Urbana Nursing Home Abuse/Negligence Lawyer
Nursing home abuse and neglect is a serious problem in Urbana and throughout Illinois. When you find a nursing home for an elderly loved one, you should be able to expect that your loved one will be safe and receive appropriate and reasonable care. However, nursing home abuse is extremely common. Sometimes abuse is intentional, and in other circumstances, nursing home negligence and injuries result from passive neglect and inadequate staffing. Contact our experienced Urbana nursing home abuse/negligence lawyer to have an advocate at Patel Law, PC assess your case.
Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence in Urbana, Illinois
Nursing home abuse, neglect, and negligence occur with much more frequency than you might expect. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) provides the following statistics that help to reveal just how often older adults are harmed:
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About one out of every ten adults aged 60 and older has been the victim of some type of elder abuse;
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Studies suggest that approximately five million older adults are affected by elder abuse or neglect every year, and research indicates that the number is significantly higher since only one out of every 24 cases of abuse is actually reported;
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Around 60 percent of elder abuse and neglect cases are perpetrated by a family member such as an adult spouse or child;
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Social isolation or dementia can make an older adult more vulnerable to nursing home neglect or elder abuse; and
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Nursing home abuse can take many different forms that may include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, confinement, passive neglect, willful deprivation, or financial exploitation.
Common Signs of Urbana Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence
When you have an elderly loved one in a nursing home or assisted-living facility in the Urbana area, it is critical to be able to recognize possible signs of nursing home abuse or negligence in order to take action. Given that nursing home abuse can take so many different forms, signs and symptoms can also vary, and some of those indicators are more obvious than others. Any of the following should be cause to seek advice from a lawyer and consider reporting concerns about abuse:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, scrapes, abrasions, burns, bleeding, or bone fractures;
- Dehydration;
- Unexplained weight loss;
- Bed sores;
- Poor hygiene and/or unsanitary living conditions;
- Senior who is missing daily living aids such as glasses or hearing aids;
- Unattended medical needs;
- Unexplained sexually transmitted infections;
- An older adult who is showing increased anxiety, depression, or fear;
- Senior in a nursing home who has undergone unexplained changes in their behavior;
- A nursing home resident who has become withdrawn or has lost interest in normal activities;
- Voicing fear or dislike of a particular nursing home employee;
- Sudden changes in a senior’s spending habits or financial accounts;
- Unexplained changes to a senior’s will;
- Bills that have gone unpaid; and/or
- Indications of a fraudulent signature on a senior’s financial documents like checks or credit card receipts.
Contact Patel Law, PC
If you have concerns about an elderly loved one’s safety in a nursing home, you should find out more about filing an elder abuse claim. The advocates at Patel Law, PC can assist you. Contact an experienced Urbana nursing home abuse/negligence lawyer today for assistance.
