PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS

DEDICATED NEGLIGENCE AND INJURY LAWYERS SERVING COOK, LAKE, DUPAGE, KANE, AND WILL COUNTIES AND FEDERAL COURTS

We entrust nursing homes with our loved ones; at times, we have no choice if they require 24-hour monitoring and professional nursing care. Yet, stories of nursing home residents being abused or neglected are all over the news, with alarming statistics for how many of them are found to be suffering from conditions related to poor care, poor hygiene maintenance, poor nutrition, bed sores or skin ulcerations.

With over 50 years combined experience, the Law Office of Martin L. Glink, provides personalized, high quality legal representation to aggressively protect the rights of our elderly and/or mentally ill clients who are injured as a result of nursing home negligence and/or malpractice.  This includes recovering verdicts and settlements in Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane, and Will Counties.

ILLINOIS NURSING HOME CARE ACT

Residents must not be given unnecessary drugs and while in a nursing home, residents are to be free from abuse and neglect. Any facility, employee, or agent, who becomes aware of neglect or abuse, must also report it. Nursing home residents have certain rights, benefits, and privileges, as guaranteed by law and the State Constitution. These include the right to:

  • Manage your own financial affairs;
  • Retain and use or wear your personal property in your immediate living quarters, which includes being provided with adequate storage space and a means of safeguarding valuable items;
  • Retain the services of your own personal physician at your own expense or under your health insurance;
  • Receive medical treatment only by a physician;
  • Present grievances on behalf of themselves or others;
  • The free exercise of religion;
  • Unimpeded, private, and uncensored communication of their choice by mail, telephone, or visitation;
  • Refuse medical treatment (unless harmful to others) and know the consequences; and
  • Inspect and copy all clinical and other records concerning care and maintenance kept by the facility or physician (210 ILCS 45/2-104).

Residents must also not be given unnecessary drugs and are to be free from abuse and neglect. Any facility, employee, or agent who becomes aware of neglect or abuse must also report it.

SIGNS OF NEGLECT OR ABUSE

Nursing home neglect involves not doing something that is necessary for the resident’s care, while abuse describes an affirmative action that causes them harm. There are numerous warning signs that a nursing home resident may be neglected, including:

  • Bed sores/Pressure Ulcers (tend to develop when someone is in one position for too long without repositioning and/or rotating);
  • Losing weight;
  • The presence of bruises or other marks;
  • Obvious medical issues;
  • Loneliness;
  • Dehydration or malnutrition;
  • Unexplained broken bones or other injuries; and/or
  • Unexplained falls.

GETTING HELP

The Illinois Department on Aging manages reporting abuse and neglect on nursing homes. To report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation, you can contact the State Ombudsman or the Senior Helpline at 1-800-252-8966. The Illinois Department of Public Health may also be a resource at 1-800-252-4343.

If you suspect that you or a loved one is being abused or neglected and you would like to bring a claim, we can help ensure that your rights or your loved one’s rights are protected. At the Law Office of Martin L. Glink, we have handled many nursing home negligence cases and obtained significant results for our clients whether by jury verdict or settlement. We provide personalized, high quality legal representation in protecting the rights of injured victims, and fight aggressively to ensure that their needs are addressed. We serve clients in Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane, and Will Counties.

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