October 25, 2020
Illinois Workers Comp and Covid-19
ILLINOIS WORK COMP UPDATE CONCERNING CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Effective April 13, 202 …
More than 30 percent of U.S. nursing homes were cited for nearly 9,000 instances of abuse over two years, a study from the Special Investigations Division of the House Government Reform Committee has reported.
Of these instances of abuse and other violations, nearly 18 percent involve actions that seriously harmed patients, causing them “immediate jeopardy of death or serious injury.”
Among the forms of abuse specifically noted in this Congressional report included:
- Physical and sexual abuse – both at the hands of nursing home staff and from other residents (in which case a lack of supervision of residents was commonly a problem)
- Insufficient medical care
- Dehydration and malnutrition
- Sanitation and hygiene issues
- Bedsores.
Why Is Nursing Home Abuse So Pervasive
When discussing the causes of such nursing home abuse and neglect, this report pointed to a number of potential contributing factors, only some of which include:
- For-profit homes putting earnings above care standards – This has led to understaffing issues, among other things.
- A lack of state and federal funding to support nursing home costs – This has contributed to poor conditions in nursing homes, as well as to low compensation for staff, who may only end up earning about $9/hr when all is said and done.
- A lack of qualified nursing home workers – There just simply are not enough certified assistants and work aides to properly staff nursing homes, some have explained.
How to Protect Your Elderly Loved One
Given that nursing home abuse and neglect is a prominent, persisting problem in the U.S., here’s what you can do to protect your elderly loved ones who are in or about to enter a nursing home:
- Do your research on facilities before making the big move – Make sure a facility caring for your loved one has enough qualified, caring staff looking after residents.
- Know the signs of nursing home abuse – This is particularly important for those whose elderly loved ones have dementia or other conditions that can impede their ability to remember or report the abuse.
- Get help as soon as you suspect abuse – This can include reporting suspected abuse to law enforcement authorities and/or turning to a lawyer for help seeking justice.
Contact the Mount Vernon Personal Injury Lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C.
Have you or a loved one been the target of nursing home neglect or abuse? If so, the experienced and trusted Mount Vernon personal injury lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. are ready to stand up for your rights.
We take pride in tailoring our legal representation to specifically meet our clients’ needs and in expertly guiding them through each stage of the complex legal process. While our attorneys are aggressive and effective litigators both inside and outside of the courtroom, we are also counselors that can provide our clients with helpful legal advice regarding their best options.
If you are ready to learn more about your best legal options and how we can help you, contact us by calling (888) 896-9381 or by emailing us using the form at the upper right-hand side of the page. We can provide you with a free, thorough assessment of your case, along with professional advice regarding the best manner in which to move forward.
