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A Peoria Nursing Home Injury Attorney Will Pursue Justice for You or a Loved One

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A Peoria Nursing Home Injury Attorney Will Pursue Justice for You or a Loved One

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When you entrusted your elderly parent, spouse or other family member - or your disabled adult child, sibling or spouse - to the care of a nursing home, you had every right to expect quality care and monitoring. Your family no doubt researched the nursing home's standards and believed the long-term care facility was in compliance with state and federal laws aimed at keeping residents safe.

Why, then did the nursing home allow conditions that led to your loved one's injuries such as a fall or development of bed sores? You may have experienced guilt when you learned that your family member died of an infection caused by decubitus ulcers that were not prevented, diagnosed or treated in a timely manner.

You are right to want and expect answers regarding a nursing home injury. Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law offers free initial consultations. Let us explain how we can discover the cause of your loved one's injuries and pursue the right legal remedies.

We are Here to Give You a Voice After a Nursing Home Injury or Fatality

Your main motivation in looking for a trial lawyer handling nursing home neglect cases may be to prevent future such occurrences in the same facility. We share this cause. If our law firm represents you, we will work hard to give you a voice as we help you pursue an injury claim or wrongful death claim.

Whatever the circumstances and whatever your objectives in seeking legal counsel, Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law, a plaintiff's law firm in Peoria, is available to examine the facts of the case. Over the years, this law firm has developed a strong nursing home neglect practice. We look forward to hearing about what happened to you or your loved one. We can advise you as to whether you have a valid claim and if so, we can help you determine whom to file a claim against. Who was ultimately responsible - and who should compensate you or your family? More often than not, investigations reveal systemic problems such as understaffing that create conditions leading to preventable injuries and deaths of residents.

Examples of nursing home negligence such as that experienced by your loved one include:

Failure to keep the nursing home properly staffed with screened, competent care givers

Inattentiveness or professional malpractice by a care manager or nursing home director

Failure to properly monitor safety of residents the night (or day) an injury occurred or was discovered

Medication errors or care failures originating with the supervising nurse responsible for dispensing medication and responding to emergencies

Failure of care managers to follow through after a doctor or therapist who visited the resident recommended a treatment or safety measure

Failure of the nursing home to properly hire, train or hold accountable a food services manager or supervisor

Failure to turn residents and otherwise prevent bed sores

Failure to provide adequate staffing to appropriately lift residents or accompany them to the bathroom, resulting in falls

Failure to properly train staff to prevent scalding during bathing

Common Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect

A nursing home resident needs their loved ones to be observant of any of the common warning signs of abuse or neglect. These include the following:

Bed Sores or Pressure Ulcers -These maladies can develop due to inattentive or inadequate staff who fail to turn bedbound residents.

Changes in Mood or Behavior -Many nursing home residents do not inform their loved ones of abuse or neglect, often due to fear, shame or mental infirmity. Loved ones should watch for sudden behavioral changes, including emotional withdrawal, depression or angry outbursts.

Unexplained Marks, Bruises or Cuts -These can be signs of restraints or other abuse.

Sudden Weight Loss - This can be due to poor nutrition, illness or psychological harm.

Silence Around Caretakers - This is a common sign of abuse, since residents may fear repercussions for informing a visitor of the abuse.

Unexplained Infections, Diseases or Injuries - Any unexplained injury to a nursing home resident is cause for alarm. It may also be a sign of a nursing home attempting to hide abuse or neglect. About 6,000 Illinois nursing home residents a year who were hospitalized had sepsis, a bloodstream infection that can quickly turn fatal if not if not cared for properly. About 1 in 5 didn't survive.

Responding to Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect

When you note any signs of abuse or neglect at your loved one's nursing home, keep a log with dates, times, what you observed or heard, and names of staff. Visit frequently, if you can, and try to vary the times of day that you go. Consider placing a camera in the room, which Illinois law now allows.

