Illinois Family Sues Nursing Home After Disturbing Video Surfaces

 Posted on August 21, 2019 in Nursing Home Abuse

When physical and mental conditions cause an individual to be unable to live on their own or care for themselves, they may require the round-the-clock care nursing homes offer. Placing a loved one in a nursing home, assisted living home, or other long-term care facility is one of the hardest decisions a family can make. If you have a loved one in a nursing home, you may wonder about your loved one’s quality of life, how their health issues are being addressed, and whether or not staff are treating your loved one with the respect he or she deserves.

While many nursing home workers are compassionate and competent, tragically, some nursing home staff are negligent or even abusive towards residents. In one recent Snapchat video, nursing home staff are seen openly mocking a resident and shoving a nightgown in her face. The family of the elderly resident is suing the facility at which the alleged abuse occurred for more than $1 million.

Family Alleges Nursing Home Staff Taunted and Frightened 91-Year-Old Resident

We expect nurses, nurse’s aides, assistants, and caregivers to treat nursing home residents with compassion and respect. Not only is this the ethical and humane way to treat the sick and elderly, it is also required by law. The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act describes the rights which nursing home residents must be afforded as well as the responsibilities that nursing home staff have to residents.

Although it should not even need to be stated, the Act clearly states, “An owner, licensee, administrator, employee or agent of a facility shall not abuse or neglect a resident.” Abuse is defined within the Act as actions which intentionally cause physical or mental injury. Purposefully upsetting, embarrassing, or demeaning a resident is considered mental abuse.

Lawsuit Claims Nurse’s Aides Violated State and Federal Law

In a Snapchat video taken by two nursing home aides, the aides are shown cruelly mocking and laughing at an elderly woman with dementia. The woman prefers to wear her own clothes and did not want to put on a hospital gown. She is shown on the video pushing the gown away as the aides shove it in her face. They posted the video to the social media site Snapchat with a caption that read, “Margaret hates gowns,” followed by laughing emojis.

Sharing videos or pictures of nursing home residents without their permission is expressly prohibited by the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act. Federal law, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), also protects nursing home patients’ confidentiality. The nursing aides were charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and are expected to appear in the Cook County Circuit Court later this month. The family of the elderly woman has relocated her to a new facility.

Contact a DuPage County Nursing Home Abuse Injury Lawyer

If your loved one has been mistreated at a nursing home, contact a compassionate Chicago nursing home abuse and neglect attorney to learn about your legal options. Schedule a free consultation with Schwartz Injury Law by calling 312-535-4625 today.

Sources:

https://people.com/crime/nursing-home-sued-woman-taunted-tape/

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=1225