Two women in Illinois were recently charged with one count of illegal videotaping and one count of aggravated battery of a person older than 60 after recording themselves hitting an elderly woman who suffered from dementia. According to the Chicago Tribune, the two women reportedly laughed while they engaged in the abuse and then later showed the video to their friends.
Illinois receives an “F” rating
Many elderly endure situations like these while under the supervision of others in a nursing home facility. Although more than 1.5 million senior citizens reside in nursing homes throughout the U.S., the type of care they receive depends on where they live. A recent review completed by the organization Families for Better Care ranked and gave states grades depending on the number of complaints, level of staffing, deficiencies and inspections done of nursing homes located throughout the country.
Illinois was one of 11 states that received an “F” rating, with only eight states ranking behind it in terms of providing care. According to the review, Illinois received this ranking because nursing home residents in this state were given less than two hours of professional care on a daily basis. Additionally, it was discovered that nursing homes in Illinois failed to provide a beneficial nursing and administrative staff for their residents.
Nursing home neglect and abuse can result in serious consequences for residents. These can include the following:
Significantly higher levels of psychological distress
A lower perceived level of self-efficacy
Additional healthcare problems like chronic pain, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety and heart issues
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, elders who have experienced abuse also have a 300 percent higher risk of death than those who are not abused.
Additional research
In a study conducted in the year 2000, which interviewed 2,000 nursing home residents, 44 percent of participants stated that they had been neglected while 95 percent reported that they had seen another resident neglected or had been neglected themselves. A study performed in 2008 also found that approximately 70 percent of surveys reviewing nursing homes in the U.S. miss at least one deficiency.
Because nursing home neglect is a prevalent problem, family members with relatives in nursing homes should be extremely wary of signs of injury that may indicate an abusive situation is present. These signs may include unexplained injuries, behaviors from the elder that mimics dementia and unusual weight loss or malnutrition. Those who suspect one of their relatives is being abused by their caretakers should consult with an attorney who can ensure the legal rights of their loved one are protected.
After completing law school Donald became an assistant Attorney General for 7 years and was assigned to the Industrial Commission Division. During that time he spent evenings establishing his own firm. Donald became a founding partner of a large workers’ compensation/personal injury firm but decided to leave the firm in 1990 to start a smaller “boutique” firm with the belief that bigger isn’t always better!
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