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Since 2005, Michael Bonamarte IV has been a passionate advocate for victims of negligent conduct, corporate malfeasance, and medical malpractice. He has won numerous awards and recognitions, including Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers’ Rising Star. He has presented for the American Association for Justice, the AAJ Nursing Home Litigation Group, the John Marshall Law School, and numerous other legal associations. He regularly lectures at Chicago-area aging organizations about nursing home abuse. His writings have been published by the American Bar Association, the Chicago Daily Bulletin, and numerous other prestigious publications.
Read Bio
Since 2005, Michael Bonamarte IV has been a passionate advocate for victims of negligent conduct, corporate malfeasance, and medical malpractice. He has won numerous awards and recognitions, including Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers’ Rising Star. He has presented for the American Association for Justice, the AAJ Nursing Home Litigation Group, the John Marshall Law School, and numerous other legal associations. He regularly lectures at Chicago-area aging organizations about nursing home abuse. His writings have been published by the American Bar Association, the Chicago Daily Bulletin, and numerous other prestigious publications.
Abuse and neglect in a nursing home can be very hard to pick up on, even when your loved one can communicate with you about it. For residents with dementia, it can be even more difficult to notice and prove abuse, as the victim will likely struggle to accurately remember or properly communicate their experiences.
While dementia can alter one’s memory, cognitive function, and behavior, it can never fully conceal the signs of improper treatment. Knowing how to spot abuse and neglect can help you protect a loved one with dementia and ensure they are receiving the care they need.
How Do I Tell Abuse Apart From Dementia Symptoms?
Dementia symptoms tend to progress slowly over time, while signs of abuse often show as sudden, unexpected changes in behavior, health, or appearance. While a resident with dementia may begin to interact less with other residents and avoid activities they once enjoyed, it’s abnormal for a once-social individual to suddenly become withdrawn, anxious, and irritable.
When visiting your loved one, keep an eye out for changes or interesting details that might warrant further investigation, such as new fear or anxiety regarding a specific caregiver or situation. Anything inconsistent with how your loved one usually acts and appears, when considering the natural trajectory of their condition, could point toward mistreatment.
Dementia could lead a nursing home resident to sustain minor injuries and lapses in personal care, but staff are responsible for anticipating and addressing your loved one’s symptoms. Consistently poor hygiene, dirty living conditions, and repeated injuries could signal neglect.
What Are Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect in Residents With Dementia?
Physical Abuse
It’s not atypical for nursing home residents to occasionally experience falls, bruises, and other minor injuries. However, frequent and unexplained injuries, including fractures, can be a sign of physical abuse. A resident with dementia might act fearful and on edge around certain staff members or residents if they’ve experienced physical abuse.
Emotional or Psychological Abuse
Behavioral changes are the easiest way to detect emotional abuse in a nursing home resident with dementia. Dementia may impact your loved one’s social behavior, but abruptly withdrawing from group activities and disengaging with other residents could point toward psychological mistreatment like verbal abuse.
Neglect
No matter how much difficulty dementia might add to your loved one’s care, they are still entitled to proper supervision, nutrition, and assistance. Your loved one may be experiencing neglect if they aren’t taking medications properly, have consistently poor hygiene, appear malnourished or dehydrated, or have untreated injuries like bedsores.
Financial Exploitation
Nursing home residents with dementia may be especially vulnerable to financial exploitation, fraud, and theft. Make sure to monitor your loved one’s personal belongings and keep any valuables secured to help prevent them from losing or misplacing them. Keep tabs on any financial accounts they may have access to, and take action immediately if you notice unusual activity.
Improper Use of Restraints or Medication
Even if a resident is difficult to manage and wanders because of their dementia, nursing home staff should never use improper physical restraints or sedating medications to keep them under control. Look for bruising or scarring around the wrists, unexplained bruising or bone fractures, or unusually lethargic behavior.
What Should I Do if I Suspect My Loved One Is Being Abused?
If you notice signs of abuse or neglect in the nursing home, taking action quickly is the best way to protect your loved one. Your next steps should include:
- Take notes: Record your observations in detail, including when they occurred and who was present. If there were any witnesses, get their contact information and see if they’re willing to give statements.
- Get medical attention: Have your loved one examined by a healthcare professional if needed. Discuss your suspicions and preserve any resulting records.
- Raise your concerns: Speak with the nursing home’s management and make a formal complaint about your loved one’s treatment. Follow up to make sure an internal investigation begins, and keep tabs on its progress.
- Gather evidence: Research the nursing home’s complaint history and try to collect any other internal documents on how the facility is being run.
- Report the abuse: Consider bringing your evidence to the authorities and starting an official investigation.
How Do I Report Suspected Nursing Home Abuse in Illinois?
There are many different agencies responsible for investigating and addressing nursing home abuse in Illinois, depending on the circumstances involved. If you suspect your loved one with dementia is being abused or neglected, you can file a report with one of the following:
- Illinois Adult Protective Services (APS)
- Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
- Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
- Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS)
For more information on which agency to contact in your situation, read our guide on reporting nursing home abuse.
When Should I Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney?
An experienced Illinois nursing home abuse lawyer can be a helpful resource at any stage of the legal process, whether you’re just starting to investigate potential mistreatment of your loved one or have already filed a complaint with the authorities. You should consider speaking with a trusted lawyer if:
- Your loved one has been seriously hurt or deals with frequent, unexplained injuries
- You suspect your loved one’s care needs are being neglected
- The nursing home has failed to properly investigate or address your concerns
- You’re considering legal action, but aren’t sure where to start
Your attorney can evaluate your loved one’s situation, explain your legal options, and help you gather evidence to strengthen your case.
Let Us Help With Your Nursing Home Abuse Claim
If your loved one has dementia and you suspect they’re being mistreated, the trusted Illinois nursing home abuse lawyers at Levin & Perconti can help you hold the facility accountable and protect your loved one’s rights. With over 400 years of combined experience and over $2 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements, our team knows how to get the justice your family deserves.
Contact us online or call (312) 332-2872 today for a free consultation with our experienced attorneys.
