Illinois nursing home negligence lawyers have found through past cases that restraints can cause strangulation or lead to muscle and bone weakness.  Restrained individuals often feel humiliated or become depressed, withdrawn or agitated when freedom of movement is taken away from them.

Restraints can increase the risk of falls and other serious injuries according to Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys.  Studies have consistently demonstrated that there is no increase in serious injuries when less restrictive safety measures are used in place of physical restraints.  Many alternatives to restraint use exist and include:

• Use of positioning devices such as padded furniture or body and seat cushions
• Design of the physical environment to allow for close observation by staff
• Personal rehabilitation and strengthening program
• Use of door alarms for residents with a risk of wandering
• Use of chair or bed alarms to signal staff when a resident needs assistance
• Regular attention to physical and personal needs
• Use of personal assistance devices such as visual aids, hearing aids or mobility devices
• Efforts to increase staff awareness of a resident’s needs

If you feel a loved one is being restrained unnecessarily and you live in the state of Illinois, nursing home negligence lawyers can be of assistance.  Excessive use of physical restraints can be a sign of Illinois nursing home neglect and should not be tolerated.

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The best way to help a Chicago nursing home abuse attorney is to supply as much documentation as possible related to the neglect or abuse.  The following list includes suggestions on how to prepare prior to meeting with your attorney:

• Keep a diary or log of everything that happens
• Keep copies of any complaints made to the nursing home or government agencies
• Keep copies of the patient’s contract with the nursing home
• Collect any documents the nursing home sent such as incident reports, changes to policies or announcements
• Collect medical records for any treatment for any injuries
• Take note of any changes you or anyone else notices in the resident’s appearance, demeanor and speech

Protecting residents from Illinois nursing home neglect and seeking justice for individuals who have already been victims is imperative.  The relationship between you and your Chicago nursing home abuse attorney is critical.  Be honest and talk openly about any concerns or questions you have.

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APS has two main values which govern their actions:

1. Every action taken by Adult Protective Services must balance the duty to protect the safety of the vulnerable adult with the adult’s right to self-determination.
2. Older people and people with disabilities who are victims of abuse, exploitation or neglect should be treated with honesty, caring and respect.

The following list highlights guidelines of APS:

• Recognize individual differences
• Avoid imposing personal values on others
• Recognize the interests of the adult are the first concern of any intervention
• Involve the adult as much as possible in developing the service plan
• Honor the right of adults to receive information about their choices and options in a form or manner they can understand
• Respect the adult’s right to keep personal information confidential
• Seek informed consent form the adult before providing services
• Do no harm.  Inadequate or inappropriate intervention may be worse than no intervention
• Maintain clear and appropriate professional boundaries
• Use substituted judgment in case planning when historical knowledge of the adult’s values is available

A Chicago nursing home abuse attorney reports on the ethical principles of Adult Protective Services:

• Adults have the right to accept or refuse services
• Adults have the right to be safe
• Adults retain all their civil and constitutional rights unless some of these rights have been restricted by court action
• Adults have the right to make decisions that do not conform with societal norms as long as these decisions do no harm others
• Adults are presumed to have decision making capacity unless a court adjudicates otherwise

Despite the role Adult Protective Services plays in protecting adults in danger or neglect or abuse, many victims are still mistreated throughout the state of Illinois.  Nursing home negligence lawyers are dedicated to protecting our loved ones.  If you or someone you know has been a victim, experienced Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys are on your side.

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APS caseworkers are often first responders to reports of neglect or abuse of vulnerable adults.  In addition to casework services, APS also can arrange for medical, economic, social, legal, law enforcement, housing and emergency services.  Additional services include investigating reports, monitoring and evaluating cases of vulnerable adults.

What defines a vulnerable adult is a questions Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys have been asked.  A vulnerable adult is defined as “a person who is being mistreated or is in danger of mistreatment and who, due to age and/or disability is unable to protect himself or herself.”

Additional Adult Protective Services include:

• Developing a case plan
• Assessing a victim’s risk
• Receiving reports of adult abuse, neglect and/or exploitation
• Investigating received reports
• Assessing the victim’s capacity to understand his or her risk
• Service monitoring
• Evaluation
• Arranging for legal assistance

Adult Protection Services is dedicating to protecting our beloved loved ones.  If you or a loved one has been the victim of neglect or abuse in Illinois, nursing home negligence lawyers with extensive experience are dedicated to pursuing justice and holding responsible parties responsible.

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The first step in pursuing an Illinois nursing home neglect case involves suspecting you or a loved one has been a victim.  All too often, the actual victim is not capable of communicating or reporting the neglect.  If you have a “gut feeling” contact an Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer.  The next step involves giving written notice to the party that is believed to have committed the neglect.

Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys often receive questions regarding how long a case will take.  No simple answer exists to this question.  The majority of cases are settled prior to trial, with some settling prior to filing a lawsuit.  If a case goes to trial, it can last for years.  A quick resolution is not guaranteed.

Competent Illinois nursing home negligence lawyers can assist you with all the necessary steps to take and answer any additional questions if you are pursuing an Illinois nursing home neglect case.

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Many nursing homes in Illinois are unaware they are expected to report bedrail injuries.  Other nursing homes fail to report bedrail incidents for fear of legal liability and accusations of Illinois nursing home neglect and/or bad publicity.
Bedrail injuries and death can be prevented.  Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys can help pursue justice if you or a loved one has been the victim of this type of injury.  FDA guidelines exist, instructing nursing homes how to make calculations to ensure that beds are assembled correctly.

