Nursing Home Workers Sentenced in Nursing Home Abuse Cases

Chicago, ILAlthough deaths attributed to natural causes can occur at an Illinois nursing home, the sad truth is that some deaths are attributable to Illinois nursing home abuse. Families who thought their loved ones were safe at nursing homes in Illinois are then shocked to learn that Chicago nursing home abuse has caused death or serious injury to their family members.

Nursing home abuse can, and does, happen at nursing homes across the US. In Minnesota, two aides were sentenced to two years probation and 180 days in jail for abusing nursing home residents. In all, six women who worked at the Good Samaritan Society-Albert Lea nursing home faced charges connected to abuse allegations. Four of the women, however, were charged as juveniles for failure to report suspected abuse.

According to the Austin Daily Herald (10/14/10), two of the women faced charges of elder abuse related to at least six victims. Among the charges were fifth-degree assault by a caregiver to a vulnerable adult, criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult and criminal abuse involving sexual conduct.

The abuse allegedly occurred between January and May 2008.

Meanwhile, a nursing home in Nevada settled a wrongful death lawsuit, filed after a patient died of severe dehydration and infection. According to RGJ, a news source from northern Nevada (12/14/10), the nursing home was at first unable to provide any documentation proving that the victim received medical care between March 23, 2008 and March 27, 2008. On March 27, 2008, the patient was transferred to the hospital with severe dehydration. Later, when documentation about the patient was provided by the nursing home, it claimed the patient was entertaining guests in the nursing home when she was actually in the hospital, dying.

Although the settlement amount is confidential, the plaintiffs, daughters of the victim, spoke out about their mother's ordeal. Prior to her death, they say she had bedsores that the nursing facility staff claimed was just a rash. The daughters also say they were unaware their mother was dying until they received a call asking if staff should make the plaintiffs' mother comfortable. At the time, the plaintiffs say, they were planning on moving their mother from the home.

Family members help their loved ones move into Illinois nursing homes believing that they will receive the best care possible. While this is true of many nursing homes, there are staff members—and administrators—at other nursing homes who are less concerned about the overall well-being of residents. In these situations, it can sometimes fall to family members to ensure their loved one's rights are protected and to prevent this abuse from happening to other residents.