Recovery And Compensation For Physical Neglect

Bedsores are incredibly painful and totally avoidable. Dehydration and malnutrition are highly preventable, as are falls leading to broken bones. An attentive nursing home staff will take care to ensure that patients are well-cared for, safe and not in harm’s way. Unfortunately, many care facilities are understaffed or have staff who are negligent in their duties. In these cases, residents are likely to suffer serious injuries, sometimes leading to death.

At Steinberg, Goodman & Kalish, we are Chicago nursing home neglect lawyers. We have extensive experience guiding clients through even the most complex personal injury cases. If your elderly loved one has suffered an injury while in the care of a nursing home, it is important to contact a skilled attorney. We will fight to ensure this behavior stops while working to ensure you receive the compensation necessary to provide the exceptional medical care your loved one deserves.

Bedsores

Many health care policies are in place that require wheelchair or bedridden patients to be repositioned every two hours. This movement prevents bedsores, or decubitus ulcers, from occurring. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a poorly trained staff or poorly staffed facility to let these policies lapse. In addition to malnutrition and dehydration, bedsores become prevalent. Once the ulcers appear, they can get increasingly more painful and dangerous, ultimately affecting muscle and bone.

Dehydration And Malnutrition

While typically seen together, dehydration and malnutrition highlight different issues related to negligence and abuse.

• Dehydration: Dehydration, or water deprivation, is a common occurrence in mismanaged or understaffed nursing homes. The lack of water can cause weakness, sickness and infection. In many situations, the symptoms of dehydration closely mirror the symptoms of dementia. Most medical professionals directly link dehydration to bedsores.
• Malnutrition: Malnutrition can cause serious problems such as low blood sugar, muscle weakness and decreased immunity. It can lead to weight loss, severe infections due to weakened immunity, and dizziness causing falls and broken bones.

Falls And Broken Bones

Many elderly nursing home residents suffer from dementia, diminished cognitive ability and lack of balance. When coupled with weak muscles and brittle bones, a fall can have devastating consequences. Individuals can suffer multiple fractures, broken hips, internal bleeding or closed head injuries. If your loved one has suffered a fall while in the care of a nursing home, contact our office immediately.

While it is true that many falls cannot be prevented or avoided, it is crucial that nursing home staff and supervisors take every precaution possible to protect elderly residents. Falls, subsequently leading to broken bones and torn tendons, can result from a number of different situations, including:

• Lack of attention on the part of the nursing home staff
• Lack of fall protection
• Defective equipment
• Ineffective safety measures
• Failure to monitor on the part of the nursing home staff

Contact The Firm

If you have a loved one who has been injured due to nursing home negligence, schedule a free consultation with an attorney at Steinberg, Goodman & Kalish. We will examine your situation and provide an honest case evaluation. Call us at 312-818-3704 or contact us by completing our online form.