Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Common forms of neglect and abuse in nursing homes

Although abuse and neglect can take many forms, our attorneys see common claims from our clients. Some of these are listed below.

• Bedsores. Also known as pressure sores or pressure ulcers, bedsores are not a normal side effect of getting older or living in a nursing home. These are actually injuries to the skin and its underlying tissue and are caused by prolonged pressure on a specific part of the body. In nursing homes, you will typically see bedsores on the heels, ankles, hips, tailbone, or wrists—all parts where skin covers the bony areas of the body. Pressure sores are typically a sign that a resident isn't receiving proper care. These injuries are completely preventable if nursing home staff ensures patients are clean, properly fed and hydrated, and repositioned consistently.
• Falls. Elderly people are more likely to fall, whether they are in nursing homes or not. Mobility decreases over time, as does eyesight, which will increase the risk. However, long-term care facilities must be prepared for this by keeping hallways, common rooms and bedrooms open and de-cluttered, so there is room to maneuver a walker or wheelchair. Handrails should be installed on beds, on walls, and in the bathroom. Staff and doctors should also be monitoring what types of medications a resident is taking, in case those drugs make one drowsy or disoriented. Failure to do so could lead to a case for neglect.
• Improper use of restraints. There are medically necessary times when nursing home and medical staff must use restraints on a nursing home resident for their own safety. For example, a restraint may be necessary to ensure a patient doesn't fall out of a wheelchair. However, if staff restrains a resident for prolonged periods of time or when it's not medically necessary, it's dangerous and unlawful. Restraints can lead to physical and mental injury, like bedsores or social isolation. Extreme cases can lead to wrongful death.
• Use of chemical restraints. Nursing homes or long-term care facilities may sometimes improperly use medications to restrain or control patients. This is an extremely harmful and illegal practice. When a patient is given too much of a prescribed drug, or a drug that wasn't prescribed, it can weaken the patient's mental and physical capabilities. Chemical restraints can lead to medical conditions, mental health issues, overdoses, or death. It's important to keep an eye out for any changes in your loved one's medication list, especially with any sedatives or psychotropics.
• Wandering and elopement. Nursing homes should be conducting thorough evaluations of their patients, to determine whether they are more likely to wander around the nursing home, or attempt to elope (i.e., leave the grounds). This is particularly important when it comes to residents with mobility issues or with signs of conditions like Alzheimer’s or dementia. If a nursing home fails to keep track or where its residents are, and those residents sustain injuries, then the nursing home may be held liable for neglect.
• Dehydration. When someone of any age doesn't take in enough water, they're at risk for medical issues. The elderly in particular, when not provided enough fluids, can become confused, develop low blood pressure, and become delirious or unconscious. If dehydration becomes severe enough, the resident can develop seizures, swelling in the brain, kidney failure, or coma.
• Malnutrition. When nursing home residents aren't fed enough, they may develop malnutrition. All of us depend on a well-balanced diet to stay healthy, but for residents with conditions like diabetes or heart disease, a good diet is imperative. Malnutrition can exacerbate an existing condition or cause new ones. Residents suffering from malnutrition may have decreased mobility or cognitive abilities, and may be unable to care for themselves.
• Sexual assault. Nursing home residents can be at risk for sexual assault or abuse as they may have limited mobility or decreased cognitive or communication skills. Criminal staff members may take advantage of residents who are unable to fight back or communicate what's happened. Sexual abuse in nursing homes often goes undetected because victims may be traumatized and afraid, or because they cannot communicate due to dementia or other conditions.