Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse

Families place trust in nursing homes and long-term care facilities — trust that requires the facility and its staff to provide safe, humane, and competent care. When that trust is violated through neglect, abuse, or substandard care, residents may suffer serious injury or death.

Common Forms of Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

• Failure to diagnose or treat medical conditions promptly (e.g., infections, urinary tract infections, pressure ulcers)
• Medication errors or improper medication administration
• Decubitus ulcers (bedsores) due to inadequate repositioning or hygiene — which can lead to infection, sepsis, and death
• Dehydration, malnutrition, or neglect of hygiene and basic necessities
• Falls, fractures, or trauma due to lack of supervision
• Injuries or death due to resident eloping from facility
• Physical or sexual abuse by staff or other residents — or failure by facility to prevent known risks

Legal Basis for Claims

The foundations for claims against nursing home vary by state. In Illinois, for example, claims may arise under the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act as well as under general premises liability, negligence, or wrongful death laws, depending on the circumstances.

When neglect or abuse results in death, surviving family members may also have a viable claim under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act and Survival Act.   

Recoverable Damages

Depending on the facts, nursing home neglect/abuse claims may yield:

• Compensation for medical bills, rehabilitation, and ongoing care needs
• Damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other noneconomic harms
• Punitive damages
• Wrongful death damages (loss of society, grief and sorrow, pecuniary loss) if the neglect or abuse resulted in death

Why Specialized Experience Matters

Nursing home neglect or abuse cases often require investigation of facility staffing records, prior deficiency or inspection reports, internal incident logs, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports, medical records, and prior complaints. Expert testimony (e.g., geriatric care experts, wound‐care specialists, life-care planners) is usually essential.

Hiring a team of trial lawyers with experience successfully navigating the web of elder care litigation, regulatory standards under the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act, and sensitive handling of vulnerable clients and families is critical.