When people put their elderly family members into nursing homes, they expect them to be well cared for. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and bedsores can be an indication of abuse or neglect. Bedsores are also called pressure sores. They are injuries to skin and the underlying tissue that results from unrelenting pressure on skin, and usually they develop on heels, hips, tailbones, and ankles. They can be categorized in four stages according to severity. Nursing home residents who have medical conditions that restrict their ability to move, confining them to a wheelchair or bed, are most at risk for bedsores. If an elderly loved one in a nursing home has bedsores, the Chicago nursing home bed sore lawyers at Moll Law Group are ready to help you investigate the situation and pursue compensation for your loved one.
There are several federal and state laws, including the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act, that protect the elderly from abuse and neglect in nursing home settings. There are many types of abuse and neglect, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse, medical neglect, personal neglect, and psychological neglect.
The neglect may be related to moving a patient, as in the case of bedsores. If they get bad enough, bedsores may lead to lasting tissue damage and can even kill an elderly person. They also tend to show that an elderly person has not been moved and may have been neglected or abused in other ways.
When you put a loved one in a nursing home, you sign a contract in which the nursing home agrees to take responsibility for the care of your loved one. When bedsores and other signs of neglect appear, you may have grounds to bring a private lawsuit on the basis of a breach of contract, negligence, or statutory violations. A nursing home bed sore attorney can help Chicago residents with these claims.
The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act applies to long-term care facilities in Illinois, and it entitles nursing home residents to be free from abuse and neglect, among other rights. The resident (or a family member authorized to bring suit if the resident is not able) may sue the facility for compensation. Some examples of costs and losses that may be recovered include any additional medical care to address the bedsore, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment, and in some egregious cases, punitive damages. Under the Nursing Home Care Act, moreover, a facility is not permitted to transfer, discharge, harass, retaliate, or evict a resident because he or she filed a lawsuit for compensation.
If you or a loved one is suffering from bedsores in a long-term care facility, the Chicago nursing home bed sore attorneys at Moll Law Group are available to assist you in bringing a legal action for the compensation that you deserve. We represent injured individuals across Cook County, as well as in Wheaton, Naperville, and Schaumburg. Billions of dollars have been recovered in cases in which our injury attorneys have been involved. Call us at 312-462-1700 or use our online form to set up a free consultation.