NURSING HOME ABUSE
Based on information available through the National Center
on Elder Abuse, instances of nursing home abuse, caretaker
abuse, health care provider neglect and elder exploitation
continue to rise. As result, more lawsuits are filed against
nursing homes each year.
While senior citizens, vulnerable adults and their families
often decide that they move into a nursing home so that they
will be well cared for, in some instances these persons are
actually physically, sexually and/or psychologically harmed
by the negligent or intentional acts of their caregivers.
The most common manifestations of nursing home neglect,
mistreatment and elder abuse are bedsores, falls (often
resulting in serious injury), physical abuse, "walkaways"
(residents wandering off premises due to lack of proper care
or supervision), and medication errors.
In institutional settings, several factors have been shown
to contribute to this institutional abuse, including poorly
qualified and inadequately trained staff, staff with a
history of violence, inadequate numbers of staff, the
isolation of residents, and the known reluctance of
residents to report abuse out of embarrassment or fear.
Nursing homes owe a duty of care to residents under the law.
When the facility fails to meet that duty of care, they are
liable for damages to the resident for the injuries they
have sustained.
At the Homewood, Illinois, firm of Briones, Harvey &
Trevino, we use our experience and knowledge of the law to
successfully represent clients (and their families) who have
been the victims of abuse and nursing home negligence. There
are no fees until recovery of damages, and we will front the
costs for litigation.
The facts of these cases are very often sad and tragic. In
May 2003, we settled a wrongful death case against a nursing
home. Our client was not properly cared for and developed a
stage four bedsore. The bedsore became infected and led to
her death. We settled the case in the amount of
$1,000,000.00.
In November 2003, we settled a rape case against a separate
nursing home. For several months, an employee of the nursing
home had been sexually assaulting our client, a 27 year-old
woman with the mental capacity of a three-year-old. We
settled the case in the amount of
$1,000,000.00.
If you or a family member has been the victim of nursing
home abuse, contact us immediately. Let us help you to
protect your rights, preserve your dignity, and get you the
compensation that you deserve. We serve the communities of
Country Club Hills, Hazel Crest, Chicago Heights, Matteson,
Markham, South Holland, Harvey as well as Cook, Will,
Kankakee, Lake and Du Page counties and the entire state of
Illinois.