“Neglect” is defined as the failure to fulfill the obligations that would deliver proper care to a nursing home patient. Namely, care that that prevents the person from experiencing pain, suffering, or harm, whether intentionally or unintentionally. It can also mean not addressing a dangerous situation at a nursing home that results in harm to the patients. Unfortunately, in addition to neglect, loved ones also suffer injuries in cases of nursing home abuse.  Hundreds of thousands of adults 60 and older experience maltreatment each year. Recognizing the situations, instances and signs of neglect are extremely important to ensure your loved one is being cared for properly.

There are literally hundreds of examples of neglect that can occur when you have a loved one in a nursing home.

• Denial of care related to food, shelter, hygiene, and medical care all can be part of neglect cases, and sometimes many of these are occurring simultaneously.
• Ignored calls for help, or ignored alarms that go off when a medical situation arises are deliberate cases of intentional neglect. Ignoring or not addressing and properly treating a bed sore is neglect.
• Improperly attending to a patient who is known to be at risk of falling, who then falls down the stairs, can be a neglect situation.
• Residents who are not attended to over many months in terms of receiving proper food and drink can experience dehydration, malnutrition, or both, which is also neglect.
• When you are responsible for someone else’s care in a nursing home, even unpaid bills can constitute neglect, as it is a failure to comply with fiduciary duties.

Understanding the scope of infractions that can encompass neglect cases is a complicated and delicate matter. Family members are often frustrated, angry, and fearful for their loved ones who are experiencing neglect in their nursing home. Recognizing the situation that exists is the first step, and is very important.

The Office of Justice Programs, a division of the federal Department of Justice, provides a number of free online publications about inappropriate elder care, through their Office for Victims of Crime. If you suspect your loved one or family member is suffering from neglect in their nursing home, it’s important to try to understand where the infractions lie, and then document the case with as much information as possible, gathering facts and taking photos if you are able.

Document Potential Neglect

Create a log of your visits and dates and what you saw, heard, and experienced while at the nursing home. Bed sores and ulcers that have gone unattended can be documented, photographed, and used as evidence in a nursing home neglect case. Unsanitary personal conditions (such as soiled bedding, fleas, lice, or inadequate clothing) and poor hygiene can be signals of neglect. Hazards within the facility, such as broken stairways, dangerous construction situations, improper wiring, no running water, etc. present a risk to patients and should be noted in your log.

Ask About Possible Mistreatment

If your loved one is even occasionally lucid, listen when they describe being mistreated. If they tell you that they call for help and no one comes, the facility can be held responsible for neglect. If medication has been denied or is given improperly, bring that to the attention of the staff and be sure to note what you’ve observed and what you are told in response to complaints. Document these instances, facts, and dates as best you can. Gathering information is a very important part of your path to justice for your loved one.

Understanding patients’ rights in a nursing home is vital. Medicare provides an online guide that can be helpful. If you feel your family member has been a victim of neglect in a nursing home, immediately contacting an experienced attorney to represent their interests in a nursing home neglect case is extremely important. The Law Office of Jeff Green has handled a wide variety of cases that include nursing home neglect, and we understand the urgency and personal nature of these infractions.

It should be mentioned that, sadly, Illinois is included as one of the top states for nursing home violations that include cases of neglect. Each case we receive is handled with sensitivity and the appropriate level of attention to address these dangerous and unfortunate circumstances, utilizing the full power and knowledge of Illinois law in seeking justice for your loved one. If your loved one is experiencing neglect in a nursing home, contact us today for a free consultation.