HomeWellness6 Common Injuries at Abusive Nursing Homes in Chicago, IL

6 Common Injuries at Abusive Nursing Homes in Chicago, IL

By Shruti Sood
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Over the last few years, especially since the Covid pandemic, the amount of abuse that happens behind the scenes at Chicago’s nursing homes has become much more widely known. For this reason, family members of Chicago nursing home patients must be vigilant about reporting any abuse-signaling issues that happen at their loved one’s nursing homes.

There are six common injuries at abusive nursing homes in Chicago, IL that family members should be especially aware of: 

1. Slip-and-Fall Accidents

Nurses

Slip-and-fall accidents are some of the most common and dangerous types of accidents that occur in Chicago nursing homes every single year. The severity of the injuries that are caused by elderly folk falling is often severe, and can even lead to death in many cases (as well as life-threatening injuries). For this reason, those involved in slip-and-fall accidents at their nursing homes must contact a nursing home lawyer ASAP. This situation is impacting aging citizens throughout Chicago, so you’re not alone if you find yourself in this unfortunate scenario. By speaking up, you will ensure that you and other nursing home residents are properly protected from behind-the-scenes abuse at Chicago nursing homes in 2023.

2. Bedsores

Bedsores are often seen as a major red flag in nursing home patients. After all, there are specific guidelines set out for nursing home staff members that are meant to minimize the chances of (and severity of) bedsores occurring. Bedsores can lead to severe infections and can take a long time to heal. Additionally, they cause severe pain in elderly patients. For this reason, many people assume that neglectful management may be occurring at a nursing home if several residents begin developing bedsores. Being vigilant about correcting the problem is key, so if you or a loved one are experiencing bedsores in a Chicago nursing home, you should contact that nursing home’s director about the problem immediately. 

3. Spinal Injuries

Taking your child to the doctor’s appointment might be one of the most stressful and challenging things you need to do as a parent. Your kid will naturally have their concerns, and they will most likely be very anxious. As parents, you have a job to calm them down and make sure they handle the appointment as best as possible. These steps will help you calm down your child so that they can gain more trust and feel better about any future appointments you will be having. Prep Your Kid in A Way That’s Best For Them You, as a parent, know you, child, better than anyone else. That is not only extremely helpful when it comes to detecting their fears and concerns, but also when it comes to helping them and preparing them for the appointment. For instance, some kids get even more anxious when they are told about their upcoming appointment too early, while others need a few days to prepare themselves. It differs from one child to another, and the mother will know the best how to approach her own children regarding this issue. Make a List with Your Child Make a list of all the things that both you and your child are worried about before going to the appointment. Ask your child about their concerns and openly talk about them. Then, assure them that it’s all going to be fine because the doctor will give them all the answers they need before the appointment. Let Them Play Doctor Source: pexels.com You can also prepare your child for the appointment by letting them play the doctor. Give them toys they can play with, and “fake” treat pretending to be doctors. Show them what a regular appointment looks like. Once your child sees that the doctors pose no harm, they will feel more comfortable going to appointments. Get To the Appointment A Little Early Getting to the appointment a little early can mean a lot to your child. If they are already anxious, showing up in a rush to the appointment can only worsen their anxiety symptoms even more. Showing up early will give both you and your child the time to prepare and calm down. Validate Their Feelings You can’t prevent your kids from feeling anxious and worried about their appointment, but what you can do is validate their feelings and show them you care about their concerns. Ask them about their fears and find out where they come from. You can start by asking if they are afraid if it’s going to hurt them. In most cases, they will say yes. Tell them that you understand their concerns and explain the appointment process so that they know there is nothing in there that will harm them in any way. Listen to them without interrupting them to show them that they are heard. However, don’t talk too much. It can make them even more anxious. Simply validating their feelings and being there for them means a lot. And after the appointment, you can treat them with something they like to reward them for their bravery. Use the Number Scale To Talk About Pain The number scale can be very useful in this situation. Use it to talk about pain with your children. Ask them to tell you what kind of pain they expect to experience and let them know that vaccines are only a one or a two on the pain scale. Once they have a specific number, I mind it will be easier for them to relax. They will have something to hold on to and expect. Build their trust Source: unsplash.com You need to build their trust not only for you but also for the doctor they have an appointment with. Let’s say you need to take your kid for the regular dental appointment. Your kid is more likely going to trust the doctor if you choose a reliable family dentist that is going to be familiar and friendly with the whole family. Seeing a reliable and friendly face will help your kid overcome their fears more easily when going to appointments and regular check-ups. Keep Calm It’s extremely challenging to keep calm when your kid is freaking out, but you have to do it for them, especially if you have to hold your kid down for shots. You need to remember that you’re a parent, and therefore you’re in charge. Keep reassuring them that you’re there for them, and there is nothing to be scared of. If you show them you are panicking too; they are only going to grow even more anxious. Once your child realizes you are there for them, they will calm down. Don’t Apologize One of the worst things you can do to your child at the appointment is to apologize for the appointment. That will only increase their anxiety because saying you’re sorry only indicates that something bad or wrong is happening. Stay calm and keep reminding them that this visit is for their own good. Encourage Your Child to Ask Questions Lastly, create a calming and positive environment where kids feel comfortable asking questions. Show them that their concerns and feelings are valid by encouraging them to speak up and ask questions regarding their worries. Not only that, encourage them to ask about anything they might find confusing. They have the full right to speak to the doctor and not just sit there and listen to your conversation with the doctor. They have every right to be informed about their own health. Conclusion In conclusion, children’s’ fear of doctors and appointments is almost inevitable. What you need to do as a parent is to make sure they feel safe by giving them answers and making them feel validated and hurt. These are just some of the most effective steps you can take when taking your child to the appointment.

