Signs of Nursing Home Victim Abuse and Neglect That Will Alert Investigation Under the Illinois Nursing Home Act

The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act forbids the abuse of a nursing home resident. Boris Parad provides victims' relatives with a list of tell-tale signs there may be abuse.

Skokie, IL (PRWEB) January 10, 2004 -

Because many nursing home residents have limited abilities to communicate, identifying potential abuse requires careful monitoring. Boris Parad advises clients to look for the signs of nursing home abuse in their frequent visits to the nursing home or assisted living facility. Some of the more common types of physical abuse and neglect include:

•    Assault

•    Battery

•    Sexual Assault

•    Sexual Battery

•    Rape

•    Unreasonable physical restraint

•    Prolonged or continual deprivation of food or water

•    Use of a physical or chemical restraint or psychotropic medication for any purpose not consistent with that authorized by the physician

•    Not giving needed medication

•    Unexplained injuries

•    Caretaker cannot adequately explain condition

•    Open wounds, cuts, bruises or welts

•    Reports of being slapped or mistreated

•    Slapping, pushing, shaking, beating

•    Forcing an older person to stay in a room

Nursing home abuse or negligence is demonstrated by:

•    Injuries requiring emergency treatment or hospitalization

•    Any incident involving broken bones, such hip, arm or knee fractures

•    Any injury or death occurring during or shortly after an episode of wandering (including outside the facility) when the staff is not aware that the resident is missing for some period of time

•    Heavy medication or sedation

•    Rapid weight loss or weight gain without physician or family notification and a change in treatment being provided

•    Unexplained or unexpected death of the resident

•    One nursing home resident injures another resident

•    Resident is frequently ill, and the illnesses are not promptly reported to the physician and family

Deviations from standards of care, or any act of negligence resulting in injury to a nursing home resident, amount to patient neglect in violation of the Nursing Home Care Act. The Department of Health conducts investigations and its records show the citations of the homes for violating the administrative code requirement that all necessary precautions should be made to assure safety of residents at all times. Under the Nursing Home Care Act, the victim may recover compensatory damages and attorney’s fees on proof of the home’s negligence, and common law punitive damages on proof of the home’s willful and wanton, or grossly negligent, or intentional misconduct.

Boris Parad represents victims in nursing home injury cases on a contingency fee (a percentage of recovery) basis rather than on an hourly basis. He states, “The law protects our aged and infirm relatives and friends suffering in nursing homes as a result of the staff’s abuse and neglect.” Boris Parad has litigated cases in both federal and state courts in Illinois, Colorado, Michigan and argued cases in the Illinois appellate courts. His background and the firm’s services are described at http://www.ParadFirm.com or he can be reached directly at bparad@paradfirm.com.

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