Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers In Chicago

When we place our loved ones in nursing homes, we expect them to receive the quality care they deserve. Discovering that your loved one may be the victim of nursing home abuse is devastating. Nursing home abuse remains a serious problem in Illinois and across the United States, despite efforts to curb abuse. Abuse can happen to any nursing home resident at any facility. Abuse can also take many different forms, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse.

Has your loved one experienced nursing home abuse in Illinois? If so, the skilled personal injury lawyers at Stein & Shulman, LLC are here to help. Our compassionate and skilled nursing home abuse lawyers have a 45-year track record of obtaining compensation on behalf of our clients. After evaluating your case, we will advise you as to your best legal option. You may have a legal right to bring a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the nursing home. Contact our Chicago personal injury lawyers today to schedule your free case evaluation.

Physical Nursing Home Abuse

Physical nursing home abuse occurs when a staff member causes the infliction of physical pain or causes physical injury to a nursing home resident. Physical nursing home abuse typically constitutes assault under Illinois law. This type of physical abuse can leave permanent damage, such as scarring and painful wounds, in addition to causing emotional pain. Physical abuse isn’t limited to kicking and slapping nursing home residents. Physical abuse includes any type of inappropriate physical force used on a nursing home resident, such as:

  • Pushing and shoving
  • Using drugs to alter the resident’s state of consciousness
  • Slapping, shoving, or punching
  • Inappropriate use of restraints on the resident
  • Any other action that uses inappropriate levels of force

When a loved one suspects that physical nursing home abuse is taking place, nursing homes will often justify their actions. The nursing home administrator may claim that the elderly Resident was combative, and the staff members had to use physical force. However, even when nursing home residents are challenging to work with or confrontational, staff members have no excuse to use physical violence, physical abuse, or engage in any type of assault. 

When nursing home staff members engage in these types of actions, the nursing home resident has a right to bring a lawsuit against the nursing home for compensation for the injuries caused by physical abuse.

Sexual Abuse and Emotional Abuse in Nursing Homes

Nursing home residents are particularly at risk for sexual abuse. Some nursing home residents cannot speak, and many rely on wheelchairs and walkers to leave their beds. Those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease may not be able to remember events that happen entirely. All of these factors contribute to the vulnerability of nursing home residents when it comes to sexual abuse.

The federal government has cited over 1,000 nursing homes for failing to prevent rape, sexual assault, and sexual abuse in their facilities between 2013 and 2016. Sexual abuse often goes undetected because nursing home residents cannot communicate to report the abuse they’ve endured. Sexual abuse in nursing homes includes all of the following:

  • Inappropriate sexual touching
  • Fondling
  • Any other type of sexual activity forced upon the victim

Emotional abuse in nursing homes is just as serious as physical and sexual abuse. Harassment, threats of abuse, verbal assaults, and intimidation are all types of emotional abuse. In some cases, staff members will harass or threaten the residence to compel the resident to follow directions. Staff members may threaten to remove attention, food, or water for the resident if they don’t comply with their demands. In egregious cases, staff members have removed these necessities from residence as a form of emotional manipulation and abuse. 

Bringing a Lawsuit Against a Nursing Home In Chicago

Family members with loved ones in nursing homes cannot rely on state or federal government agencies to prevent sexual abuse. Nursing home abuse can happen in any nursing home, including fully staffed, expensive nursing homes. Family members should pay attention to any signs of physical or sexual abuse so they can stop it immediately. 

The families of injured nursing home abuse victims have a right to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the nursing home. When their loved one dies due to abuse from their nursing home, the surviving family members can bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the nursing home. In many cases, bringing a personal injury lawsuit is the most effective way to obtain compensation and hold nursing homes accountable for the damage caused by their abusive practices. Additionally, bringing a lawsuit against abusive nursing homes will help protect other victims of potential victims.

We often meet with clients who have tried to report suspected nursing home abuse to staff members in vain. When nursing home staff members ignore abuse reports, or when they allow the abuse to continue, filing a personal injury lawsuit could be your best option for holding the nursing home accountable. Successful personal injury plaintiffs can recover damages for medical expenses and nursing home expenses related to your loved one’s care. They can also recover future medical or treatment costs and non-economic damages for their loved one’s pain and suffering. In wrongful death lawsuits, the surviving family members can recover compensation for funeral expenses and their pain and suffering. 

Contact a Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nursing home abuse is devastating for victims and their loved ones. Chicago nursing homes that allow abuse to take place should be held accountable under the law. If you suspect that your elderly loved one has suffered wrongful death or severe injuries due to abuse from their nursing home, Stein & Shulman, LLC can help. Our firm has successfully represented many Chicago area clients in nursing home lawsuits. Contact our law firm today to schedule your free case evaluation. 

The law office of Stein & Shulman routinely represents victims in Chicago, Cook CountyLake CountyDuPage CountyWill County, McHenry County, and Kane County.