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.