Nursing home abuse is all too common throughout the country. Placing your loved ones into the care of others is a difficult choice even under the best of circumstances. No Evanston family should have to wonder if their elder will be cared for properly and protected from elder abuse and neglect.
The Silent Abuse of Neglect
While cases of physical abuse in nursing homes may leave identifiable marks or injuries, elder neglect is often much harder to spot. However, failures on the part of nursing homes to fulfill their caretaking obligations account for more than half of all reported cases of elder abuse. Whether intentional or due to factors of ignorance or staffing challenges, elder neglect is a serious issue that puts patients at a far greater risk for other injuries due to:
- Slips and Falls
- Bedrail Entrapment
- Bedsores and Pressure Sores
- Sepsis
- Fractures
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Wandering and Elopement
The signs of elder neglect are often subtle, but family members should be on the lookout for warning signs such as:
- Dirty clothes, sheets or rooms
- Soiled diapers
- Bad odors
- Bed sores
- Weight loss-especially if sudden or unexplained
- Missing medical aids or equipment like canes, walkers, glasses or hearing aids
- Confinement
- Needed medications not provided
Elder neglect may be intentional on the part of an unethical caretaker, or it may be passive-the result of improper training, lack of needed supplies, or overworked providers. In both situations, the results can be devastating. Your loved one deserves respect, care, and dignity. Please call the Law Offices of Mark L. Karno and Associates today at 312-945-7464 for your free consultation. We welcome clients from Evanston, Aurora, Chicago, and the surrounding communities.