Helping the Abused Inside a Nursing Home Care

Nursing homes are entrusted to provide top-notch care and assistance to people who have passed retirement age. It offers sanctuary to older people who cannot receive proper care at home and do not require medical attention in a hospital. Most nursing homes try to give their residents a look and feel of a home by providing a neighborhood setup that facilitates bonding and interaction. Their staff members consist of skilled nurses that provide medical care and other services 24 hours a day.

Taking your elderly family member to the nursing homes or assisted living facilities in Kendall County could be one of the best decisions you can make. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities are a haven for older residents. You would expect your elderly loved one to be treated with care, dignity, and respect in the nursing center. However, that is often not the case, and many nursing home residents report negligence and abuse over the years.

The increase in the aging population has contributed to the rise of elder abuse countrywide. Elder abuse has become a common problem, with 1 in 3 people reporting neglect claims in the previous year. Furthermore, 2 in 3 staff members in a nursing center admit to abusing their residents.

Nursing home abuse is dangerous and can cause long-term psychological effects and physical injuries to the victims. You should reach out to the Illinois attorney, Michael J Brennan, whenever you or your loved one encounters any form of abuse. The skilled attorneys will handle your case with the utmost professionalism, ensuring that your family member is well-protected.

Here’s what you need to know about nursing home abuse and how our law firm can assist you.

What Is Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing home abuse is any form of intentional or unintentional abuse carried out on an elderly citizen by a person in trust. It can be carried out by staff members, nursing center management, other residents, and family members. Any form of nursing home abuse can lead to medical emergencies, health conditions, trauma, and in extreme cases, death. It can affect the general well-being of your loved one.

Senior residents experiencing home abuse or negligence need protection—report abuse to the relevant authorities such as the police, Adult Protective Services, or an attorney. The nursing home abuse attorney will help your loved one get justice and provide you with helpful legal advice. The nursing home abuse lawyer will assist you in acquiring financial compensation using the appropriate legal resources.

What Are the Causes of Nursing Home Abuse?

Understanding the causes of abuse in nursing facilities can help tackle the prevalence of such cases. Multiple factors influence the occurrence of abuse in a nursing home, such as its general state and quality. The management also largely contributes to the causes of abuse in a nursing home.

The kinds of residents in the facility influence the occurrence of abuse, with some residents in a nursing center being at a higher risk of neglect and mistreatment than others. People with special needs or are different in a way that makes them require more time and care than others are prone to abuse. They include residents with cognitive disorders, physical disabilities, mental illnesses, and other additional needs. Women, wealthy residents, and members of the LGBT are also targets of abuse in nursing homes.

Some of the common causes of abuse in nursing homes include;

1. Shortage of staff.
2. Underpaid staff.
3. Untrained and inexperienced personnel.
4. Personal caregiver issues.
5. Poor management and supervision.
6. Resident risk factors.
7. Lack of strict rules and regulations.

What Are the Types of Abuse in Nursing Centers?

Elderly citizens are subjected to abuse in nursing centers and assisted living facilities. The National Center on Elder Abuse stated that the most common types of home abuse are physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and neglect.

Physical Abuse

1. Studies from the World Health Organization show that more than 9% of staff members physically abuse residents in long-term care facilities. The staff members cause bodily harm to their residents by punching, hitting, kicking, pushing, or shoving them. Restraining residents with straps or ties is also another form of physical abuse. It can lead to injuries in the elderly victims and even death.

Emotional Abuse

1. Emotional or mental abuse involves actions that could put the psychological well-being of an older person at risk. It includes any form of verbal abuse, such as hurling insults or issuing threats to senior residents. It also includes controlling residents against their will and isolating them from others.
2. Emotional abuse is the most common form of abuse in long-term care facilities, with over 30% of staff members involved. It can cause long-term mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Financial Abuse

1. Financial abuse involves stealing from a resident or manipulating them to get money. It could occur through stealing cash, credit cards, financial records, and other confidential or sensitive information. Staff members limiting access to a resident’s bank account and using the given power of attorney to make changes are forms of financial abuse. Residents can lose their income and life savings, leaving them stressed and unable to cater to their needs.

Sexual Abuse

1. People with physical disabilities are the most common victims of sexual abuse in a nursing home due to their inability to give or deny consent. It involves incidences of sexual assault such as groping, touching, and other forms of unwanted sexual contact. It can lead to the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, bodily injury, and emotional trauma.

Nursing Home Neglect

1. Neglect involves failure to provide appropriate care to residents due to carelessness or lack of concern from staff members in a nursing center. It could occur in many forms, including;
   1. Wrong medication to residents.
   2. Inadequate supply of food and water to residents.
   3. Fail to maintain the personal hygiene of the residents.
   4. Ignore complaints.
   5. Report injuries or illness to family members late.
   6. Leave residents unattended for a long time.
2. Neglect can cause malnutrition, infections, and physical and emotional harm to the residents.

Other kinds of abuse that residents of an assisted living facility experience include abandonment and self-negligence. It is crucial to report any form of abuse to the nursing home abuse lawyers in Cook County.

Get Help Now – Protect Your Loved Ones – Contact Michael J. Brennan

All forms of nursing center abuse are deemed unacceptable by the federal government and the Illinois department of police. You should contact an elder law attorney once your loved one shows signs of nursing home abuse.

The skilled attorneys at Michael J Brennan can help you build nursing home negligence lawsuits that ensure you get fair compensation. Our legal team has several years of experience in personal injury law, creating a solid reputation in service delivery and aggressive representation. We are keen on establishing a good attorney-client relationship and helping you and your loved one get justice.

Call us now on to get a free consultation and free case evaluation.