Nursing Home Negligence & Elder Abuse

Adler & Adler, P.C. represents patients who are victims of nursing home negligence and elder abuse.

Each year there are over one million reports of elder abuse by nursing home staff. And as the number of elderly continues to grow, this national statistic is going to grow as well. According to the National Center for Elder Abuse the most common type of abuse is the general neglect of basic needs, followed by intentional abuse, which includes physical, mental and sexual abuse.

General neglect occurs when the nursing home staff lacks interest in the well being of the elderly and does not provide such basic necessities as food, water, shelter or hygiene. This form of neglect can lead to serious illnesses and infections, including bed sores, weight loss and dehydration. Pre-existing illnesses may also worsen if prescription medication is not given in a consistent and timely manner.

Physical abuse is one of the easiest signs of nursing home negligence to detect. Symptoms of physical abuse may include:
• Unexplained bruises
• Broken bones
• Unexplained cuts

Emotional or mental abuse is hard for family members to suspect because it does not leave physical symptoms. But the abuse is just as frightening and traumatic for its victims as physical abuse. Mental abuse includes verbal harassment or assault, intentional neglect, threats, and isolation from friends and family.

Sexual abuse in nursing homes ranges from inappropriate photography and nudity to forced sexual intercourse by either nursing home staff or other residents.

At Adler & Adler, we have more than 40 years of combined experience aggressively representing clients in nursing home abuse and medical malpractice and negligence claims. We have the experience needed to help you determine whether your situation is cause for a malpractice claim—and the expertise required to pursue the maximum compensation. If the insurance companies representing the involved facility or professional involved deny doing what is necessary to help a patient or a patient's family recover and be compensated for losses, the highly experienced trial attorneys at Adler & Adler, P.C. will fight to win your case through the trial process.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Home Negligence & Abuse

1. What are some of the signs of general nursing home negligence?

• Depression or withdrawal, disorientation or confusion
• Sudden changes in behavior or personality
• Unwillingness to communicate
• Bed sores, malnutrition or dehydration
• Unkempt appearance or poor personal hygiene
• Bad odors, in urinal and fecal smells
• Untreated medical conditions
• Missing personal property
• Specific resident complaints

2. What are some of the signs of emotional abuse?

• Fear, agitation, hesitance
• Depression or withdrawal
• Sudden behavior changes
• Unusual behavior patterns
• Unwillingness to communicate
• Disorientation or confusion
• Unjustified isolation or staff not allowing resident to be alone with a visitor
• Rude, humiliating and/or derogatory comments by staff
• Specific complaints by residents

3. What are some of the signs of physical abuse?

• Wounds, cuts, abrasions or burns
• Bruises, welts or swelling
• Broken bones
• Sudden, inexplicable weight loss
• Any unexplained and/or hidden injuries
• Unwarranted restraints
• Staff refusing to allow visitors to see resident
• Delays in allowing visitors to see resident
• Staff not allowing resident to be alone with visitor
• Resident being kept in an over-medicated state
• Specific complaints by residents • Fear or agitation
• Depression or withdrawal
• Sudden behavior changes
• Disorientation or confusion
• Unjustified isolation
• Rude, humiliating and/or derogatory comments by staff


4. What are are the warning signs of sexual abuse of the elderly?

• Unexplained venereal disease or genital infections
• Vaginal or anal bleeding
• Torn, stained or bloody underclothing or bed linens
• Sudden changes in behavior or personality
• Delays in allowing visitors to see resident
• Resident is not allowed to be alone with visitors
• Resident is kept in an over-medicated state
• Specific complaints by residents
• Fear or agitation
• Depression or withdrawal

5. What Other Signs Should We Be Aware of?

• Any sudden changes in behavior or personality
• Staff refusing to allow visitors to see resident
• Delays in allowing visitors to see resident
• Staff not allowing resident to be alone with visitor
• Resident being kept in an over-medicated state
• Loss of resident's possessions
• Sudden large withdrawals from bank accounts or changes in banking practices
• Abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents

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Adler & Adler, PC serves the Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation legal needs of individuals throughout Illinois, including all areas of Chicago, from the South Shore to Rogers Park and from Kenwood to Garfield Ridge, as well as the suburbs of Darien, Hickory Hills, Oak Forest, Worth, Willow Springs, Countryside, Harvey, Cicero, Naperville, Aurora, Joliet, Evanston, Skokie, Niles, Morton Grove, Elgin, Calumet City, Urbana-Champaign, Rockford, Norridge, Waukegan, and Kankakee, and the counties of Cook, Will, DuPage, Kankakee, Iroquois, Kendall, Grundy and more.