Choosing a long-term care facility for your elderly loved one isn’t easy, but it’s often for the best when you are no longer able to provide them with the care they need. Skilled nursing facilities are supposed to work to improve or maintain residents’ mental, physical, and social health. Unfortunately, there are a number of homes out there that fail to do so. If you believe your loved one has wrongfully suffered, an Oak Park, IL nursing home abuse lawyer can help.
At Thomas Law Offices, we understand how terrifying and angering it can be to learn your loved one has been abused or neglected. Our attorneys strive to help personal injury victims in their time of need, so they receive what they need to get their lives back in order as much as possible.
Nursing Homes in Oak Park
If you reside in or near Oak Park and are looking for a nursing home for your loved one, it’s can be difficult choosing one—especially considering how many are in the surrounding area. Fortunately, there are tools available that make it easy to determine where the best facilities are.
According to Medicare, the Oak Park nursing homes are rated as follows:
- Western Suburban Medical Center – much above average
- Rush Oak Park Hospice Skilled Care Unit – much above average
- Oak Park Oasis – much below average
- Berkeley Nursing & Rehab Center – below average
In the event your loved one does not reside in one of those facilities, it’s likely their nursing home is in Chicago. No matter where your family member is housed, they should be taken care of and offered the chance at as high a quality of life as possible.
Tips for Choosing the Right Nursing Home
Choosing the right nursing home can be a harrowing task. That’s why it’s important to understand what to look for in a facility.
Start by making a list of the nursing homes in your area or in the area where your loved one wants to live. You can ask family and friends or consult a doctor. You also have the option of using Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare tool.
Once you have a list, you should compare the quality of the nursing homes you’re considering. Every Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country has accessible information on the care they provide and any citations they’ve received in the past.
After you narrow down which facilities seem like valid options, it’s time to visit. A visit gives you the chance to see how residents and staff are in the nursing home setting. Before you go, call ahead and make an appointment. This way, you’ll be able to meet with someone on staff. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and take note of what you see.
When you visit, you’ll want to note the type of private space available, what social, recreational, religious, or cultural activities are available, how many residents there are versus the number of staff, what types of meals are served, and how access to care is provided.
Protecting Your Loved One in Illinois
Anyone in Illinois can report a case of nursing home abuse in good faith, but there are some professionals who are required by law to report suspected abuse. Illinois has a law that requires professionals in social services, adult care, law enforcement, education, medicine, state service to senior, and social workers make reports of suspected abuse of adults age 60 or older or people with disabilities age 18-59 who are unable to report for themselves.
As a family member of a nursing home resident, you have the right to report suspected abuse at any time. In Illinois, you have a few options as far as reporting goes, but it’s often recommended if your loved one lives in a nursing facility to call the Illinois Department of Publish Health’s Nursing Home Complaint Hotline.
When you call the hotline, you should be prepared to provide as much information as possible. This could include the alleged victim’s name, address, telephone number, sex, age, and general condition, the alleged abuse’s information, the circumstances you believe to have caused injury, whether the resident is in any immediate danger, and your contact information. All reports and records of the Adult Protective Services Program are subject to strict confidentiality provisions, except as provided by law or court order.
Once your loved one’s situation has been investigated and they are in a safe location, it’s time to start thinking about helping them recover and holding the nursing home or negligent staff members accountable.
Get in Touch With Thomas Law Offices
If you’ve filed a report with the nursing home or the state and feel as though the matter has not been resolved or your loved one is still in danger, you’ll want to seek help from an Oak Park nursing home abuse lawyer from Thomas Law Offices. With our help, you’ll be able to seek the compensation your loved one needs to recover and hold the negligent facility accountable for its actions.
We understand that dealing with legal matters while you’re focused on your loved one’s health and wellbeing isn’t easy. That’s why our attorneys will manage your claim and keep you up-to-date the entire time. This way, you can focus on your loved one’s recovery and trust that your case is in good hands.
To get started with a claim or to see if your family’s situation warrants one, reach out for a free consultation from Thomas Law Offices. We’ll review your account of your loved one’s experience and help you determine how best to proceed. Contact us today for more information.
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