Nursing Home Abuse of Patients with Alzheimer's

 Posted on October 13, 2022 in Nursing Home Abuse

Deciding to put your loved one in a nursing home can be extremely difficult. This is a person you love very much. You may feel guilty about reducing their independence. However, suppose your loved one has dementia like Alzheimer's. In that case, nursing homes can be a secure location where your loved one can live in a community with healthcare workers skilled in caring for patients in similar circumstances. 

When you bring your loved one to live in a nursing home facility, you are assuming your loved one will be appropriately taken care of. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect happen frequently in nursing homes, especially against the more vulnerable population, such as residents with Alzheimer's and other dementia-related conditions. These patients are often targeted because the abuser assumes that they will be able to blame the patient's condition for any accusations. If you have reason to believe your loved one is suffering from elder abuse at a nursing home, consider contacting attorneys skilled at representing patients with Alzheimer's or dementia who may be getting abused at a nursing home facility. 

Types of Abuse in Illinois Nursing Homes

 Something that makes cases such as this particularly disturbing is that if a patient has Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, they are far less aware of what is happening around them. In some cases, they may not even be able to articulate what is being done to them. So, if you believe your loved one is being abused, here are a few of the most common forms of abuse in nursing homes:

• Physical abuse – Mood swings and outbursts can be common in patients with dementia. In some instances, caretakers may react negatively to the outburst. This negative reaction can result in various forms of physical abuse, such as pushing, shoving, hitting, and slapping, and may even lead the healthcare professional to use unreasonable restraint against the patient. Patients can receive severe injuries from such occurrences, leading to bruises, burns, falls, and fractures. In some cases, these injuries can be life-threatening.

• Sexual abuse – Abusers may see Alzheimer's and dementia patients as easy targets. A staff member or another patient may commit sexual abuse at a nursing home facility. Whatever the case may be, in many cases, the root of the problem can be traced back to inadequate staffing. 

• Neglect and deliberate deprivation – Whether done intentionally or haphazardly, failing to provide nursing home patients with necessities like food, water, and medical care, can result in countless critical health conditions such as malnutrition, dehydration, bed sores, and infections.

Under Illinois law, the Alzheimer's and Dementia Services Act institutes minimum training standards for employees working at facilities that train healthcare workers for working with this particular demographic. Many facilities may technically meet the criteria for this demographic. However, widespread abuse and neglect still occur. 

Contact a Cook County Nursing Home Injury Attorney

Cases involving Alzheimer's and dementia patients are often difficult to pursue since the patient may not remember the event or tell anyone about what happened. As a result, further investigation is often necessary to determine what exactly happened and what must be done about it. At Schwartz Injury Law, our skilled Chicago Alzheimer's and dementia nursing home injury lawyers are ready to act against nursing homes that hire cruel and careless staff. Call us today at 312-535-4625 to schedule a free and comprehensive consultation.

Source: 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3734&ChapterID=35