For some families, there comes a time when the care that an elderly relative needs goes beyond what they can provide. There is nothing shameful about this— it is simply a face of life.

If this time comes for one of your loved ones, someone will have to start vetting nursing homes.

Unless your loved one has a particular medical condition that a nursing home may specialize in, you will likely want to keep them nearby by choosing one of Chicago’s many available nursing homes.

But you will also want to compare local nursing homes considering costs, amenities, staffing, training, and more.

After all, you want to ensure your loved one is well cared for and can enjoy their remaining years comfortably.

In researching local nursing homes, you will likely encounter discussions of nursing home abuse.

Rather than let these scare you, let them inform your decision of which nursing home to choose and how you will approach your loved one’s care to ensure they are taken care of properly.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Knowing the signs of abuse can help you catch any problems quickly and get your loved one the care they need.

Abuse can be physical, financial, emotional, sexual, and neglectful.

While there are many signs you should watch for, common signs include malnutrition or dehydration, sepsis, unexplained injuries, STI development, financial issues, broken bones, increased fear or anxiety, depression, and even unexpected death.

Why Nursing Home Abuse Happens

While there is no excuse for elderly abuse in nursing homes, understanding what can lead to abuse or neglect can help you avoid nursing homes with increased risk and inform your supervision of your loved one’s care.

Frequently, nursing home neglect is a result of understaffing. Overwhelmed staff are more vulnerable to mistakes that have devastating consequences. Other causes can be insufficient training practices or experience requirements.

You can help protect your loved one by staying involved in their care and checking in on the staff themselves.

Ask how they are doing and if there is anything they would like to see improved in how the place is run. You are in a position of power to advocate for them with management (being sure not to drop specific names!). Better working conditions means better care for residents, including your loved ones.

Unfortunately, not all nursing home abuse is accidental. Some migrate to positions of power over vulnerable populations for the power itself.

These malicious actors can be subtle in their abuse or intimidate other staff to the point they won’t report anything. These bad actors need to be caught, prosecuted, and ousted so they can never harm another person.

What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

If you have reason to suspect your loved one or another resident is being abused, seek help. Your first step should be to document everything.

Photos of bed sores or other injuries or living conditions, screenshots of large withdrawals from a banking account, written accounts from your loved one and concerned staff or residents. Then, take what you’ve gathered and contact Rosenfeld’s elder abuse attorneys.

They will help connect you with organizations that can investigate the nursing home criminally, while Rosenfeld helps you build a civil case.

How a Rosenfeld Lawyer Can Help

First and foremost, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC has extensive experience in nursing home neglect cases. This means they know the procedures and the most efficient path to justice.

It also means they have connections and resources to help you and your loved one through this stressful period.

When you contact Rosenfeld’s attorneys for a free case evaluation, one of their nursing home abuse lawyers will sit with you and review everything: your documentation, concerns, etc.

They may speak with your loved one, as well, if they are lucid. The lawyer will use this information to give a free consultation, discussing how likely your case is to succeed and if there is potential to make it stronger.

If you have a solid case or foundation for a case, the lawyer will perform their own investigation, reviewing records and speaking with experts in the field.

Then, they will contact the nursing home on your behalf and get in touch with their insurance and attorneys to start negotiations.

Ideally, the nursing home will choose to settle outside of court, the more hassle-free option.

However, your lawyer will represent you in court should the case go to trial. Remember to follow their advice, as they are familiar with proceedings and want the best outcome for you and your loved one.