Glenview Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys

Lawyers in Cook County for Nursing Home and Assisted Living Resident Injuries

As a person gets older and his or her health deteriorates, it may become harder and harder for family members to provide the level of care that the person needs. In such a case, it is not uncommon for loved ones to consider placing the person in a skilled nursing facility—more commonly referred to as a nursing home. Family members and caregivers often visit various facilities over the course of several months before selecting one that seems to suit their loved one's needs. If you have placed an aging or ill family member in a nursing home, you have the right to expect that he or she will be cared for properly and treated with respect and dignity. Sadly, this is not the case for many residents of nursing homes.

The experienced team at Gruzmark Law, Ltd. , is well aware of the problems that neglect and abuse in nursing homes can cause. Each year, thousands of our society's vulnerable individuals suffer injuries caused by mistreatment and negligence in skilled nursing facilities. If a member of your family has been harmed as a patient in any type of nursing or assisted living facility, speak with one of our attorneys to learn more about your options for seeking compensation.

Alarming Rates of Negligence in Nursing Homes

Were you aware that recent studies have found that over 40 percent of residents in nursing homes claim that they have suffered at least one incident of abuse? In addition, almost 95 percent of residents say that they have seen instances of neglect in their facility. Over the last few decades, the long-term care industry, which includes nursing homes, assisted living centers, and similar facilities, has become more profit-driven than ever before. More and more facilities are owned by large corporations, and the focus in many facilities has turned from patient care to reducing expenses and maximizing revenue. Unfortunately, this means that a disturbingly large number of nursing homes nationwide are staffed by employees who are underpaid and not qualified to provide the level of care that nursing home residents need and deserve. Understaffing is a serious problem in many facilities as well.

Understaffing and unqualified employees can cause issues for patients in many different ways, including:

• Bedsores, also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers
• Falls, including slip- or trip-and-falls and falls getting into or out of bed
• Malnutrition and dehydration due to missed meals or inadequate patient monitoring
• Wandering or elopement caused by improper supervision
• Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse by staff members or other residents
• Medication errors, including missed medications or improper administration
• Premature and wrongful death.

Many, if not most, residents in nursing homes are already dealing with moderate to severe health issues. This means that an incident of neglect or abuse that might cause minor problems for a healthier individual might have much more severe implications for a person who is not as healthy. For example, if an elderly resident falls due to a lack of assistance while getting out of bed, he or she could suffer bone fractures—injuries from which the patient might never fully recover.

Challenges in Illinois Nursing Home Injury Cases

It can be extremely upsetting to find out that your loved one in a nursing home has been neglected or abused. Things can get even worse when you realize the lengths that such facilities often go to in order to keep you from learning the truth about what happened and how it happened. Sadly, it is not uncommon for skilled nursing facilities and their parent companies to put their bottom line and public image above your loved one's health and quality of life. Statutes in each state, as well as federal laws, have been enacted to protect nursing home patients, and such laws can be used to help you seek justice for your loved one. A qualified nursing home abuse lawyer from Gruzmark Law, Ltd. can assist you in doing so.

Call Us for Guidance

For more information about pursuing compensation for injuries your loved one sustained as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact our office. Call Gruzmark Law, Ltd. at 847-729-7660 for a no-cost consultation and case review. We serve clients in Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County, the North Shore, Glenview, Northbrook, Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Skokie, and the surrounding areas.