New Nursing Home Guide Provides Answers to Families
Chicago, Illinois (PRWEB) December 16, 2015 -- As the population ages, families are often faced with the tough decision of whether, when and where to admit a loved one to a nursing home. The Law Offices of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. developed a new guide called "A Family Guide to Safety in Illinois Nursing Homes" to help families faced with this challenge. The guide aims to help families not only find the best nursing home for their loved one, but also explains what types of abuse and neglect can occur and what actions can be taken if this happens.
"A Family Guide to Safety in Illinois Nursing Homes" walks users through steps on how to find a quality nursing home for their loved one by arming them with key information to be aware of when touring a facility. The guide provides questions to ask nursing home staff such as: What is the nursing staff to resident ratio? Does the nursing home help residents see their personal doctors? Is there an arrangement with a nearby hospital for emergencies? For those who have already placed loved ones in a nursing home, the guide also outlines the responsibilities of the nursing home to the resident as directed by the Illinois Department of Health, along with the 25 resident rights in accordance with the Illinois Nursing Home Reform Act of 1979.
The guide also provides information for those with loved ones currently residing in a nursing home facility. Unfortunately, mistreatment at nursing home facilities by staff and other residents is a reality. The National Center on Elderly Abuse (NCEA), found in a survey, 95% of residents reported they were neglected or witnessed neglect of other residents. The NCEA estimates that about 84 percent of abusive situations involving elderly adults are unreported or unrecognized. The guide explains abuse is any physical injury, sexual abuse or mental injury inflicted on a resident other than by accidental means. Neglect is the failure to provide adequate medical or personal care or maintenance, and comes in many forms including: medical, hygiene, nutritional, emotional or security. Neglect is the most common form of mistreatment of Illinois nursing home residents, according to a report by the State’s Department of Public Health (IDPH.)
“We represent many clients who have unfortunately suffered from neglect in an nursing home. Some of the most common mistreatment we see ranges from medication errors, to decubitus ulcers,” said attorney Tara R. Devine of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. “While not all abuse and neglect can be avoided, it is important for families to do their homework before selecting a nursing home. As the guide explains, researching the reputation of a nursing home and visiting the home in-person is crucial when deciding on a nursing home."
The goal of this free guide is to arm families with information that will assist in making the final years of their loved ones’ lives happy, comfortable and safe. To download a free copy of "A Family Guide to Safety in Illinois Nursing Homes," visit http://www.nursinghomesafety.org. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard attorneys who focus on nursing home abuse and neglect are also available for interviews on the topic.
About Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.
Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. is a leading Chicago personal injury firm with offices in Chicago (22 West Washington Street, Suite 1600, Chicago IL 60602) and Waukegan (218 North Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Waukegan, IL 60085). In addition to representing clients in nursing home abuse and neglect cases, the firm handles catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice, aviation and product liability cases, the firm focuses on car and truck accidents, airplane and train accidents, construction injuries, birth injuries, brain injuries, unsafe properties and animal attacks. The firm has obtained more than $975 million on behalf of its clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases, including 210 verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more.
Lindsey Cramer, Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., http://www.salvilaw.com, +1 (312) 372-1227, [email protected]
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