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Since 1976, Steve Levin has been dedicated to helping people injured by others’ negligence. He is one of the first attorneys in the U.S. to prosecute nursing homes for abuse and negligence. He’s also helped write new legislation that governs the operation of nursing homes, including the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act. Moreover, Levin & Perconti has obtained the top three jury verdicts in nursing home negligence cases in Illinois.
Read Bio
Since 1976, Steve Levin has been dedicated to helping people injured by others’ negligence. He is one of the first attorneys in the U.S. to prosecute nursing homes for abuse and negligence. He’s also helped write new legislation that governs the operation of nursing homes, including the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act. Moreover, Levin & Perconti has obtained the top three jury verdicts in nursing home negligence cases in Illinois.
Choosing the best nursing home for a parent is one of the most emotionally difficult decisions a family can make. You’re trying to balance your loved one’s health needs, finances, location, and quality of care while also juggling work, family, and the stress that comes with this transition.
It is common to feel overwhelmed by the number of options and unsure where to start. Having clear, practical information about the decision-making process can help families approach this choice with more confidence and less uncertainty. Understanding how nursing homes differ, and what questions to ask early, can make it easier to identify a facility that aligns with your loved one’s needs and your family’s priorities.
Why Choosing the Right Nursing Home Matters
Not all nursing homes provide the same level of care or oversight. Facilities can differ significantly in staff levels, supervision, training, and their ability to support specific care needs. These differences may directly affect your loved one’s comfort, safety, and overall well-being.
Choosing the best nursing home can help reduce avoidable stress, support physical and emotional well-being, and provide consistent attention as care needs change. Ultimately, choosing a nursing home isn’t just about what’s best today. It is about selecting a setting that can consistently deliver reliable, attentive care over time, providing families with greater peace of mind as their situations change.
Questions To Ask Before Choosing a Nursing Home For a Loved One
Researching facilities and asking the right questions can help you understand how a home operates and whether it can meet your loved one’s needs. The questions below are meant to give you clearer insight into staffing, supervision, and day-to-day routines.
What Is the Facility Type?
- Is the nursing home Medicare-certified?
- Is the nursing home Medicaid certified?
- Are the nursing home and current administrator licensed in my state?
- Does the nursing home offer specialized care?
- What type of rehabilitation services are provided?
- Is there an arbitration agreement requested to be signed?
- Can I have a copy of the resident policies?
- Will the nursing home tell me in writing about their services, charges, and fees before I move my loved one into the home?
What Do the Nursing Home Living Spaces Have?
- Is the nursing home free from overwhelming, unpleasant odors?
- Does the nursing home appear clean and well-kept?
- Is the temperature in the nursing home comfortable for residents?
- Does the nursing home have good lighting?
- Are the noise levels comfortable?
- Is smoking allowed?
- Is the furniture sturdy, yet comfortable and attractive?
- Are any mobility devices shared?
Can You Share Sample Menus and Types of Food Served?
- Do residents have a choice of food items at each meal?
- Is your dining room currently closed or open? Where do residents take their meals?
- Can the nursing home provide for special dietary needs?
- Does the staff assist residents with eating and drinking at mealtimes if needed?
How Is Your Staffing?
- Does the relationship between staff and residents appear to be warm, polite, and respectful?
- Do staff knock on the door before entering a resident’s room?
- Do staff refer to residents by name?
- Does the nursing home offer a training and continuing education program for all staff?
- Is there a licensed nursing staff 24 hours a day, including a Registered Nurse (RN) present at least 8 hours per day, seven days a week?
- How does the nursing home check to make sure they don’t hire staff members who have been found guilty of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment of residents, or have a finding of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment of residents in the state nurse aid registry?
- Has there been a turnover in administration staff, as the administrator or director of nurses, in the past year?
- Where does the nursing home post information about the number of nursing staff, including Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)?
- Can I meet with the available social worker?
- Is my primary language spoken by the staff who will work directly with fellow residents and me?
Can You Show Me What Residents’ Rooms Look Like?
- Can residents have personal belongings and furniture in their rooms?
- Does each resident have storage space, a closet, and drawers in their room?
- Does each resident have a window in their bedroom?
- Do residents have access to the internet, a computer, a personal phone, and a television? How often?
- Are there policies and procedures to protect residents’ possessions, including lockable cabinets and closets?
Can We Take a Walk Through the Hallway, Stairs, Lounges, and Check Out the Bathrooms?
- What types of spaces do residents share?
- How often are these areas cleaned and disinfected?
- Are exits clearly marked?
- Does the nursing home have smoke detectors and sprinklers?
- Are all common areas, resident rooms, and doorways designed for wheelchairs?
- Are handrails and grab bars appropriately placed in the hallways and bathrooms?
What Types of Activities Are Typically Planned?
- What types of activities can residents, including those who are unable to leave their rooms, participate in?
- Do residents help plan or choose available activities?
- Does the nursing home have outdoor areas for resident use?
- When are visitors allowed, and what are the facility’s visitation guidelines?
- Are there procedures for leaving?
- Does the nursing home offer the spiritual or cultural support I need?
Do You Use a Lot of Antipsychotic Drugs Here?
- Does the nursing home have specific policies and procedures in place for caring for individuals with dementia? If so, does the policy include non-medication-based approaches to care as a first attempt to respond to behavioral symptoms, which are often a means of communication, for residents living with dementia?
- What percentage of residents who have a diagnosis of dementia are prescribed antipsychotic medication?
- What’s the nursing home’s current rate of antipsychotic medication use?
- Does the nursing home participate in any efforts related to reducing antipsychotic medication use?
CMS-Identified Trends in Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has continued to expand its evaluation, monitoring, and reporting of nursing homes to the public. Recent CMS updates focus on staffing levels, accurate resident assessments, medication oversight, and timely reporting of abuse and neglect. CMS has also expanded public reporting tools to provide families with a more transparent view of facility inspections, complaints, and enforcement actions.
This information reinforces the importance of careful research. Reviewing CMS findings, inspection histories, and complaint patterns can help identify potential red flags before a placement is made. Staying informed about a facility’s history can help you make safer, more confident decisions and reduce the risk of harm before it happens.
Legal Rights of Nursing Home Residents in Illinois
Nursing home residents in Illinois are protected by both state and federal regulations designed to prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation while preserving dignity and quality of life. These protections help ensure nursing home residents in Illinois have the right to:
- The right to be treated with dignity and respect
- The right to make personal choices about daily life and care
- The right to be free from physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse
- The right to be free from neglect, exploitation, and other forms of mistreatment
- The right to a safe, clean, and comfortable living environment
- The right to appropriate medical care and adequate supervision
- The right to be free from improper physical or chemical restraints
- The right to participate in care planning and treatment decisions
- The right to privacy and confidentiality of personal and medical information
- The right to report concerns or complaints without fear of retaliation
The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act reinforces many of these protections and provides legal remedies when a nursing home resident’s rights are violated. Federal regulations also require Medicare- and Medicaid-participating facilities to uphold resident safety, dignity, and fair treatment.
In Illinois, nursing homes are licensed and surveyed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, including the investigation of complaints. Additional support is available through the Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which helps residents and families understand their rights and work toward resolving concerns.
The Nation’s Leading Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys
At Levin & Perconti, we have the experience and resources to investigate claims and are currently standing up to violators who choose not to protect residents from harm. If you’re considering pursuing a legal case against an Illinois nursing home and want to share your story to help others, please contact us for a free consultation at (312) 332-2872. All calls and discussions with our nursing home abuse lawyers are confidential.
