What to Do When You Learn a Loved One Suffered Nursing Home Abuse

Thursday, April 8, 2021

What to Do When You Learn a Loved One Suffered Nursing Home Abuse

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

Learning that a loved one sustained physical or mental injuries due to mistreatment and abuse at a nursing home can be devastating. Make sure to take the right steps to protect your loved one with the help of a Chicago personal injury lawyer.

Even when you know it’s the best option for your loved one, choosing to place them in a nursing home is a difficult decision. When you place them there, you expect that their needs will be cared for and that they will be safe. That’s why finding out that your family member has suffered nursing home abuse can be so disappointing and angering. What do you do when you learn about the abuse? You need to take several measures, including reaching out to a compassionate Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible. 

Determine if it’s an Emergency

If your loved one is in imminent danger or has injuries, call local law enforcement. Doing this ensures that they receive the urgent medical treatment they need, removes them from the dangerous circumstances, and provides a paper trail documenting the abuse. Don’t ever be afraid to take this step if you believe it is warranted.

Hire an Experienced Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

The next several steps you need to take can be managed better with an experienced Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer’s help and expertise. An attorney can help you with the steps you need to take and initiate legal action against the appropriate parties. They can ensure that a full investigation is completed and that the at-fault parties are held accountable for your loved one’s suffering.

Report the Abuse

There are many options when it comes to reporting the abuse. Your Chicago nursing home abuse attorney can help you determine where it should be reported. Your choices include reporting it to:

1. The nursing home
2. The company that manages the nursing home
3. A licensing agency
4. An ombudsman office

Making a report can help initiate an official investigation into the allegations of abuse.

Remove Your Loved One from the Nursing Home

You don’t want to leave your family member in an unsafe environment. You might want to think about removing them from the facility, especially if they don’t take immediate action to protect them from additional abuse. Make sure you have a plan for where they will go.

File an Insurance Claim

Your lawyer can help you file a claim with the appropriate insurance company if the nursing home has an insurance policy that covers abuse. The insurance company will likely offer a settlement to avoid litigation. It’s critical to have legal representation at this point to know if you should accept the settlement or negotiate for a higher one. The settlement you are offered will most likely be far less than what you and your loved one deserve for their abuse and injuries.

Did Your Loved One Suffer Abuse at the Hands of Nursing Home Staff? You Can Rely on a Compassionate Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer 

Nursing home abuse is a serious matter that requires the help of an experienced attorney. At Malman Law, we offer complimentary nursing home abuse consultations with our compassionate nursing home abuse attorneys. All you need to do is call (312) 629-0099 or complete our online contact form today.