While incidents of sexual abuse in Illinois routinely make the news, the sexual abuse of elderly individuals is rarely publicized. It is so uncommon that many in the area do not realize it exists. Yet the reality is that residents of nursing homes, hospitals, and other long term care facilities are at risk for being the victims of sexual abuse and that these incidents happen every single year.
Often, the elderly who reside in nursing homes suffer from physical and mental ailments that make them vulnerable to abuse. In a number of instances, a resident may be unable to report the criminal conduct due to an inability to communicate or may even forget the abuse done to them. But these incidents are traumatic and can cause not only physical damages but also mental anguish and suffering, leading to damages that should be addressed.
Therefore, it is often the family members of these nursing home abuse victims who notice possible signs of wrongdoing. A sudden fear of people, fear of being touched, bruising, bleeding, new infections or sexually transmitted diseases, panic attacks, withdrawal from social situations, difficulty moving, and sudden changes in emotional behavior can be signs of sexual abuse in a long term care facility and should be warnings of potential misconduct.
Abusing the elderly is a crime in Illinois and those convicted of the offense may face a range of punishments including incarceration. Victims of nursing home sexual abuse have the right to make a criminal complaint against those who are responsible but may also be entitled to seek civil relief, another type of claim that may lead to financial compensation to the victims and/or their family members. If you are interested in seeking civil relief, speaking to an experienced personal injury attorney may help you understand what options are available to you and whether you can move forward with your claim.
The legal team at Abels & Annes, P.C. believes that every victim deserves to be heard and deserves to have their rights protected. If you suspect that your loved one has been sexually abused while in a nursing home, hospital, or other long term care facility, call us today toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and let one of our attorneys provide you with a no-cost, no-obligation case consultation. We are standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call and to speak with you. Further, if we represent you in your case, we will never charge you a fee unless we make a recovery on your behalf and we will fight for the best possible outcome for you.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we only represent victims and we never represent nursing homes or insurance companies so you know that we will make your rights our priority. If we can help you, call us now or contact us online for the relief you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Drug-Resistant Bacteria May Be Lurking in Illinois Nursing Homes, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, published December 1, 2015.