In part one of this post, we discussed the signs of elder abuse. What are the red flags pointing to Illinois nursing home neglect or abuse? Physical signs, such as bruises, bed sores and weight loss, and psychological signs such as depression or anxiety. Fear of further abuse often stops victims from reporting the crimes committed against them – but these senior citizens do have rights.

If you suspect an elderly parent or friend is the victim of abuse or neglect in a private or nursing home setting, the victim may be due compensation under the law. Contact Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys who are experienced in representing cases of elder abuse in Illinois. Nursing home negligence lawyers will be able to act fast to protect the individual from further harm.

Sadly, one form of elder abuse that is growing more rampant every year is financial abuse. This occurs when a senior citizen is subject to theft of their own assets, including money and property. Both in nursing homes and private residences, the elderly can and do fall victim to thieves disguised as caregivers. These criminals might take money or possessions, cash checks and forge other financial documents. Unfortunately, sometimes even the family of the elderly person can be guilty of abusing their position as guardian, or their power of attorney.

If you suspect that a senior citizen may be the victim of financial abuse, it is essential to contact an attorney right away. Experienced Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys will be able to take immediate steps to halt the actions of the person who is taking financial advantage of the senior citizen. If you are not certain that you have enough proof to file a personal injury claim on behalf of the victim, consult an Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer who knows the warning signs. These include: changes in the will, missing funds or items, unpaid bills, bounced checks or an addition to the bank signature card. Paying attention to everyday bank activity will give you the evidence you may need to file a claim against an abuser.

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As life expectancy increases and the enormous baby boomer population ages, issues like elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes continue to rise to the forefront of personal injury law. In Illinois, nursing home neglect is certainly an issue to be aware of.

This type of crime is obviously heinous, with the most common infractions involving financial abuse and physical and psychological abuse. Unfortunately, the caregiver is usually the person responsible for this type of mistreatment. Under the law, however, a nursing home facility may also be named in an elder abuse lawsuit. If you suspect someone you know is the victim of nursing home neglect and/or elder abuse, contact Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys if you live in Illinois. Nursing home negligence lawyers will advise you of your rights and help you take action to remove the elderly person from harm.

Having the ability to detect the signs of elder abuse is essential. A competent Chicago nursing home abuse attorney can help you tremendously in detecting the signs. Many senior citizens who are the victims of abuse are unable or afraid to report the crimes committed against them – and must rely on the watchful eyes of loved ones or friends. Physical signs of possible neglect include weight loss, dehydration, bruises, bed sores or other types of wounds. Suspicious behavior of nursing home staff such as refusing to leave the patient alone with a visitor may also be red flags signaling elder abuse or neglect.

Recognizing emotional changes in the senior citizen, as well as the physical signs of abuse, is convincing evidence of neglect. If you suspect that a friend or a loved one is being abused by their caregiver either in a private residence or a nursing home facility, contact Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys immediately. The elderly have rights and acts of abuse committed against them are illegal. Illinois nursing home negligence lawyers will work to prevent the abuse and seek compensation for damages including pain and suffering – and do what they can to make sure the abuser is no longer able to inflict harm on others.

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In Chicago, nursing home abuse attorneys work tirelessly in the hopes they will one day cease to see another case of Illinois nursing home neglect. In helping to counteract the epidemic of abuse and neglect, Illinois nursing home negligence lawyers help patients and their families to fully understand a Resident’s Rights.

In addition to the rights described in the previous post, as a resident of a long term care facility in Illinois, you have:

• Your personal property rights
  You have the right to keep and wear your own clothing, as you deem appropriate. You may also keep and use your own property (which includes some furniture if space allows, unless this interferes with the health and safety of other residents.)

• Your rights in paying for your care,and getting Medicare and Medicaid
  If you are paying for some or all of your care at the facility, you must be given a contract that explains what services are provided by the facility and how much they cost. The contract must say which expenses are not included in the regular rate.

• Your right to stay in your facility
  You have the right to keep living in your facility, unless your facility forces you to move because you are found to be dangerous to yourself and others, for medical reasons, if you have not paid or are late paying your bill, or if your facility closes. In addition, you have the right to be told in advance if your room or roommate is being changed (This applies to Medicare or Medicaid certified facilities only).

• Your rights as a citizen and a facility resident
  Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys find these inherent rights are often grievously violated. Remember, you will never lose your rights as a citizen of Illinois and the United States because you live in a long-term care facility. These rights include freedom of religion, the right to vote for the candidate of your choice, and the right to meet the Long Term Care Ombudsman, community organizations, social service groups, legal advocates, and members of the general public who come to your facility. In addition, representatives of these groups may come to your facility to give you services, explain to you your rights, or help you assert your rights.

  Furthermore, your facility must let you see reports of all inspections by the Illinois Department of Health, from the last five years and the most recent survey of your facility along with any plan that your facility gave to the surveyors saying how your facility plans to correct the problem.

Unfortunately, in so many cases of Illinois nursing home neglect, patients’ rights are violated, and abuse may even be found to be the case. If you believe you or someone you love were the victim of neglect or abuse in a long-term care facility and you live in or around Chicago, nursing home abuse attorneys can help you receive the compensation you deserve.

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In and around Chicago, nursing home abuse attorneys regularly defend long term care patients whose “Resident’s Rights” have been violated. Our own Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer will explain these Resident’s Rights in this and the next post. If you have further questions, you should contact a Chicago nursing home abuse attorney who specializes in Illinois nursing home neglect and abuse cases.As a resident of a long term care facility in Illinois, you have:

• The right to safety and good care
  Among other distinctions, this means your facility must provide services to keep your physical and mental health, and sense of satisfaction with yourself, at their highest practical level. You must never be abused by anyone-physically, verbally, mentally or sexually.

