It seems it should go without saying that elderly patients in long term or skilled nursing facilities deserve the utmost respect and care. Unfortunately, for many of these aging residents in Illinois, nursing home neglect often results in injury, and in some cases, death. Though residents of long-term skilled nursing facilities have many legal rights protecting them from abuse and neglect in and around Chicago, nursing home abuse attorneys often have to step in when these rights have been shamefully violated.

Residents of long term care facilities in Illinois are guaranteed certain rights, protections and privileges (by both State and Federal law). It is important for residents and their families to know that these rights exist. In Illinois, nursing home negligence lawyers are able to help explain these Resident’s Rights.

In the next few posts, our own Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer will expand on Resident’s Rights according to State and Federal Law. For more information, visit Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys who concentrate their practice on fighting nursing home abuse and neglect.

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If someone you love has sustained bed sores or pressure ulcers while in the care of a skilled nursing facility or nursing home, you may consider contacting an Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer. In and around Chicago, nursing home abuse attorneys are very familiar with this preventable condition, and can help you understand the classification of such an injury.

Pressure ulcers are generally classified in four stages:

Stage I represents intact skin with signs of impending ulceration.

Stage II represents a partial-thickness loss of skin. This lesion may present as an abrasion, blister, or superficial ulceration.

Stage III represents a full-thickness loss of skin with extension into tissue beneath the skin. This lesion presents as a crater with or without undermining of adjacent tissue.

Stage IV represents full-thickness loss of skin and subcutaneous tissue and extension into muscle, bone, tendon, or joint capsule. Sinus tracts and severe undermining commonly are present. A bedsore can, without proper intervention, easily proceed from Stage I to Stage IV.

It is critical that a pressure ulcer is kept clean. Surgical debridement is often necessary. This involves removing the necrotic (dead) tissue. In severe pressure ulcer cases, reconstructive surgery may be necessary.

If a pressure ulcer is not resolved through appropriate treatment it may continue to grow. At a certain point infection will set in and amputation may be required. If advanced sepsis develops amputation may not be sufficient and a resident will die.

If you or someone you know has suffered from a pressure ulcer or bed sore due to Illinois nursing home neglect, contact an Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer today.

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Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys often represent clients who have been harmed due to nursing home neglect or abuse. Many of these patients suffer from painful pressure ulcers, also knows as bed sores, pressure sores and decubitus ulcers. The most important factor to note in this type of case is that these sores can almost always be prevented or successfully treated. In Illinois, nursing home negligence lawyers are working hard to educate families before their loved one suffers needlessly.

It is important that an at-risk resident be maintained with proper hydration and nutrition. A resident confined to (or allowed to remain in) a bed or wheelchair who cannot turn or reposition themselves must be turned or repositioned by staff every two hours. Pressure relieving mattresses and special mattresses that automatically reposition the resident every two hours may also be used.

Numerous medical articles have identified those most at risk for the development of pressure ulcers. These include elderly persons, the chronically ill, the immobile, the weak or debilitated, residents with altered mental status and residents who are incontinent.

Pressure ulcers are generally preventable and avoidable. The basic treatment of decubitus ulcers is prevention. Prevention requires adequate numbers of skilled staff ensuring proper pressure relieving devices are utilized, proper nutrition and hydration is maintained and that the resident remain clean.

The most important factor in the development of pressure sores in unrelieved pressure. Friction (skin against sheets) is another known cause. Wheelchair bound residents must be trained in proper repositioning techniques. Additionally frequent thorough assessment must occur. The Braden and Norton scales are two commonly utilized assessment protocols.

For more information on preventing Illinois nursing home neglect and resulting bed sores and pressure ulcers, contact an experienced Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer as soon as possible.

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In the state of Illinois, nursing home neglect lawyers are dedicated to the pursuit of dignity and quality care for residents of skilled nursing homes and long-term care facilities. When a resident of a nursing home has suffered injury due to abuse or neglect, often times the families of the injured have little recourse other than seeking representation by Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys.

In Illinois, nursing home neglect is rampant due to a system that lacks both oversight and compelling prosecution of those who injure them. Worse yet, the tactics used to silence family members who are outraged are aggressive and swift.

Private sector lawsuits against a facility have become the most effective course of action available today, and Illinois nursing home negligence lawyers have become a powerful ally for families seeking restitution after horrendous occurrences of abuse and neglect. Litigation ensues when a family member obtains an Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer and takes matters into their own hands, as well as into the courts. For that reason, personal injury cases involving Illinois nursing home neglect, abuse, or other crimes against persons within a long-term care environment are provided special consideration under the law.

If you suspect abuse and/or neglect of a loved one, or believe your family rights have been violated, you should contact an experienced Illinois nursing home neglect attorney immediately if you live in or around Chicago. Nursing home abuse attorneys can help you protect the ones you love from further harm, and seek compensation for injuries already sustained.

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