Choosing a nursing home for a loved one is one of the most difficult decisions a family can make. Families trust nursing homes to provide safe, dignified, and compassionate care for elderly and vulnerable residents. Unfortunately, complaints about nursing homes are common. Many complaints involve serious harm that should never happen in a properly run facility.
In Illinois, state and federal laws exist to protect nursing home residents from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This article explains the three most common complaints about nursing homes, who may be legally responsible, how accountability works under Illinois law, and how a personal injury lawyer can help.
Neglect and Poor Quality of Care
One of the most common – and most dangerous – complaints about nursing homes is neglect. Neglect occurs when a facility fails to provide the level of care required to keep residents safe, healthy, and comfortable. Unlike one-time mistakes, neglect often involves ongoing failures that worsen over time.
Neglect in nursing homes may include:
- Failure to assist residents with bathing, dressing, or toileting
- Missed medications or incorrect dosages
- Ignoring call lights or requests for help
- Inadequate supervision of residents at risk of falling
- Poor hygiene and unsanitary living conditions
Neglect can lead to serious consequences. This can include infections, dehydration, malnutrition, bedsores, falls, and worsening medical conditions. In severe cases, neglect may become life-threatening.
Physical, Emotional, and Sexual Abuse
Another major complaint involves abuse by nursing home staff or other residents. Abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, or even financial. Many nursing home residents cannot easily defend themselves or report abuse, which makes them particularly vulnerable.
Common forms of nursing home abuse include:
- Physical abuse, such as hitting, pushing, restraining, or rough handling
- Emotional abuse, including yelling, threats, humiliation, or isolation
- Sexual abuse or inappropriate touching
- Financial exploitation, such as theft or coercion
Warning signs of abuse may include unexplained injuries, sudden behavioral changes, fear of certain staff members, or withdrawal from normal activities. Families often sense that “something isn’t right” before they see clear proof.
Illinois law treats nursing home abuse very seriously. Facilities have a legal duty to protect residents from abuse and to properly screen, train, and supervise staff. When abuse occurs, both the individual wrongdoer and the facility itself may be held accountable.
Understaffing and Inadequate Supervision
Understaffing is one of the root causes behind many nursing home complaints. When facilities do not have enough trained staff, residents often suffer – even if individual caregivers are trying their best.
Problems caused by understaffing may include:
- Long response times to call lights
- Missed meals or medications
- Increased fall risk
- Poor monitoring of residents with dementia
- Higher rates of neglect and abuse
Understaffing is often a business decision. Some nursing homes reduce staffing levels to cut costs, even though they know it puts residents at risk. When staffing levels fall below legal or reasonable standards, the facility may be liable for injuries that result.
Illinois regulations require nursing homes to maintain adequate staffing to meet residents’ needs. Chronic understaffing may support claims of negligence, regulatory violations, or even willful misconduct.
Who May Be Liable for Harm to a Nursing Home Resident?
When a nursing home resident is harmed, liability does not always rest with a single person. Depending on the facts, several parties may share responsibility.
Potentially liable parties may include:
- The nursing home facility itself
- The company that owns or operates the facility
- Individual caregivers or staff members
- Administrators or supervisors who ignored safety issues
- Outside contractors providing medical or support services
Illinois law allows injured residents and their families to pursue claims against any party whose negligence or misconduct contributed to harm. Identifying all responsible parties is critical. It is particularly important in cases involving corporate ownership or management companies.
How Are Nursing Homes Held Accountable in Illinois?
Illinois provides multiple avenues for holding nursing homes accountable. These may include regulatory enforcement, civil lawsuits, or both.
Legal accountability may involve:
- Filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit
- Bringing claims under the Illinois law
- Seeking damages for medical costs, pain and suffering, and emotional distress
- Pursuing punitive damages in cases involving willful or reckless misconduct
Illinois law offers strong protections for residents and allows families to recover damages, attorney’s fees, and costs in certain cases. The law exists to ensure nursing homes cannot simply treat fines as a cost of doing business.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Nursing Home Abuse Victims
Nursing home cases are complex. Facilities often deny wrongdoing, blame residents’ medical conditions, or claim injuries were unavoidable. Without legal help, families may struggle to uncover the truth.
A personal injury lawyer can help by:
- Investigating the facility’s history and staffing levels
- Reviewing medical records and care plans
- Identifying regulatory violations
- Interviewing witnesses and former employees
- Working with medical and elder-care experts
- Handling communications with the nursing home and its insurer
- Filing lawsuits and pursuing full compensation
Lawyers also understand how to preserve evidence quickly. This can be critical in nursing home cases where records may be altered or lost.
Contact the Wheaton Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys for Help Today
The three most common complaints about nursing homes – neglect, abuse, and understaffing – are not minor issues. They often involve serious harm and long-lasting consequences for residents and their families. Understanding your rights under Illinois law is the first step toward protecting a loved one and demanding accountability.
If you believe a nursing home failed to provide proper care, contact Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys for a free consultation. Speaking with an experienced Wheaton nursing home abuse attorney can help you understand your options and take meaningful action.
We proudly serve Cook County, Will County, Kendall County, and their surrounding areas:
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Chicago Office
10 S La Salle St STE 1230, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone:(312) 726-1616
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Chicago
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 41.8815493,-87.6327515
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Joliet Office
195 Springfield Ave, Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: (815) 726-1616
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Joliet
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 41.5254295,-88.1381011
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Rockford Office
318 N 1st St, Rockford, IL 61107
Phone:(815) 662-0330
Hours: Open 24/7