• The right to participate in your own care
  Your facility must develop a written care plan (called a Comprehensive Care Plan), which outlines all the services your facility will provide to you, as well as everything you are expected to do. Your facility must make reasonable arrangements to meet your needs and choices.

• The right to privacy
  Both your medical and personal care are to be kept private. Facility staff must respect your privacy when you are being examined or given care.

• Your rights regarding your money
  You are guaranteed the right to manage your own money. Your facility may not require you to allow them to manage your money or be your Social Security representative payee. Furthermore, you may see your financial record at any time.

In order to prevent Illinois nursing home neglect, there is a lot to know about a resident’s rights. By educating themselves and their families, patients can help ensure the receive the care they deserve.

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Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys are often asked for advice about nursing home care and preventing Illinois nursing home neglect. They want the best care for their loved ones. The most dedicated attorneys care deeply about educating the families of nursing home residents about their rights, and how to best prevent abuse and neglect.

Preventing a likely occurrence of abuse or neglect may begin with the nursing home you choose. Our Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer recommends you begin your search by asking these questions:

• Is the facility Medicare certified?
• Is the facility Medicaid certified? (Also, make sure the facility is in fact licensed as a “skilled nursing facility” so they can offer physical, occupational, or speech language services.
• Is the nursing home and its administrator currently licensed?
• Does the facility conduct background checks on all of its staff?

When you tour the facility, ask to speak to the physical therapist, and specifically find out what the therapy department does to motivate residents. Medicare has a very specific guideline as to qualifying the residents on a day-to-day basis for reimbursement. That means the resident must participate actively.

Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys can typically offer great advice on selecting a good nursing home facility and following up on care. If you have questions, contact an Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer today.

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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. Bed sores and pressure ulcers are never acceptable for patients of nursing homes to sufer. 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.

According to our Illinois nursing home neglect attorney, pressure ulcers are generally classified in four stages:

• Stage I: Skin is intact with signs of impending ulceration.

• Stage II: Partial-thickness loss of skin. Lesion may present as an abrasion, blister, or superficial ulceration.

• Stage III:  Full-thickness loss of skin with extension into tissue beneath the skin. Lesion presents as a crater with or without undermining of adjacent tissue.

• Stage IV: 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.

Pressure ulcers  must be 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.  Needless to say, it is quite a serious condition.

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 Illinois, nursing home neglect is certainly an issue to be aware of.  As life expectancy continues to increase and the enormous baby boomer population ages, issues like elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes have risen to the forefront of personal injury lawsuits.

Illinois nursing home abuse can be financial, physical or psychological.  Unfortunately, caregivers are usually responsible for this type of mistreatment. But according to the law in Illinois, a nursing home facility may also be named in an elder abuse case.

If you suspect someone you know is the victim of nursing home neglect and/or elder abuse, you should immediately contact a Chicago nursing home abuse attorney if you live in Illinois. Nursing home negligence lawyers can help you understand your rights and your family’s rights, and help you take action to remove the elderly person from harm.

First, you must be vigilant in watching for signs of abuse or neglect. Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys who specialize in these cases can help you tremendously. Many senior citizens who are the victims of abuse are unable or afraid to report the crimes committed against them, and therefore must rely on the watchful eyes of friends and family.

Physical signs of potential neglect include weight loss, dehydration, bruises, bed sores or other types of wounds. Suspicious behavior of nursing home staff such as refusing to leave the patient alone with a visitor may also be red flags signaling elder abuse or neglect.

Recognizing emotional changes in the senior citizen, as well as the physical signs of abuse, is convincing evidence of neglect. If you suspect that a friend or a loved one is being abused by their caregiver in a nursing home facility, contact Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys immediately. All elderly citizens have rights and acts of abuse committed against them are illegal. Illinois nursing home negligence lawyers will work to prevent the abuse and seek compensation for damages including pain and suffering.

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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 been injured due to abuse or neglect,  their families often have little recourse other than seeking legal representation by Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys.  Therefore, private sector lawsuits against nursing home facilities have become the most effective course of action available today.  Illinois nursing home negligence lawyers have become a powerful ally for families seeking restitution after horrendous occurrences of abuse and neglect.

Litigation may ensure when a family member hires an Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer and takes matters into their own hands, and then into the courts. Personal injury cases involving Illinois nursing home neglect, abuse, or other crimes against anyone in a long-term care environment are provided special consideration under the law.

According to our Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer, “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.”

Don’t let your concerns be silenced.  If you suspect abuse or neglect of a loved one, 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 help you find justice when the unthinkable occurs.

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No one wants to believe, or can even fathom that trained and licensed staff at a skilled nursing facility would abuse or injure their elderly loved one.  Sadly, in the state of Illinois, nursing home neglect is becoming more and more prevalent.  Many Illinois nursing home negligence lawyers are working hard to help protect the aging.

Who could imagine such purposeful neglect?  In Chicago, nursing home abuse attorneys routinely hear about the vulnerable and the weak left unattended in soiled clothing and bedding for days, or fed anything less than a nutritional, balanced diet. Yet, these substandard conditions along with over-medicating, restricted physical activity and poor hygiene continue to be commonplace within an industry of terror against our frail and aging.

One of the biggest challenges Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys face is educating the public regarding the absolute failure of our current system of care within nursing homes and long-term care environments.

The time for critical action from lawmakers and those who have been entrusted to govern oversight of nursing homes and long-term facilities has long passed. Still, with the help of a dedicated Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer, you can understand the right questions to ask ahead of time and learn how to investigate a facility properly.

If you suspect abuse and/or neglect of a loved one, or if your family rights have been violated, please contact an experienced Illinois nursing home neglect attorney immediately.

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