Peoria, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Nursing Home Neglect Attorneys Serving Peoria, IL

As the number of elderly people in Illinois continues to grow, many families are turning to nursing homes to care for their loved ones. These facilities are expected to provide attentive and compassionate care, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. The skilled and determined attorneys at Schwartz Injury Law are dedicated to helping families respond to situations where their loved ones have suffered harm due to neglect or abuse at nursing homes. We work to ensure that injured nursing home residents receive the dignity, respect, and care they deserve.

Falls in Nursing Homes: A Serious Risk for Residents

People in nursing homes are at a high risk of falls. Aging naturally reduces people's physical abilities, making it harder for them to maintain balance and strength. Because of this, nursing homes are required to use appropriate measures to reduce fall risks. Sadly, many nursing homes do not meet this obligation, resulting in preventable injuries.

Injuries That Commonly Occur in Nursing Home Falls

• Cuts and Bruises: While these may seem minor, they can lead to complications if left untreated, especially in elderly residents with compromised immune systems.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: In severe cases, a fall may cause partial or full paralysis, leading to extensive medical care and rehabilitation.
• Fractures: Broken bones, especially in the wrists, arms, or hips, are particularly concerning because they often require surgery and can result in long-term disability.
• Head Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) may lead to memory loss, cognitive impairment, and other severe neurological conditions.

Why Falls Happen in Nursing Homes

• Issues With Mobility Devices: Residents who rely on wheelchairs, walkers, or other aids may require assistance from staff to ensure the safe use of these devices. If equipment does not function correctly, or if residents are not helped appropriately, the risk of falling rises.
• Medication Mismanagement: Nursing home residents may take medicines that can lead them to become dizzy or drowsy, or experience side effects that elevate the risk of falling. Nursing home staff members must monitor medications closely and make adjustments as needed to protect residents from medication-induced falls.
• Inadequate Supervision: Residents with mobility issues or cognitive impairments such as dementia require close supervision. When staff members are overworked, poorly trained, or simply inattentive, the risk of falls increases, leaving residents unprotected and vulnerable.
• Unsafe Facility Conditions: Poorly maintained environments, such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, loose rugs, or poorly lit areas, can significantly increase the likelihood of falls. Facilities have a responsibility to keep their premises safe, and failure to do so puts residents at serious risk.

Other Types of Negligence in Nursing Homes

• Physical abuse: Nursing home residents may suffer harm at the hands of staff members or others, leading to visible injuries that may include bruises, broken bones, lacerations, and other forms of bodily harm. Nursing homes have a legal and moral obligation to ensure that residents are protected against potential harm, and they may be held responsible for failing to do so.
• Dehydration and Malnutrition: When their basic needs are not met, residents can suffer issues such as serious infections, severe fatigue, loss of consciousness, and, in extreme cases, organ failure.
• Wandering and Elopement: Residents who suffer from mental health disorders such as Alzheimer's disease are at high risk of leaving a facility unsupervised. Without proper supervision, they may expose themselves to dangerous situations, such as traffic or hazardous environments, and they may suffer serious injuries.
• Verbal and Emotional Abuse: These forms of abuse may occur in situations where staff members use intimidation, threats, or demeaning language toward residents. This can cause emotional and psychological damage, leading to depression, anxiety, and a decline in a person's overall well-being.

Contact Our Peoria Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys

If your loved one has suffered due to nursing home abuse or neglect, Schwartz Injury Law is here to help. Our experienced attorneys are committed to fighting for the rights of vulnerable nursing home residents and holding negligent facilities accountable. Contact our firm at 312-535-4625 today to schedule your free initial consultation. You will pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you.