At Donald W. Fohrman & Associates, Ltd., our full-service personal injury law firm helps clients throughout Illinois in all types of nursing home abuse cases. Our Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys provide highly skilled consultation and representation for nursing home abuse victims and their families. With a combined experience of 96 years, our lawyers know what it takes to achieve results for our clients. If you or a loved one has been abused or mistreated in a nursing home, retirement community, senior adult long term care facility, senior health care home, or a Medicaid/Medicare home , call 312-661-0450, toll free at 800-437-2571 or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation.
_____________________________________________________________________
OUR PLEDGE TO YOU
- 100% RISK FREE REPRESENTATION
Our Chicago nursing home abuse lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront fees or costs. We get paid when you get paid.
- NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION
A Chicago nursing home abuse attorney provides you with a free no obligation, confidential consultation at no cost to you.
- OFFER A SECOND OPINION
If you are unhappy with the representation you are receiving from your current Illinois nursing home abuse lawyer, we will be more than happy to provide you with a second opinion as to whether your case is being handled properly.
- WE WORK FOR YOU
Every client we represent is treated with respect and their claim gets the attention it deserves. Our Illinois nursing home lawyers will keep you informed so that you can make informative, important decisions about your claim.
- WE WILL PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS
A Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer will do whatever it takes to ensure that you are being treated properly by the nursing home staff and that you receive the maximum amount of compensation allowed under Illinois law should your rights be compromised.
_____________________________________________________________________
The Most Significant Rights Of A Nursing Home Resident Include:
• The right to know about their medical conditions.
• The right to participate in the planning of their own medical treatment.
• The right to be free from abuse and restraints.
• The right to privacy, dignity and respect.
• The right to manage their own personal finances.
Click here to view the Complete Patients Bill of Rights
_____________________________________________________________________
Nursing Home Abuse Can Happen To Anyone
The decision to place a loved one into a nursing home is a difficult one and should not be entered into lightly. However, even after carefully considering your choice, researching the facility and investigating the care they provide, accidents and abuse can still happen.
Keeping a loved one safe in a nursing home requires family members to ask questions and to stay involved in the care of their loved ones. All too often, an elderly family member is left to fend for themselves in a nursing home or assisted living facility which can make it easier for them to become the victim of abuse or neglect.
_____________________________________________________________________
Recognizing The Signs Of Abuse Could Be The Difference Between Life or Death
Unfortunately, abuse of a defenseless senior citizen is all too common in the nursing home setting. For the ongoing safety of a loved one who is in a nursing home, it is important to be able to recognize the different types of abuse both physical and mental.
An elderly resident may be ashamed or embarrassed to tell their loved ones that they are being abused. Recognizing the signs of abuse could be the difference between life and death for a loved one.
Some general warning signs of neglect and/or abuse include:
- Untreated bed sores
- Depression
- The use of restraints or straps
- Non-prescribed medications
- Excessive bruising
- Fractures
- Lack of personal hygiene
- Malnutrition
- Unexplained weight loss
- Injuries requiring hospitalization
- Dirty rooms-odors
- Withdrawn behavior
- Caretaker not allowing the resident to spend time alone with visitors
Signs that your loved one is being physically abused:
- Unexplained injuries
- Wounds, cuts, or welts
- Heavy sedation
- Broken bones or fractures
- Bruising, especially in patterns or in clusters
- Rope marks, black eyes, cuts
- Open wounds
- Burns on the hands, feet or buttocks
- Overdosing
- Untreated injuries
___________________________________________________
What Can You Do If You Suspect That A Loved One Is Being Abused Or Neglected
If you suspect that your love one is being abused or neglected by the nursing home staff, you should take immediate action.:
- First contact the Director of Nurses, the social worker and the administrator of the facility.
- Have your loved one examined by an independent physician or hospital that can provide you with the documentation necessary to substantiate your complaint in addition to providing whatever medical treatment may be necessary.
- Contact your state’s survey agency. The survey agency is a division of the Department of Health. They conduct yearly surveys of the nursing homes in your state, in addition to investigating any complaints of abuse and neglect.
- File a complaint with the office of Licensing and Certification in your state. If your complaint can be substantiated, the Licensing and Certification division can issue a citation, require the nursing home or assisted living facility to take corrective action and fine the facility.
- Take legal action against the facility. Each state’s laws are different, but the most common lawsuits filed against nursing homes result from abuse, neglect or wrongful death. Additionally, some states have “unfair business practice” laws which can be used in conjunction with a civil lawsuit.
If you believe that your loved one has been neglect or abused, or if the neglect or abuse has lead to serious injury or death of a loved one, contact our office immediately at 800-437-2571 to speak with one of our experienced Illinois nursing home abuse attorneys.
Social Network Sites