Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Lawyer for Elders Injured Through Abuse or Neglect in Cook County Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are supposed to provide their residents with high levels of care, ensuring that their medical, nutritional, physical, and emotional needs will be met. Unfortunately, many facilities do not live up to this responsibility. All too often, patients suffer intentional abuse at the hands of nursing home staff members or other residents, or their needs are neglected because of understaffing or inadequate training. In fact, the Illinois Department on Aging's Adult Protective Services Program receives more than 15,000 reports of abuse or neglect every year, and the Illinois Department of Public Health takes legal action against hundreds of facilities for violations of the Nursing Home Care Act.

At the Kadzai Law Group, LLC, we understand how devastating it can be when your loved one has been harmed by a nursing home facility that was entrusted with their care. When you are looking to hold a negligent nursing home responsible for injuries caused by abuse or neglect, you need a personal injury attorney who has a record of success and who knows what it takes to achieve justice for your loved one.

Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Injuries

Nursing home abuse can take a variety of forms. Physical abuse may involve a staff member striking, slapping, or shoving a patient. Verbal abuse may consist of yelling at a resident or mocking or belittling them. Sadly, many elders are the victim of sexual abuse, and Alzheimer's and dementia patients are especially susceptible to this type of abuse.

Nursing home neglect may not always be as intentional as abuse, but it can be just as damaging. Failure to provide the proper medical care can result in a condition going untreated, which can lead to more serious complications. Not attending to a patient's nutritional needs, hygiene, or medications can have a devastating impact on their overall health.

Nursing home abuse and neglect can result in multiple types of serious injuries, including:

• Falls - A patient with mobility problems who is not provided the proper assistance may suffer broken bones, head injuries, or organ damage in a fall.
• Bed sores and pressure ulcers - Patients who are bedridden should be moved regularly to prevent excess pressure on certain parts of the body, such as the hips, heels, ankles, or shoulder blades. Failure to do so can result in painful wounds that may result in more serious complications, such as infections or gangrene.
• Malnutrition and dehydration - Failure to provide a patient with the proper food and water can result in serious health risks, including significant weight loss, tooth decay, depression, and fatigue.
• Infections - Residents may contract infectious diseases that affect the respiratory system, the urinary tract, or the gastrointestinal system. Infections can result from the failure to maintain a clean facility, failure to properly prepare food, or failure to monitor a patient's condition.
• Medication errors - If a patient does not receive the proper medications, or if the wrong medicines are administered, this can lead to life-threatening complications.

In many cases, a seemingly small act of negligence by nursing home staff can have far-reaching effects on a patient's health, especially for those who are in fragile health and require close monitoring. For example, a condition such as a urinary tract infection that is not properly monitored and treated could develop into a more serious health issue. When combined with other factors that affect a patient's health, the failure to provide the required care could lead to serious injuries, permanent disability, or even wrongful death.

Contact a South Chicago Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer

If your loved one has been injured due to nursing home abuse or neglect, you should be sure to understand your legal options for pursuing compensation. Attorney David Kadzai has the experience you need in these cases, and he can help you demonstrate that a nursing home's negligence was the direct cause of your family member's injury. With his help, you can hold a nursing home responsible for the harm done to your family. To schedule a free consultation, contact us at 312-229-0050. We provide representation to clients throughoutChicago and Cook County, including Harvey, Dolton, Evergreen Park, Merrionette Park, Burbank, and Oak Lawn.