Joliet Nursing Home Resident Beaten to Death by Other Patient

 Posted on November 21, 2023 in Physical Abuse

Recently, tragedy struck at a nursing home in Joliet, Illinois. When two residents of Salem Village Nursing and Rehabilitation became involved in a dispute over a washing machine, one man physically attacked the other. The attacker reportedly punched the other man in the head several times and struck him with his own walker, causing him to fall to the floor. While a staff member attempted to intervene, they were unable to prevent the victim from suffering injuries in the attack.

Following the attack, the victim, a 61-year-old man, died of his injuries. The perpetrator, a 71-year-old resident of the nursing home, was taken into custody by police and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery of a person over the age of 60. This incident highlights the risks that nursing home residents may face, especially when they have health issues that may increase the likelihood of suffering serious or fatal injuries due to issues such as physical abuse. Families of those who have been injured or killed while residing in nursing homes can work with an attorney to determine their legal options.

Addressing Injuries Caused by Nursing Home Negligence

Nursing homes should always provide a safe environment for their residents, and staff members should provide the proper supervision, address hazards or other safety concerns, ensure that residents receive all necessary medical care, provide assistance with daily activities, and address any other needs. Unfortunately, some nursing homes fail to provide the proper level of care and assistance for residents. 

Understaffing is a serious concern at many facilities. If a nursing home does not maintain adequate staffing levels and ensure that residents have access to care and assistance from staff members who have the proper training to meet their needs, serious injuries can occur. Staff members should always be prepared to respond to requests from patients, assist them as they move throughout a facility, and make sure they are receiving the proper nutrition and hydration. When a nursing home is understaffed, residents may not receive this level of care, and injuries will be more likely to occur.

A facility that does not have sufficient staffing levels may not be able to provide supervision when needed and address potential safety concerns. Failure to monitor patients, including those that may present risks to others, can lead to incidents like the one that occurred at Salem Village Nursing and Rehabilitation. A potentially dangerous resident should be closely monitored and prevented from acting aggressively toward others. As this story demonstrates, failure to take the proper precautions to protect the safety of residents can have tragic results.

Contact Our Will County Nursing Home Injury Attorneys

When tragedy strikes at a nursing home, and patients are injured or killed as the result of a facility’s negligence, family members will need to understand their legal options. At Schwartz Injury Law, we provide legal help and representation for people who have been affected by nursing home negligence. We can help families determine who was responsible for an injury or death at a nursing home, and we will fight to ensure that they will be fully compensated for the losses they have suffered. To set up a free consultation and learn more about how we can assist with these types of cases, contact our Joliet nursing home wrongful death lawyers at 312-535-4625.

Source:

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/joliet-nursing-home-resident-charged-with-deadly-beating-fellow-resident/