Physical Assault in Nursing Homes

Thursday, November 5, 2020

Physical Assault in Nursing Homes

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

Nursing home residents are subject to abuse daily. They need others to stand up for their rights and protect them. With the help of an experienced attorney, you can stop the abuse your loved one faces and hold the nursing home accountable. 

Nursing home abuse is a problem across the nation but especially in Illinois, which is home to more nursing homes than any other state besides California and Texas. In one national study, 38 percent of nursing home residents reported that they had witnessed other residents being abused, and 44 percent said they had witnessed other residents being treated roughly. If you suspect that someone you love is being abused in their nursing home, don’t hesitate to contact a seasoned Chicago Nursing home abuse lawyer who can help you with the next steps. 

Signs of Physical Assault in a Nursing Home

Anyone who has a family member in a nursing home needs to be diligent about watching for signs of nursing home abuse and neglect. Often, nursing home residents are intimidated and afraid to speak up in fear of retaliation or simply unable to speak for themselves. You need to be their advocate, which starts with watching for the following signs of physical assault:

• Unexplained broken bones, dislocations, or sprains
• Bruising, scars, or welts in various stages of healing
• Signs of physical restraint, such as rope marks on the resident’s wrists
• Broken assistive mobility aids, eyeglasses, or hearing aids
• The refusal of the caregiver to let you be alone with the elderly person
• Frequent falls or injuries with no explanation
• The resident is afraid to speak with individual staff members present
• Certain staff members won’t leave the resident alone with you or other family members

If you notice any of these signs, it is time to investigate further. You may want to ask your loved one about them, contact a compassionate Chicago Nursing home abuse attorney, report what you’ve observed to the nursing home, the state, or even law enforcement. 

Is a Nursing Home Liable for the Physical Abuse of its Residents?

Physical assault in nursing homes can happen for multiple reasons. Nursing homes have a legal and ethical duty to provide a safe environment free of any type of abuse for each one of its residents. In many situations, nursing homes are legally liable for any physical abuse that their residents face. A Chicago Nursing home abuse lawyer could hold them liable on your behalf, or the behalf of your abused loved one if they failed to:

• Conduct background checks on staff before hiring them
• Supervise staff
• Hire enough staff
• Hire competent staff
• Train their employees 
• Respond to complaints promptly and appropriately
• Stop suspected abuse

Stand Up for Your Loved One by Calling an Experienced Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer 

All nursing home residents are entitled to certain rights under federal and state laws. One of these rights is to be free from all forms of abuse. Nursing home abuse is never acceptable or excusable. Your loved one deserves much better. 

Call (312) 629-0099 or use our online contact form to schedule your free no-obligation consultation with the compassionate nursing home abuse attorneys at Malman Law today.