Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

The month of July is Elder Abuse Awareness Month in Illinois. Over the next few weeks, communities will sponsor events aimed at creating greater awareness about this problem, which the US Administration on Aging says continues to affect about 700,000 to 3.5 million elderly persons in the US each year. Unfortunately, these figures are low estimates when you consider that only one out of every five abuse cases is reported.

At our Chicago nursing home neglect and abuse law firm, we are dedicated to combating Illinois elder abuse and making sure that our clients and their families are compensated for injuries and deaths caused by Illinois nursing home negligence. There are steps that you can take to protect your loved one from Chicago elder abuse including:

• Before choosing your loved one’s nursing home, actually visit the assisted living facility and personally inspect the place.
• Talk to nursing home workers at each facility and watch how they interact with patients.
• Observe the residents to see whether they seem happy and comfortable at the nursing home.
• Check out the Medicare Web site to see how the assisted living facility fared under the federal rating.
• Once your loved one is admitted to a nursing home, visit and call regularly.
• Watch out for signs of elder abuse or neglect.

According to the Illinois Department on Aging, there are up to 80,000 Illinois elder abuse victims each year. The state is encouraging people to "Break the Silence" and report any suspected elder abuse and neglect incidents. Remember that elder abuse takes place in Illinois nursing homes and in private settings. Chicago, Illinois elder abuse and neglect can lead to physical injuries, emotional trauma, health complications, sepsis, elder financial abuse, clogged breathing tubes, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, malnutrition, dehydration, choking accidents, wandering accidents, fall accidents, bedsores, and death.

Help prevent elder abuse, Chicago Tribune, June 25, 2010

Illinois Department on Aging urges people to “Break the Silence” and report suspected incidents of Elder Abuse, Illinois Department on Aging, June 14, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Illinois Department on Aging

Elder Abuse and Neglect Act

US Administration on Aging

Nursing Home Compare, Medicare.gov

According to a University of California study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, many dementia patients are at risk of being mistreated by caregivers. The study took a look at 129 people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder with caregivers in private homes.

According to researchers:
• 47% of the participants had been mistreated.
• 13% of the abuse was physical.
• 42% suffered from psychological abuse.
• 14% were the victims of caregiver neglect.

Risk factors among caregivers that increased the chance of mistreatment included depression, high levels of anxiety, social isolation, and the sense that caring for the dementia patient was a burden. Persons with dementia who were verbally abusive or physical abusive had a greater risk of being mistreated.

However, this is not to say that any type of patient abuse is ever justified for any reason—whether in a private setting or at an assisted living facility. Many dementia patients cannot be held responsible for their words or actions because they are not even fully aware of what they are doing or saying.

Patients with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other forms of mental illness need special care. It is important that caregivers and the nursing home workers tasked with providing that care are trained in dealing with the unique issues that come with working with these types of patients.

Unfortunately, many dementia patients are unable to report that they have become victims of Chicago, Illinois nursing home abuse or neglect. Many may not even aware that they are being physically harmed, verbally abused, sexually assaulted, or neglected.

Research on Mistreatment of People with Dementia by their Caregivers, Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect

Related Web Resources:
Caregiver Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (PDF)

Dementia and Alzheimer's Care

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