligent facilities accountable to the fullest extent of the law in Illinois. We are proud or our successful track record of success on behalf of 

If you are looking for an experienced Chicago personal injury law firm to investigate and prosecute an accident or injury case involving a loved one at an Illinois nursing facility, contact our law office today for a free consultation of your legal options for pursuing a Chicago nursing home abuse lawsuit.

Our law firm is currently reviewing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) cases involving patient death in Chicago nursing homes and facilities throughout Illinois. For more information, look here.

Our Nursing Home Lawyers See Abusive Conditions in Long-Term Care Facilities in Chicago, Illinois

Unfortunately, abuse and neglect are not terms created by Chicago law firms to grab headlines. Abuse of seniors living in nursing facilities is real. Most disturbingly, it is an unfortunate fact of life for many of the 100,000+ senior citizens and home residents in Illinois who are reliant on the care of skilled nursing facilities for their basic living and medical needs.

There are 723 licensed nursing facilities 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 skilled nursing facilities rated as below average. Our elder abuse 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 Abuse Cases

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC has experience prosecuting a diverse portfolio of circumstances involving patient injury and untimely death in a skilled nursing facility in the Chicago area and throughout the State of Illinois. Among the cases we’ve successfully prosecuted include some of the following scenarios which may be categorized as cases of elder abuse or nursing home neglect.

• Bed Sores: Bedsores, 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 and are an indication of nursing home abuse. Federal Regulations impose responsibilities on facilities to prevent unavoidable bed sores. Our nursing home neglect lawyers have an extensive track record of obtaining favorable settlements for families with a loved one who developed bed sore at nursing homes throughout Illinois.
• Falls: 10-20% of elder patients are injured in falls requiring medical attention. Many falls result in broken bones, subdural hematoma or even death. Nursing facilities have a duty to balance each patient's right to be free with the patient’s fall risk and implement safeguards to prevent falls. When facilities fail to provide proper care 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 medical care.
• Choking: Many elderly patients have difficulty swallowing known as dysphagia. Facilities have a responsibility to assess patients for swallowing. When caregivers 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 elder neglect is patients do not receive the fluids needed to maintain their physical well-being. It is the responsibility of staff to monitor fluid intake and output of residents to avoid dehydration which can lead to a dangerous situation and even organ failure.
• Malnutrition: When nursing staff neglect the basic needs of patients, the lack of nutrients can result in weight loss which can ultimately lead to a variety of medical complications and a decline in the quality of life. In order to avoid malnutrition, facilities must conduct regular assessments of patients including weigh-ins.
• Dropped Patients: When a 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, traumatic brain injury 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 long-term care facility can be held accountable in court.
• Sexual Assault: Disturbingly little information is known about sexual abuse in long-term care facilities for older adults as most cases go unreported. What we do know is that these cases frequently involve disabled patients who are unable to verbally communicate the extent of their injuries. Signs of sexual abuse may include visual distress, withdrawal, sexually transmitted disease, bloody to torn underwear or clothing.
• Medication Errors: Staff are 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 are signs of neglect and 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 facility 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 neglect on the part of a facility, the family may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim.

Other types of nursing home abuse involve physical abuse by staff or other residents where a resident has a physical injury. Unfortunately, there are countless other situations involving emotional abuse or verbal abuse that are rarely reported to authorities.

Skilled Nursing Corporations Putting Profitability Over Your Loved One's Care

There are currently 1.4 million people living in approximately 15,600 nursing home facilities across the United States (according to Medicaid services). 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 senior care facilities operated as a for-profit business, much of the individualized care once present with elderly care is gone. In many instances, 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 skilled nursing facilities were understaffed. Consequently, the medical needs of patients may go unsatisfied resulting in patient injury or death.

Some of the Corporately Owned Nursing Chains in Illinois Our Elder Abuse Lawyers 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

Unfortunately, abuse and neglect are not terms created by Chicago law firms to grab headlines. Elder 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 skilled nursing facilities for their basic living and medical needs.

There are 723 licensed nursing facilities 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 skilled nursing facilities rated as below average. Our 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.

For Information on the Negligence Cases, Our Law Firm Has Handled Look Here.

View More Elder Abuse & Neglect FAQs

Contact an Experienced Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC appreciates the feelings of anger and guilt after a family member has suffered an injury from abuse after admission to an Illinois facility.

We encourage you to contact our office for a free consultation of your legal rights and options for pursuing a neglect claim or lawsuit against a facility. Our Chicago negligence lawyers 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.

Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld is deeply committed to protecting the legal rights of elderly people in long-term care facilities. Mr. Rosenfeld is a member of the American Association for Justice's (AAJ) Nursing Home Litigation Group. The group is comprised of attorneys from across the country who represent victims of elder abuse in lawsuits against negligent skilled nursing facilities.