Nursing Home Abuse LawyerMount Vernon, IL

Fighting Negligence and Abuse in Nursing Homes

You should be able to trust the Nursing Home or Senior Care Facility that your loved one relies on. Unfortunately, your family member has been abused by the very care providers that were entrusted with their care. You need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Mount Vernon that has experience fighting Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits. Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Mount Vernon holds nursing homes and assisted living facilities accountable for the abuse and neglect that they put their residents through, and we always hold these businesses accountable to the fullest letter of the law. We have the experience that your family needs to fight this Nursing Home Abuse lawsuit, and we will make sure that your family and your loved one get the full recovery they deserve and are owed. Our meetings are free of charge, and we don't charge any lawyers fee's unless we win your family's nursing home abuse claim. Call or contact our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Mount Vernon now.

How can I tell if my loved one is being abused in a nursing home?

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Neglect and Abuse are identifiable by a series of signs that will show if your loved one is being mistreated. Does your loved one look like they've lost an unhealthy amount of weight? They may not be receiving the nutrition or meals they are allowed. Have they develop sores on their underside, or have agitated red skin? They need to be moved to prevent these sores, and their caregiver isn't giving them the attention they need. Does your family member appear nervous or refuse to cooperate with nursing home staff? It's possible that your loved one is being harmed by the staff. Here are several prominent signs that your loved one isn't receiving care or is being harmed.

1. Nursing Home Abuse Malnourishment

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This is one of the more visibly apparent forms of nursing home abuse. If your loved one appears abnormally thin, or emaciated, it's possible that their either malnourished and receiving poor quality food, or they aren't being fed. You're paying for your loved one to be taken care of, not abused and punished. This is not ok. You can sue an assisted living facility that isn't providing your loved ones with the care you are paying for. What are other clear signs of possible malnourishment? Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Mount Vernon have identified these conditions as possible signs of malnourishment:

• Skin Issues - Yellowed and wrinkled skin are a sign of malnourishment, as well as visually dull skin on darker complexions. Another sign is that the skin beneath fingernails will appear white.
• Mouth Sores or Discoloration - Canker Sores are bright red skin around the mouth and lips can be a sign on malnourishment. Thrush and Yeast also develop from malnutrition.
• Eye Issues - Poor or worsening vision, extremely red eyes, and swollen corneas are clear signs of malnourishment.
• Muscular Problems - If your loved one is weak after completing simple everyday tasks, or their muscles appear flaccid, the may be suffering from malnourishment.

Here is a short video detailing Nursing Home Abuse Malnourishment, and how our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers can help.

2. Nursing Home Abuse Bed Sores

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Bed sores are common in people who are bedridden or spend most of their time in a wheel chair. These wounds develop from pressure and lack of blood flow, and can cause the loss of limbs and life. If your loved one developed bed sores while in an assisted living facility, they were most likely not moved regularly, and were given neglectful or no attention. Bed Sores are even common in intensive care units. Bed sores are preventable, and they are treatable. Here are the different stages of bed sores our nursing home abuse lawyers in Mount Vernon have identified that can show your loved one may have bed sores:

• Stage 1. Bed Sore - Skin that is itchy, red, and unusually warm.
• Stage 2. Bed Sore - Sores surrounded by discolored skin are now developing.
• Stage 3. Bed Sore - Tissue damage below the skin causes the sore to open and turn into a cavity.
• Stage 4. Bed Sore - Bones, muscles and ligaments are visible at this stage, and infection is nearly guaranteed.

Remember, bed sores, or the other name they are known by, pressure sores, are preventable. Proper care and attention is a direct combatant to bed sores, and if your loved one was being taken care of, they wouldn't have the sores. You can sue for bed sores, and you absolutely should. Negligence is never ok, and should never be accepted regardless of what excuse the nursing home or long-term care facility gives you. Call our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Mount Vernon now. We'll make sure your loved one gets the care and recovery they deserve.

Here is a short video about Bed Sores and what you can do about them.

3. Nursing Home Abuse or Mistreatment

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Abuse can be hard to spot, especially when your loved one may not be willing to admit or not able to admit that they are being abused. The nursing home that you trusted with the care of your family member has abused them, and that is horrible and reprehensable. This is not an acceptable act, and its possibly criminal. Here are several signs to look for when you suspect your loved one is being abused or neglected:

• Financial Exploitation - You may not notice this until serious damage has already been done. {Higher than normal credit card bills, missing checks, or Wills that have been recently altered could be clear signs of financial exploitation of your loved one|If their credit cards are maxed out, if they are missing checks, or their will has been altered and you weren't alerted, this is a clear sign of exploitation|If their checks have gone missing, if their credit cards are being declined, and if any of their other finances appear to out of order, these can be signs of exploitation|The signs for this type of abuse will be altered wills, mysterious power of attorney forms, maxed out credit cards, and missing checks.
• Neglect - The signs for this type of abuse are a lack of bathing, eating, unsanitary room conditions, or even bed sores. Neglect from a caregiver can also lead to self neglect.
• Physical Abuse - Abuse is apparent when your loved one has unexplained scratches, bruises, broken bones, and other physical marks they didn't have before. If your loved one is suffering from any of these types of abuse, the police can be involved in the abuse. You can also, and should also sue. Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Mount Vernon will fight for the recovery and rights of your loved one.
• Psychological Abuse - If your loved one is nervous around a caregiver, or is hesitant to talk when they are around, they could be the victim of psychological abuse. Psychological abuse is as terrible as any physical abuse.

Here is a short video our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Mount Vernon have prepared:

Are there any laws governing nursing home care?

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The Nursing Home Reform Act details the rights that nursing home residents have. These are not suggestions, they are laws, and have to be followed to the letter of the law. According to the Nursing Home Reform Act, here is a quick breakdown of the rights your loved one can expect:

• Freedom from Abuse
• Freedom from Restraints
• The Right to Privacy
• The Right to Accommodation of social needs, psychological needs, physical needs, and medical needs
• The Right to Participate in Resident and Family Groups
• The Right to be treated with dignity
• The Right to exercise self-determination
• The Right to communicate freely
• The Right to review and participate in any aspect of the care they are receiving and any changes to it
• The Right to voice grievances

Your loved one has rights, by law, and if they've been violated you can pursue legal action against the Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility that was entrusted with their care. Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Mount Vernon are well versed in the laws the govern nursing homes and the levels of care that residents are entitled to. We can help you and your family if you decide to pursue a claim against the assisted living facility. You have options, and those who harmed your family can be held accountable. Call or Contact Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Mount Vernon now to protect your family.