People who place their loved ones in nursing homes often agonize about the decision. Which home is right? Who will provide the best care? Is this the step my loved one needs? Few think about whether their loved one will suffer abusive conduct at the hands of those employees and nursing home operators because such actions should be unthinkable. Yet every year, cases of nursing home abuse occur in Illinois and they victimize patients who need help and care but do not receive it.
A large number of nursing home abuse cases go unreported in Illinois because the victims have no means to report their suffering or because victims believe they will not be believed. Even when abuse is suspected by family members, cover ups by the employees and facilities involved may occur and may make it impossible for these people to learn what really happened. More commonly, the incident is not covered up but rather intentionally misreported to family members to downplay the actions of the non-residents involved.
When it seems like there was improper conduct against your loved one, speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Illinois who handles nursing home cases may help you understand what events transpired and whether your family has a valid claim for help.
Tragically, authorities in Tennessee have announced that a former nursing home employee has been indicted on charges of abuse against a 96-year-old resident for whom the defendant provided care. In August of 2014, the defendant allegedly grabbed and twisted the arm of the elderly patient involved before striking the patient repeatedly on the head. The patient had bruising and multiple points of swelling following the incident and suffered pain, according to reports.
Upon discovery of the incident, it was reported to local authorities, who began an investigation. Following that, the former employee was brought before a grand jury on charges of cause and neglect of an elderly person which resulted in an indictment. The employee will now face these charges in a court of law.
While this incident happened in Tennessee, it bears an unfortunate resemblance to many that take place in Illinois annually. Nursing homes that hire abusive employees, homes that are understaffed, and homes where standards are not followed or enforced are some of the homes that have incidents of abuse and neglect.
The elderly residents who call a nursing facility “home” tend to be vulnerable and any incident can leave these victims injured. If you suspect your loved one has suffered at the hands of a nursing home employee, contact the personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us fight for the relief you deserve.
We offer a free case consultation without any obligation to those who call us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and we are standing by 24 hours a day to take your call. If you need answers or if you want to learn about your options, do not wait. Call us today and let us fight for your family members and for you so that you can obtain the relief you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Nursing Home Resident Dies After Fall, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, published December 22, 2014.
Resource:
Ex-nursing home employee indicted for abusing patient, by Tom Smith, TimesDaily.com, published December 23, 2014.