When it reaches the point where a loved one has to be placed in a nursing home, the last thing on your mind is having to take legal action to protect them from abuse. When you choose a nursing home you trust them to provide a safe, clean and comfortable environment for your loved one. The majority of nursing homes do just that, but unfortunately there are those that violate the trust you have placed in them.
What can you do if your suspect abuse?
Many elderly people are simply too frightened to tell someone that they are being abused. There are also elderly people suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease that simply can’t tell anyone. It is really up to you to keep your eyes opened, looking for signs of abuse.
If you see things that appear to be out of line, take notes. If you visit your elderly parent and notice untreated bed sores or new bruises this may be evidence of abuse. Keep an watchful eye on how they look and how they react to certain staff members.
If you suspect there are problems address them immediately; talk to the facility administrator and then contact an Illinois nursing home abuse lawyer for guidance.
What constitutes nursing home abuse?
To qualify as intentional abuse a caregiver must intentionally injure the elderly resident or subject him or her to mental anguish.
? Physical abuse includes everything from assault to rape. Physical abuse is forced restraint, pushing or hitting, force feeding or deprivation of water and nourishment as a form of punishment.
? Emotional abuse is harder to detect but can include humiliation, ignoring the person, isolating the person or depriving them of visitors.
It is the legal responsibility of a nursing home to provide residents with their needs; food and water, clothing, health care and anything else needed to maintain the physical and mental well being. Should this not be the case an Illinois nursing home abuse lawyer should be contacted.
If you have an elderly loved one in a nursing home and you suspect they are being abused, contact an Illinois nursing home abuse lawyer immediately. You are invited to discuss your concerns with the Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo, LLC.