Don't hesitate to take action immediately by elevating your grievance to the supervisor. Especially when the nursing home is not offering good explanations for what you've observed, you should contact the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on their hotline for abuse or neglect claims. And if your loved one has suffered a serious injury, you will need a top-notch nursing home injury attorney by your side.

Nursing home injury cases require a great deal of knowledge, experience and expertise. Unlike the typical personal injury or medical malpractice case, the opposing side is not just represented by an insurance company but often multiple adjusters who monitor the case and trial. The cases can be complicated and lengthy, lasting several years. Due to these challenges, it is critical to evaluate a nursing home injury accurately at the beginning.

Report Nursing Home Abuse to Authorities

In addition to cooperating in a review by our law firm, we may recommend that you call the hotline for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to report neglect or abuse. For more information, request a consultation with a lawyer at Parker & Parker.

Contact a Peoria Nursing Home Injury Attorney at Parker & Parker if You See the Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect

If you know of or suspect nursing home abuse or neglect suffered by your loved one, contact Parker & Parker to discuss legal options. To schedule a meeting with a Peoria nursing home injury attorney, contact us today at 309-673-0069 or complete our online intake form.

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Nursing Home Injury - Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law

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When you entrusted your elderly parent, spouse or other family member - or your disabled adult child, sibling or spouse - to the care of a nursing home, you had every right to expect quality care and monitoring.

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Illinois Compiled Statutes Table of Contents

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Slip and Fall Accidents Among the Elderly and in Nursing Homes Are All Too Common

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Slip and Fall Accidents Among the Elderly and in Nursing Homes Are All Too Common

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Elderly & Nursing Home Slip and Fall Injuries | Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law

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Nursing homes are a primary source of slip and falls among the susceptible elderly. Let Parker & Parker help you with your claims.

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Assisted Living is confusing, to say the least. There's not a 'one-size-fits-all' set of rules, regulations and definitions for every state. Quite the contrary, as each state has it's own governing authority for assisted living, and each state defines assisted living differently - either slightly, or quite differently.
Some states don't even officially recognize the term 'assisted living.'
Fortunately, for our seniors, families and caregivers in Illinois, you have some very specific places you can go to learn about the state's rules, and regulations concerning assisted living.

First, it's important to know who, or what agency is in charge of regulating assisted living.For Illinois, this is the Department of Public Health, and their Office of Health Care Regulation.
http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/ohcr.htm
A visit to the Department's site offers some helpful information.You'll see direct contacts, and the address/location of the office.

There are also a number of excellent links to additional pages and sections.If you go down to the Assisted Living/Shared Housing Licensed Establishments page, there are two sections:Forms & Directory.

The 'Forms' section has a specific section for forms relevant to assisted living in Illinois:

Assisted Living and Shared Housing Initial License Application

Assisted Living and Shared Housing Appeal Hearing Request Form

Assisted Living and Shared Housing Residency Involuntary Termination Form

Assisted Living and Shared Housing Incident and Accident Report

IDPH Assisted Living and Shared Housing Licensed Establishments Listing

Complaint Form Instruction

These are all in .pdf format and can be saved, and printed.

The Directory section is useful too, as it provides a statewide directory of assisted living facilities in Illinois.

It looks like this:

The database is big, and the search tool is complex, but if you take a moment to learn it's features, it's worthwhile for your research.

You can filter by facility name, city, county, zip code, and license number.

You can also export the information easily into a number of formats, including Excel, PDF, XLS and more.

This database also indicates the number of units, or capacity of the facility, as well as whether there are Alzheimer's units, or Adult Day Care units.
Where Can I View, and Get A Copy of Assisted Living Regulations in Illinois?
If you visit the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules / Administrative Code section, there are dozens of links, and numerous sections with Codes and rules.

Sections include:

There is also a document for definitions, which is helpful, since, as we mentioned, these definitions can vary from state-to-state.

The definitions section for Assisted Living is interesting, in that, they define what assisted living 'is' in Illinois, and also, what it is 'not' or what it does not mean.

I thought this was a unique way to do it, something I haven't seen before.

