Elder Abuse

With the average life span increasing, more and more elderly are living beyond the point when they are able to care for themselves. Since the 1980’s, numerous senior citizens have gone into assisted living residences, however, some elders’ needs extend beyond the capability of assisting living and require the more extensive care a nursing home provides. Elder abuse, also referred to as nursing home abuse, has become a growing concern.

In a nursing home, a senior may experience abuse from medical professionals, staff, other residents or visitors. There are various forms of elder abuse ranging from physical, mental, and financial, to neglect. Some examples of elder abuse include:

Physical – striking, punching, slapping, scratching, kicking, burning, pushing, feeding forcibly, non-consensual sexual contact, over-medicating, under-medicating, or unnecessarily restraining a resident

Mental – threatening, embarrassing, harassing, intimidating or humiliating a resident

Financial or material – financially exploiting or using the elderly person’s finances or possessions for someone else’s benefit without his permission

Neglect – untreated medical conditions, not caring for daily needs such as food, bathing, washing soiled clothes, changing bed clothes, providing toilet assistance, as well as abandonment, isolation, lack of assistance in walking or preventing accidents.

If your relative or spouse is in a nursing home and you notice he or she has bedsores, bruises, is malnourished, dehydrated, groggy, unclean, fearful or depressed, or has fallen or been limited in communicating with you, there may be reason to suspect elder abuse. At the Law Office of Donald Brewer we welcome the opportunity to discuss your concerns. Please contact our office at 815-356-6900 to arrange a consultation.

Member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Personal Injury Lawyer providing excellence in legal services for northern Illinois and the Chicago area, as well as numerous counties including McHenry, Lake, Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, Boone, Will and other surrounding areas.