By state law, Illinois assisted living centers are required to keep records of patient care and staffing. Maintaining these files allows the state to monitor facilities to ensure care being rendered to nursing home residents is appropriate and safe. When misconduct is reported, records also allow the state and lawyers like the nursing home abuse attorneys at Phillips Law Offices to determine whether assisted living centers properly cared for a patient.
Even with state regulations in place, abuse in nursing homes and other assisted living centers remains an all too common occurrence. In fact, more than half a million cases of nursing home abuse are reported to authorities each year in the U.S. Sadly, many more incidents of abuse go unreported.
Neglect and abuse in nursing homes can be difficult to detect and even harder to prove. Embarrassment, fear of retaliation, and cognitive impairments such as dementia prevent many abuse victims from coming forward. Meanwhile, families of the elderly may mistake signs of abuse, which can range from bruises and bedsores to increased disorientation or anxiety, as normal symptoms of aging. Examining medical and employee records is a critical step in identifying abuse and holding nursing homes accountable.
If you suspect someone you love has suffered abuse in a nursing home or other assisted living facility, it’s important to have your loved one’s records evaluated by a legal professional to determine your legal options. A qualified nursing abuse attorney has the legal expertise and resources to evaluate medical records for abuse and neglect. If misconduct is found, your attorney will advocate on your behalf.
Elder abuse comes in many forms, but its impacts are often the same. Victims of nursing home abuse and their families are frequently left with costs ranging from medical bills and injury to pain and suffering and reduced quality of life. By reviewing nursing home records, your attorney can determine whether you have an Illinois nursing home abuse claim – and whether you are entitled to financial compensation for harm suffered.
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