Nursing home patients are often vulnerable to neglect by their caregivers because they're so dependent on their constant care and support. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect is fairly common in the United States. According to a recent study by the National Center on Elder Abuse:
- 58.5% of the reported elder abuse cases were reported due to patient neglect
- 91% of nursing homes in the United States lack the adequate number of staff to properly care for their patients
- 36% of nursing homes in the United States have been in violation of elderly abuse laws
With that being said, there are several great nursing home facilities that treat their patients with a high level of care and respect. It's crucial that your loved one is getting the quality of care that they deserve. To ensure that your loved one is getting the high quality care that they need, the nursing home abuse attorneys at Lipkin & Apter recommend the following steps:
Do research on potential nursing homes in your area. Tour the facilities, look into their records and history, and meet some of the nursing staff in order to get a feel for the environment and conditions of the nursing home facility. You can learn a lot from simply interacting with the nursing home's patients, as well as the staff that works with patients on a regular basis.
The best way to prevent nursing home abuse or neglect is by maintaining constant face to face contact with your loved one. If your loved one is immobile, frequently check for bedsore. If your loved one is a fall risk, check to make sure your loved one is not left attended to walk the floors unsupervised.
If your loved one has already experienced nursing home negligence or abuse, and is injured, don't hesitate to contact our office. The Chicago, Illinois-based attorneys at Lipkin & Apter specialize in nursing home abuse cases. Our elder law attorneys are here to help individuals obtain compensation for injuries caused to themselves or their elderly loved ones as a result of someone's abuse or negligence. Learn more about our past experiences with handling nursing home abuse cases.