The elderly residents of Chicago and Cook County, Illinois, are often taken to nursing homes when their loved ones can no longer take care of them. Family members trust these nursing homes to provide the best possible services such as grooming, feeding and administering medication to their loved ones. However, cases of Illinois elder abuse continue to appear in the news with some residents suffering from malnutrition and dehydration. These forms of abuse can lead to hospitalization and even death, in some cases.
North Church Nursing and Rehab, a nursing home with previous violations for nursing home abuse, is facing new complaints from the residents. Low-income residents alleged that they were treated badly in the facility. A 69-year-old resident stated that he and other residents complained about the lack of staff, negligent attitudes, cockroaches, poor-quality meals and other forms of maltreatment.
Another resident, a 58-year-old man who is recovering from leg fractures and who is also suffering from depression, said that the nursing home staff reacts slowly whenever he asks for pain medicine. The resident stated that the facility discharged him in retaliation for his complaints.
The administrator of the facility asserted that the quality of care has improved since he started working at the nursing home in May. He added that there will be more renovations in the facility. Furthermore, the administrator stated that they are doing their best to control the pest problems and to provide good food for the residents.
Allegations and complaints by the nursing home residents sent a clear message to the families who entrusted their loved ones to nursing home facilities — they now need to pay close attention to their elderly loved ones who may be suffering inside these facilities before it is too late. And if they find any signs of abuse, which can lead to serious injuries and death, the family can file a civil lawsuit against the nursing home facility.
In the event of death inside a nursing home, the family of the victim may need to consider the possibility that negligence may have caused the fatality. The family may often file a wrongful death lawsuit to obtain awards and damages that can be used to pay for medical and funeral expenses.
Source: The State Journal Register, “Jacksonville nursing home still facing complaints,” Dean Olsen, Sep. 3, 2013