If you or a loved one has been the victim of physical abuse or neglect at a Chicago nursing home, it is important to seek the help of a Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible. If you suspect that abuse or neglect may have occurred in any Chicago-licensed residential facility, you must report it right away.
Call the Chicago Department of Public Health and Elder Abuse and Neglect to speak with an elder abuse victim advocate or to obtain an elder abuse hotline number. Hiring an experienced Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer who works with clients who have been abused and neglected in nursing homes can help the legal team effectively represent the person and resolve the case. Here are some resources to learn more about hiring a nursing home abuse lawyer.
What is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse is abuse, neglect, or exploitation committed by an individual or institution against a person in a nursing home or other facility where people spend time in assisted living or some form of care. This abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, verbal, economic or the loss of personal freedom.
Nursing home abuse can include threats to kill, denial of food and/or water, denial of medical care, denial of access to the bathroom or property, involuntary confinement, restraint, and denial of access to certain privileges. In most states, nursing home abuse is considered a form of elder abuse and is treated as such under the law.
When to Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Knowing when to hire a nursing home abuse lawyer can be tricky. If you have been abused, or someone you care about has been abused, you are likely in need of an advocate who can provide legal services. At the first sign of abuse, it is best to contact a local elder abuse hotline so that you can call someone to speak with for help. However, if the abuse continues, or if the person in question is elderly and/or frail, it is best to hire an experienced and well-qualified attorney.
What Is a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?
A nursing home abuse lawyer can be the most valuable asset a nursing home abuse victim will ever have. A nurse home abuse lawyer is someone who has specialized in the area of elder abuse and has the knowledge and experience to effectively represent nursing home abuse victims. Nursing home abuse lawyers have extensive training in the area of elder abuse and the law and are specifically trained to represent nursing home abuse victims and nursing home operators when abusive practices are suspected.
What to Expect from a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Because nursing home abuse lawyers work in a unique field, it is important to understand the role of the nurse home abuse lawyer. The lawyers perform the following tasks:
- Representing the patient/victim of nursing home abuse- This can be difficult, as a patient/victim can fear the attorney and seek protection from the attorney. However, unless the attorney makes a quick exit from the case, the attorney can be a great source of help for the patient/victim of nursing home abuse. The attorney can also be a valuable source of information regarding best practices for nursing homes, helping to inform a nursing home operator of the risks and ethical problems that are unique to nursing homes.
- Provide confidential legal counsel to nursing homes- Nursing home abuse lawyers can offer confidential legal counsel to nursing homes. Nursing home abuse lawyers are sometimes called in by nursing home administrators to assist with concerns over issues such as abuse, neglect, discrimination, privacy, access, and more. In most states, this information is kept confidential, and the nursing home abuse lawyer never learns of the concerns from the nursing home itself.
- Create policy and serve as a best practices advocate for nursing homes- Most states also have government agencies, such as the Department of Labor, that regulates the nursing home industry. A nursing home abuse lawyer can provide counsel on policy development and implementation.
Conclusion
It is important to remember that nursing home abuse is both a legal and medical issue. The courts’ general objective is to ensure that patients receive the best care, and the medical community is interested in ensuring that standards of care are met. Attorneys have an interest in preserving victims’ rights. Nurse home abuse attorneys are well-versed in the laws related to the abuse of vulnerable populations and can provide invaluable counsel to nursing home operators and their patients/victims.
