If you suspect nursing home abuse is happening to your loved one, you should report it immediately. The worst thing you can do is ignore these concerns and hope the problem will go away. Acting quickly will prevent any further harm from occurring and protect your loved one while the situation is thoroughly investigated.
When you arrange for your family member to live in a long-term care facility, you expect them to receive safe and responsible care. While signs of abuse and neglect might not always be obvious, you should pay attention to your instincts and document your concerns.
A Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer can help you gather evidence and investigate the situation. They’ll also explain your legal options and make sure the right party is held responsible for any mistreatment.
Recognize the Warning Signs
Recognizing the warning signs of nursing home abuse is the first step to protecting your loved one. You may notice any of the following:
- Unexplained injuries
- Untreated illnesses
- Poor hygiene
- Noticeable weight loss
- Mood shifts or emotional withdrawal
- Sudden behavioral changes
- Fearful reactions
- Bed sores
- Conflicting accounts from staff members
Not all forms of neglect will be equally visible. For example, financial exploitation and emotional abuse are harder to spot, but they still have a serious impact. Follow your intuition. If something feels wrong or unusual, look for evidence to support this notion. This will help guide your next steps.
Document Everything
While you should pay attention to your instincts regarding nursing home abuse, you still need the evidence to back up your claim. That’s why you should document everything.
Strong evidence includes:
- Photographs of unsafe conditions, injuries, and other signs of neglect.
- Medical records showing changes in health or unexplained conditions.
- Dates, times, and other written details about specific incidents you have noticed.
- Witness statements and contact details.
- Copies of all communications with staff members.
- A recorded statement from your loved one.
- Copies of surveillance footage.
You may not be able to get every form of evidence, but having some is always better than none. Plus, a nursing home abuse lawyer can help you obtain and preserve proof to help back up your case and support your claim.
Ensure Your Loved One’s Safety
If all the signs point towards mistreatment, you must put a stop to it immediately. Depending on the type of abuse taking place, this may mean speaking to management and requesting immediate changes to the way your family member’s care is being handled.
You may also choose to remove your loved one from the facility altogether. That way you can keep them safe while pursuing legal action.
In cases where there is immediate danger, risk of serious injury, or ongoing abuse, contact the emergency services as soon as possible. They can address any urgent medical needs, ensuring the situation is handled appropriately and safely.
Report the Abuse
When considering what to do if you suspect nursing home abuse, notifying an authority figure is easily one of the most important steps. There are several ways you can report abuse in long-term care facilities.
According to the Illinois Department on Aging, you can contact any one of the following organizations to file a complaint:
- The Regional Long–Term Care Ombudsman: Works with nursing home residents to address serious issues surrounding abuse and mistreatment, helping to maintain their rights.
- The Senior HelpLine: Provides guidance and answers to your questions before connecting you to the right services.
- The Illinois Department of Public Health: Investigates complaints of abuse and neglect in nursing homes.
- The Healthcare and Family Services for Supportive Living Facility Complaints: A hotline that also handles complaints about supportive living facilities.
- The Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Unit: Investigates complaints of Medicaid fraud and abuse related to long-term care facilities.
Depending on the seriousness of the incident, you may also want to file a police report. For example, if they’re in immediate danger, call 911.
Speak to a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Once your loved one is safe, you may want to pursue legal action against the person or people responsible for their mistreatment. A nursing home abuse lawyer can perform an independent investigation into your case, identify liable parties, secure evidence, and advise on the best course of action for your situation.
Nothing can take away the pain of knowing your family member suffered at the hands of those who were meant to care for them. But an attorney can help you hold the right person responsible.
Through skilled negotiations, they’ll work hard to recover all the compensation you and your family are owed for the harm caused. And in the event your case goes to court, a lawyer can represent your loved one throughout the trial process.
Protect Your Loved One with Help from Shore Law
Our founder, Megan Shore, is nationally recognized as a leading attorney in nursing home abuse and neglect cases. Her reputation has earned her invitations to serve on executive committees and to co-counsel on high-profile nursing home cases.
With over 40 years of combined experience, our legal team has the knowledge and resources to help protect the rights of your loved one. Get in touch with our team to discuss your case in further detail. We can tell you exactly what to do if you suspect nursing home abuse and help you get the compensation you’re entitled to.