When bed parts (frame, rails, mattress) come from separate companies, assembly may be dangerous.  Frail residents are particularly in danger if they slip their arm or head into a gap.  When beds are constructed properly, risks to nursing home residents are much lower.

Bedrails by themselves are not an indication of an unsafe environment.  If you have a loved one in a nursing home, check for gaps between the mattress, bed frame and bedrail.  If your loved one has already been injured as the result of a bedrail, Illinois nursing home negligence lawyers can help pursue justice.

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A pressure sore or bedsore is defined as an area of injured tissue that develops when soft tissue is compressed between an external surface and a bony prominence for an extended period of time.  A resident can be affected from laying or sitting for a prolonged period of time.  The external surface can be a chair, wheelchair, bed or a different part of the body.  Pressure sores may develop in a variety of areas including the ankles, knees, head, spine, shoulders, heels, hip bone or lower back.  These painful sores are often a result of the nursing home failing to implement a plan of care explains a Chicago nursing home abuse attorney.

When the tissue dies, decay occurs as bacteria infects the tissue.  When the sore involves the decay of tissue, it is also known as gangrene, a very serious problem.  Residents suffer severe pain and a longer recovery period from other health problems.  When a bed sore shows redness, infection or inflammation, other organ systems may not function correctly.  Sepsis, lactic academia and hypotension are other common complications of this painful condition.

Illinois nursing home neglect tragically affects thousands of individuals throughout the state of Illinois.  Nursing home negligence lawyers are dedicated to providing justice to residents who have been victims.  Pressure sores can be life-threatening and every step should be taken to protect loved ones in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

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Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys offer the following precautions which nursing home staff should, but all too frequently fail to undertake:

1. The resident should be bathed properly
2. A thorough and systematic assessment should be conducted to evaluate a resident’s risk for developing a bed sore
3. Reassessments should be conducted periodically for determining risk
4. Proper nutrition and hydration should be maintained
5. The resident should be bathed properly
6. Frequent repositioning of the resident should be done to relieve pressure
7. Incontinence should be treated and assessed to prevent skin moisture from developing into a bedsore
8. Support devices should be used appropriately to relieve pressure from troublesome area
9. Lifting techniques and devices should be used when necessary to avoid shear and friction related injuries
10. When positioning residents in chairs or wheelchairs, balance, stability, pressure relief and distribution of weight should be evaluated
11. Thorough education should be given to the caregivers, resident, and family members or loved ones on preventing bedsores.

A customized plan is crucial to prevent bedsores in residents explains Illinois nursing home negligence lawyers.  Each resident has a unique set of risk factors which should be evaluated when determining the plan of care.  If you or a loved one is suffering from bedsores in a nursing home, and feel the nursing home staff members failed to properly implement a prevention plan of care, contact a Chicago nursing home abuse attorney immediately.  Bedsores can often be prevented and therefore is a warning sign that Illinois nursing home neglect is taking place.

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Indicators of physical abuse may be discoloration or bruising of the wrists, inner arms or thighs, choke marks, old and new bruises or suspiciously shaped bruises.  If your loved one has cuts, burns, scratches, unexplained bleeding or deep lacerations, it is imperative to ask questions and investigate further.  Subtle indicators of abuse are drowsiness, drooling, vacant staring or dry, cracked lips.  These subtle indicators may indicate over-medication.

The following signs may indicate Illinois nursing home neglect is taking place:

• Rapid weight loss due to dehydration or malnutrition
• Unkempt appearance such as dirty or uncut fingernails, torn clothing, or knotted hair
• Inadequate dental or personal hygiene
• Bedsores
• Signs of feces or urine on residents’ clothing and bedding
• Limited staff members or residents left unattended in hallways or bathrooms

Mental abuse is another form of neglect.  Contact a Chicago nursing home abuse attorney if you see indicators of fear, anxiety, depression, helplessness, withdrawal, non-responsiveness, anger, agitation or any hesitation to talk openly.

Illinois nursing home negligence lawyers urge family members and other loved ones of residents to take action if indicators of Illinois nursing home neglect or abuse are witnessed.  Many residents do not understand what is happening.  Residents have the right to dignified treatment and care.

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If a resident falls, he or she needs to be closely monitored by staff members of the nursing home.  The resident needs to be assessed by a physician or registered nurse versus an LPN or nursing assistant staff.  Close monitoring can result in diagnosing a problem related to the fall.  For example, a subdural hematoma could lead to brain swelling or death.  An assistant may not have the training to make this diagnosis.

Illinois nursing home negligence lawyers have represented clients who break a bone as the result of a fall.  Often times, the hip or knee breaks, resulting in the resident becoming bedridden or confined to a wheelchair.  When a resident loses mobility, other risk factors can develop such as bed sores or loss of muscle strength.  Fall injuries can lead to other serious consequences months after the initial incident.

Due to the serious possible repercussions of a resident falling, prevention is imperative.  Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys believe avoiding falls should be one of the primary focuses in the nursing home.  Staff members should consistently monitor the resident to determine the risks for falling along with taking interventions to reduce the risks of a fall incident.  The importance of being proactive increases if there is any change in a resident’s ability to physically function.  Assessments should be conducted by a qualified registered nurse.

If you or someone you love has suffered from a fall in a nursing home, it may be a sign of Illinois nursing home neglect.  Contact an Illinois nursing home negligence lawyer immediately.

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