Another severe injury that’s unfortunately fairly common in nursing home settings, spinal injuries often lead to some of the largest lawsuits against neglectful nursing homes. Whether these injuries occur from a fall, or some other type of preventable injury, does not matter. What matters is whether these physical injuries can be linked to abuse or neglect from the nursing home and its staff members. Investigating nursing home injuries can be tricky, but with the right guidance, you can get down to the bottom of any suspicious or unexplained injuries that have harmed your elderly loved one. Nursing home lawyers are experts at navigating this strange, complex, and intense process, however, so entrusting them with your loved one’s legal future is recommended. When visiting 

4. STDs

nurse challenges

Many people wrongfully assume that elderly nursing home patients completely forsake their sex lives. The reality is that many elderly people across America (including those in Chicago’s nursing homes) lead fairly active sex lives. Because they are not always as safe with their sex practices at an advanced age, STD rates among the elderly are actually fairly high. The fact that they are more likely to have an active STD at this advanced age only adds to the problem. That aside, an unexplained STD diagnosis in an elderly nursing home patient is cause for concern and could be a sign of abuse happening behind the scenes. If your elderly loved one develops an unexplained STD suddenly, be sure to gain their trust, and get to the bottom of this sensitive situation in a caring, but effective, way. 

5. Malnutrition

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Malnutrition is a serious ailment, especially when it comes to the elderly. In a nursing home setting, there are absolutely zero excuses for any patient ever becoming malnourished. After all, part of the staff’s responsibility is to ensure their patients are on healthy, life-sustaining diets year-round. If your elderly loved one becomes malnourished during their time at a nursing home, you should report this oversight to the home’s director, and other authorities, immediately. Doing so can save lives, as there are likely other victims becoming malnourished due to that nursing home’s behind-the-scenes neglect. The faster you are to respond, the more likely you are to save your elderly loved one from the horrific complications that malnourishment poses for the elderly. 

6. Dehydration

Nurse

Lastly, dehydration is a common injury at abusive nursing homes in Chicago, IL. Dehydration, like malnutrition, can lead to serious and even life-threatening health complications for elderly patients. These two conditions will often go hand-in-hand behind the scenes at neglectful and abusive nursing homes. The better your emotional connection and trust are with your elderly loved one, the more effectively you can help them avoid, and deal with, any abuse issues at their nursing home. Taking care of our elderly citizens is the responsibility of every US citizen.

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