The American population is aging every year with more and more citizens taking advantage of and in need of programs directed towards the elderly and the ill. One common dilemma faced when dealing with an aging adult is the decision of whether to place that person in a full time care facility, like a nursing home. Many wrestle with this decision and even if the decision to place a parent or family member is made, many still struggle with determining what facility will best serve the needs of the person they love.
In an ideal world, nursing homes would all provide the best possible care to every resident in their homes. No one would be neglected or abused and all would receive the treatment and assistance they deserve and need. Unfortunately, that is not the present condition in many nursing homes across the nation and within Illinois and it does not appear that the ideal situation will come to fruition at any point in the near future. Presently, residents are at risk for becoming the victims of nursing home abuse or neglect at the hands of employees, owners, and operators of the facilities in which they live. These victims may suffer from physical trauma or mental abuse and may require treatment for their damages.
It is tragic when one entrusted with the care of an elderly person abuses that trust and neglects that patient. When abuse or neglect occur, it can be difficult for an average Illinois citizen to confirm all the facts surrounding an incident or a series of events that led to an injury. Consulting with a personal injury lawyer in the Chicago area who handles nursing home cases may help you understand the implications of your loved one’s care and whether your loved one and/or your family may be entitled to relief.
In Texas, a former nurse’s aide who worked at a nursing home pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting one of the patients he was charged with caring for after DNA evidence allegedly confirmed his guilt. According to local authorities, a patient at the nursing home reported that the 46-year-old male defendant sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions and in multiple locations in the nursing home while he was working. The victim, described as a woman in her 60s, reportedly did not come forward initially because she feared that no one would believe her allegations as the employee was well-liked within the nursing home.
According to officials, a July 2012 incident of sexual abuse perpetrated by the defendant and against the victim eventually led to criminal charges when the victim was able to provide evidence with the defendant’s DNA to local police. When confronted with the allegations, authorities reported that the defendant initially claimed that the victim initiated the contact and that she came on to him. The victim reportedly has limited ability to care for herself and must be helped with movement, bathing, and other daily activities that left her in the care of the nurse’s aide.
This incident from Texas is still being heard in the courts as the judge overseeing the case now moves toward a sentencing phase of the defendant’s trial.
When a loved one is abused, it can be difficult to know where to turn to get the help you need. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we believe that victims of crimes should not have to continue to suffer long after the incident ends and should be entitled to seek the relief they deserve through a civil claim for damages. To help you understand your options, we offer a free case consultation without any obligation on your part to those who contact us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and everything discussed in the consultation will be kept confidential.
If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect of your loved one in Illinois, do not wait to see if the home will take the proper action. Call the attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us fight for you and for your family.
Prior Blog Entry:
Hidden Camera Allegedly Reveals Neglect at Nursing Home, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, published September 24, 2014.
Resource:
Judge hears punishment testimony is sexual assault of nursing home resident (sic), by Steve Nash, Brownwood Bulletin, published September 26, 2014.