Additionally, there is a section of the Joint Committee's site for Administrative Codes for Supportive Living:
http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/089/08900146sections.html
I can't stress enough how important it is for anyone involved with assisted living in Illinois to be familiar with the state's rules and regulations. This means those who are receiving care (if they are cognitively able to do so), their families, caregivers, employees and staff of assisted living homes, the owners and administrators, and even for those folks who might be considering opening their own assisted living home.

Too often, ignorance of the rules and regulations, and not knowing where to turn if there is an issue or concern, can lead to a number of unfavorable outcomes.Facilities can be cited and disciplined, or worse, the health and safety of residents can be compromised.

I'm not suggesting that families and residents memorize the state's code and rules, but I am suggesting that you should know where to find this information for reference (you should now, after this article).

Should an issue come up, or a concern, we've done another blog post on how to file a complaint against a long-term care facility in Illinois.

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Learn About Assisted Living Regulations in Illinois

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Assisted Living is confusing, to say the least. There's not a 'one-size-fits-all' set of rules, regulations and definitions for every state. Quite the contrary, as each state has it's own governing authority for assisted living, and each state defines assisted living differently - either slightly, or quite differently.

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300 NE Perry Ave

Peoria, Illinois 61603

309-673-0069

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What Happens To Nursing Home Residents When There is a Hurricane?

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What Happens To Nursing Home Residents When There is a Hurricane?

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What Happens To Nursing Home Residents When There is a Hurricane?

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In the midst of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, we are once again reminded that the vulnerable members of the population are those…

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Quarterly Reports of Nursing Home Violators

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Quarterly Reports of Nursing Home Violators

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Quarterly Reports of Nursing Home Violators

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2021 1st Quarter Report January-March 2020 1st Quarter Report January-March 2nd Quarter Report April-June 3rd Quarter Report July-September 4th Quarter Report October-December 2019 1st Quarter Report January-March 2nd Quarter Report April-June 3rd Quarter Report July-September 4th Quarter Report October - December 2018 1st Quarter Report January-March 2nd Quarter Report

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What Kind of Nursing Home Neglect Settlement Can I Expect?

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What Kind of Nursing Home Neglect Settlement Can I Expect?

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What Kind of Nursing Home Neglect Settlement Can I Expect? - Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law

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Were you or a loved one hurt in a nursing home? Wondering about a possible settlement? Learn more about what you might receive in such cases.

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More Illinois health care facilities would have to report patient abuse under new bill

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More Illinois health care facilities would have to report patient abuse under new bill

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Doctors' offices and clinics affiliated with hospitals would have to report allegations of patient abuse to the state health department under a measure introduced by Illinois lawmakers this week - legislation that comes about three months after a Chicago Tribune investigation examined the issue.

Under current law hospitals must promptly report allegations of patient abuse, including sexual abuse by a health care worker, to the Illinois Department of Public Health, triggering an investigation into the hospital's handling of the matter. But allegations of patient abuse that occur at doctors' offices or clinics outside of hospital walls, even those connected with hospitals, are not currently required to be reported to the state's health department.

"This is just a simple commonsense fix to make clear that hospitals have responsibility for providers at any of their facilities," said Illinois Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who is behind the legislation. "It kind of falls into that category, do we really need to tell somebody out loud that that's what we expect of them? Apparently we do, so we are."

Earlier this year, a Chicago Tribune investigation revealed that several well-known health systems allowed workers accused of sexually abusing patients to continue providing care. In several instances, those same health care workers were then accused of abusing additional patients.

In one of the most prominent cases in the state, former Endeavor Health gynecologist Dr. Fabio Ortega has faced lawsuits from more than 60 patients accusing him of sexual assault or abuse. In October 2021, Ortega pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse of two patients following incidents that occurred at two Endeavor-affiliated offices. Many of the alleged incidents described in the lawsuits occurred at hospital-affiliated facilities where the doctor regularly practiced. In the suits, the women accuse the health systems where he worked of failing to protect them.

The Tribune reported on the pivotal role Endeavor, formerly NorthShore University HealthSystem, played in keeping the doctor in place despite multiple complaints from patients.

