If you suspect that your loved one has been or is an active victim of nursing home abuse, do not wait until your fears are confirmed. You have the right to take action and learn more about the details of your loved one’s situation. A Bolingbrook nursing home abuse lawyer from The Kryder Law Group, LLC, can investigate your situation and identify the responsible parties. We can take action and hold them financially liable for your damages.
At The Kryder Law Group, LLC, we fight for nursing home residents who have suffered abuse or neglect. Our personal injury attorneys can get started right away on your case. You do not owe us anything upfront because we only get paid at the successful resolution of your case. Otherwise, you do not owe us our attorney’s fees.
Nursing Home Abuse in Bolingbrook, Illinois
When a nursing home resident endures abuse or neglect, sadly, they are not always in a position to speak up. If their mental capacity is impaired, they may not be aware of what is going on or be unable to articulate the extent of their abuse. Even if the resident understands they are a victim, they may be reluctant to speak up if they rely on their abuser for their daily needs.
As the loved one of a nursing home patient, you are their eyes and ears. You should always take action if you suspect something does not seem right. Even if you do not have proof and are not certain, it is better to be wrong than to remain silent and allow your loved one to suffer.
It is important to understand that not all forms of nursing home abuse leave obvious or visible signs. Just because your loved one does not have prominent bruises or other physical injuries does not mean they are being treated with respect.
According to the National Council on Aging, the following indicators could be signs of abuse or neglect:
- Unexplained physical injuries
- Sudden and unexplained changes in personality (e.g., depression, withdrawal, or anxiety)
- Fear or nervousness around a particular caregiver
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
- Missing money or unexplained credit card charges
You should also understand the various forms of abuse that happen in nursing homes.
These include the following:
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse does not just mean hitting, kicking, or choking. It can also refer to excessive rough handling or the restraining of a resident.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse in a nursing home includes humiliation, intimidation, isolation, or even a lack of empathy for a resident’s situation or condition.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse may or may not involve physical contact. It can also refer to acts like forced viewing of pornography, sexual advances, indecent exposure, or obscene jokes or comments.
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse may involve outright stealing but also includes any behavior where a caregiver or authority figure uses their position of power to secure money, gifts, or financial assistance from a resident.
Nursing Home Neglect
A nursing home caregiver who fails to provide a resident with all of their daily needs has committed neglect. This can include neglecting to bathe a resident, administer medications, or help them with basic tasks.
Other Forms of Abuse or Neglect
The types of abuse and neglect listed above are not exhaustive. We want to investigate any situation in which you feel your loved one has not been treated properly in a nursing home. We will get to the bottom of what happened and hold the liable parties accountable. A Bolingbrook nursing home lawyer from The Kryder Law Group, LLC can help you.
The Responsible Parties in a Nursing Home Abuse Case
We will investigate your loved one’s situation and hold all parties liable for your loved one’s maltreatment responsible. During the course of our investigation, we may find that multiple parties can be held financially liable for your damages.
Some of the responsible parties in your case could include:
A Caregiver
If a specific caregiver has abused or neglected your loved one, we will gather evidence against them and hold them liable for every damage they have caused.
A Supervisor or Facilities Manager
We will also investigate the caregiver’s supervisor, as well as the manager or administrator of the entire facility, to determine if they were aware of the situation. If a manager or supervisor knew of the abuse and failed to take action, we can hold them accountable.
The Facility Itself
Finally, we can take action against the facility itself for failing to prevent your loved one from being abused or neglected.
Recoverable Damages if Nursing Home Neglect Leads to Death
Nursing home residents are some of society’s most vulnerable populations. If they do not receive the care that they need, they can pass away. Under 740 ILCS 180/, you generally have two years from the date of your loved one’s passing to file a wrongful death action. Only personal representatives of the decedent’s estate can initiate this type of action, and only certain family members can recover damages.
Some losses that can be recovered through a wrongful death action could include:
- Medical expenses, both current and future
- The cost of relocating to a different care facility
- Lost wages while missing work to assist with your loved one’s situation
- Pain and suffering and inconvenience
- Your loved one’s emotional distress
You may be able to recover the cost of damages that we have not included here.
Call The Kryder Law Group, LLC for a Bolingbrook Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Our goal is to advocate for your loved one’s rights after they have faced abuse or neglect at the hands of another party. A Bolingbrook nursing home abuse lawyer can represent both you and your loved one’s interests through the legal process.
To get started with a free case review, call The Kryder Law Group, LLC.
(312) 223-1700