Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

An 84-year-old nursing home resident who was attacked by a fellow resident has died. Raul Saldivar sustained a skull fracture after another nursing home resident came into his room on Friday night and started hitting him with some medical equipment. Saldivar died on Monday.

According to investigators, the alleged attacker thought that he had entered his own room and that Saldivar was occupying his bed. The 48-year-old man was transferred to a mental health facility after the attack. The district attorney’s office is evaluating whether to press criminal charges against him.

Unfortunately, crimes at nursing homes are not uncommon. The Web Site, Everyblock.com, compiles a list of crimes at Chicago nursing homes. Incidents in the last three weeks alone have included:

• 3 incidents of simple assault
• 4 theft crimes
• 7 incidents of simple battery
• 2 incidents involving aggravated battery

Other crimes that can occur at nursing home include nursing home abuse, neglect, sexual assault, rape, and murder.

Nursing homes are supposed to create a safe environment for residents. When failure to put in place and enforce the proper security measures allows a nursing home resident or visitor to become the victim of a violent crime, the home can be held liable for premises liability, personal injury, or wrongful death.

If you or someone you love was attacked, assaulted, or robbed by another nursing home resident, a nursing home staffer, or another person at an Illinois nursing home, it is important that you report the incident to police immediately.

Man dies after attack allegedly by fellow nursing home resident, Chron.com, November 11, 2008

Crimes by place: Nursing home / retirement home, Everyblock.com

Related Web Resources:

Nursing homes advised to report crimes to law enforcement, The Norman Transcript, November 8, 2008
Breaux: Nursing home crimes underreported, CNN.com, March 4, 2002