Cassidy said the bill directly addresses what happened with Ortega.

"This is literally closing the most egregious loophole with the understanding that there is a lot more to do here," Cassidy said.

Tamara Holder, an attorney who represents most of the women who have sued Ortega and Endeavor along with her co-counsels Johanna Raimond and Stephan Blandin, said the bill is a good start, and will help force "health care institutions to listen to women." Holder and her co-counsels also helped work on the bill.

"This is important because women spend most of their time receiving gynecological and obstetrical care in a clinic, not in a hospital setting, and the Ortega case and other cases across the country show that most of the abuse does occur in a clinical setting or in an office setting because that's where doctors have more privacy and alone time with patients," Holder said.

The Illinois Health and Hospital Association also collaborated on the bill. "The hospital community condemns any form of patient abuse, and supports reporting requirements to protect patients and ensure governing bodies are aware of these incidents," association spokesperson Amy Barry said in an emailed statement.

Endeavor Health said in a statement Thursday it "is grateful for the good faith efforts of Illinois lawmakers and the hospital community regarding proposals for reporting parity between hospitals and wholly owned external sites" and it will "continue to evaluate the implications of any changes to Illinois law on our patients and staff."

Sen. Karina Villa, who leads the Illinois Senate Public Health Committee, said she plans to be a sponsor of the bill when it reaches the Senate. She said hospital affiliates shouldn't be exempt from having to report allegations of abuse. Citing the Tribune's findings, she called the new legislation "a positive start" and said there's more work to be done in future legislative sessions.

The Tribune's reporting also identified several failings in state oversight, including gaps in state laws and slow action by the state agency responsible for disciplining health care workers that resulted in some doctors and other workers accused of abuse continuing to provide patient care for months or years. When hospitals failed to report patient allegations of abuse, they appeared to face few consequences from the state, the Tribune found.

Cassidy said she plans to discuss measures to address accountability in the summer.

Originally Published:

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More Illinois health care facilities would have to report patient abuse under new bill

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Under current law hospitals must report allegations of patient abuse. But abuse that occurs at clinics outside of hospital walls is not subject to the same requirement.

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How Nursing Homes Abuse Prescription Drugs to Control Residents

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How Nursing Homes Abuse Prescription Drugs to Control Residents

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Nursing Homes Abuse Prescription Drugs to Control Residents”

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Chemical restraint is a form of nursing home abuse that is becoming more common. Learn more from a knowledgeable nursing home abuse attorney.

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Parker & Parker Attorneys for Nursing Home Neglect

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Parker & Parker Attorneys for Nursing Home Neglect

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Parker & Parker Attorneys for Nursing Home Neglect

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A New Federal Rule Sets Tighter Nursing Home Staffing Standards. Just 16% of Illinois Homes Are in Full Compliance

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A New Federal Rule Sets Tighter Nursing Home Staffing Standards. Just 16% of Illinois Homes Are in Full Compliance

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A New Federal Rule Sets Tighter Nursing Home Staffing Standards. Just 16% of Illinois Homes Are in Full Compliance

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Timely care is essential for many nursing home residents. New federal staffing standards from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are aimed at improving access to care, but some advocates say the measures don’t do enough.

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Recognizing Signs of Nursing Home Abuse - Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law

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Elder abuse is a silent problem. But just because it is not always in the news does not mean that it does not happen. Close to five million elder

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Pritzker signs bill protecting nursing home residents from retaliation into law

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Pritzker signs bill protecting nursing home residents from retaliation into law

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Pritzker signs bill protecting nursing home residents from retaliation into law

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A bill designed to safeguard Illinois elders from abuse at nursing homes was signed into law. Governor JB Pritzker signed the bill into law Friday. The bill protect…

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The outlook on nursing homes in illinois

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The outlook on nursing homes in illinois

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The outlook on nursing homes in illinois - Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law

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After finally selecting the perfect new place of residence for an elderly loved one, it can be upsetting to discover neglect, to say the least. No matter