Chicago Nursing Home Staff Failure Lawyers

Helping Victims of Nursing Home Staff Neglect Recover Compensation 

The Chicago nursing home staff failure lawyers at our firm understand the critical duty nursing home staff have to protect each resident’s health, safety, and well-being. When that responsibility is ignored—whether due to neglect, inadequate training, or intentional mistreatment—the consequences can be devastating. 

Our team is committed to holding negligent facilities accountable when staff failures lead to serious harm. We work tirelessly to help victims and their families get answers, seek justice, and move forward during this difficult time.

Settlements for Nursing Home Staff Failure Cases

Our team has recovered significant settlements in nursing home staff failure cases, including:

• $1,095,000: We recovered a nursing home bedsore settlement after a 62-year-old woman developed severe bed sores and pressure ulcers when staff ignored her prescribed care plan, forcing her to undergo surgery.  
• $815,000: A stroke recovery patient was given food he couldn’t swallow, causing him to choke for over 30 minutes before help arrived, which led to his death. 
• $600,000: Nursing home fall settlement for a patient who fractured her hip and femur after staff ignored care protocols during a transfer, requiring surgery and sadly leading to her death after recovery. 

How Nursing Home Staff Failures Lead to Harm

Nursing home residents rely heavily on staff to meet their daily needs and ensure their safety. When caregivers fail to provide proper care, it can lead to serious consequences for residents. Some common examples of nursing home staff failures include: 

Failure to provide proper nutrition and hydration: Without adequate food and water, residents are at risk for malnutrition and dehydration, which can weaken their bodies and make them more susceptible to illness. 

Medication errors leading to overdoses or severe reactions: Failure to administer medication properly, such as giving the wrong dosage or the wrong drug, can cause severe health complications or even fatalities. 

Failure to monitor residents and prevent falls or wandering: Residents who are not supervised properly may suffer serious injuries from falls or may wander into unsafe areas, putting their lives at risk. 

Neglecting residents’ hygiene and medical needs: Ignoring basic hygiene or skipping necessary medical care can result in infections, pressure sores, and other preventable conditions. 

Common Examples of Nursing Home Staff Negligence

When nursing home staff fail to meet basic standards of care, the consequences can be devastating for residents and their families. Nursing home staff neglect often leads to physical harm, emotional distress, and, in some cases, wrongful death.  Below are some of the ways nursing home staff negligence occurs.

Inadequate Nutrition and Hydration

Studies indicate that as many as 85% of nursing home residents experience malnutrition or dehydration. This can happen when staff fail to ensure proper meal planning or to assist residents who need help eating or drinking. Signs to look for include:

• Rapid weight loss
• Dry or flaky skin
• Unusual weakness
• Confusion

These conditions increase the likelihood of infections, bedsores, and falls, and, if left unaddressed, serious complications may arise.

Nursing Home Medication Mistakes and Improper Administration

Nursing home residents depend on staff to handle medications carefully, but errors are unfortunately common. These mistakes can include:

• Overdosing
• Underdosing
• Confusing one resident’s prescriptions with another’s
• Failing to recognize dangerous drug interactions
• Administering medications at incorrect times or without necessary food or water

Alarmingly, there are cases where medication is intentionally withheld as a form of punishment or used inappropriately as a chemical restraint.   

Negligent Supervision and Fall Prevention Failures

Elderly residents are at a high risk of falling, and nursing home staff play a crucial role in reducing that risk. Common causes of these accidents include: 

• Inadequate supervision during activities like transfers or bathroom visits, often as a result of understaffed nursing homes  
• Failure to assist with mobility or provide mobility aids
• Neglecting to address trip hazards

When staff does not stay attentive to these needs, and there is a failure to prevent falls, residents are left vulnerable to injuries that could have been prevented with proper care and attention.

Hygiene Neglect and Poor Infection Control in Nursing Homes

Failure to assist residents with hygiene needs can lead to serious health problems and reduced quality of life. This includes tasks such as:

• Bathing
• Changing clothes
• Oral care
• Cleaning wounds

Poor hygiene practices or the improper sanitizing of medical equipment can result in infections, bedsores, and even sepsis. Unclean environments also create conditions where illnesses like pneumonia or MRSA can quickly spread among residents. Failure to prevent infections can lead to legal action against nursing homes.  

Physical or Emotional Abuse by Caregivers

When nursing homes fail to properly hire or supervise their staff, residents can become victims of physical or emotional abuse. Warning signs of nursing home abuse and neglect can vary but often include:

• Unexplained bruises or fractures
• Sudden withdrawal from social activities
• Visible fear around certain caregivers 

Neglect leading to wrongful death or other injuries should be reported as soon as possible. A Chicago nursing home law firm can help victims and families seek compensation for nursing home neglect or abuse.

Holding Nursing Homes Accountable for Staff Failures

Illinois law requires nursing homes to maintain sufficient staffing levels and ensure employees are adequately trained. If nursing home negligence results in harm to a resident because of inadequate staffing in nursing homes, the facility can and should be held accountable. 

Our firm works with families to seek compensation for violations of a nursing home resident’s rights, including:

• Medical expenses, including treatments and rehabilitation
• Emotional and physical suffering caused by neglect or abuse
• Wrongful death claims when staff failures result in fatal outcomes 

We are here to help victims and their loved ones take action through a nursing home lawsuit. 

How Our Chicago Nursing Home Staff Failure Lawyers Can Help

Our law firm is dedicated to supporting victims of nursing home staff failures and their families. Here’s how our firm helps:

• We examine medical records and facility documentation to identify lapses in care or training, like if there was a failure to respond to medical emergencies 
• We consult with experts in nursing home care to evaluate whether the facility met the required standards 
• We speak with witnesses, including staff, other residents, or family members, to gather a complete picture of events

Our ultimate goal is to hold nursing homes responsible when their failures lead to harm or suffering.  

Book a Free Consultation With a Chicago Nursing Home Staff Failure Lawyer Near You! 

If your loved one has suffered because of nursing home staff failures, you don’t have to face it alone. You should speak with experienced nursing home legal representation right away. The Nursing Home Law Center is here to listen, review your case, and explain how to prove nursing home liability after your loved one is injured. 

Call (800) 926-7565 or complete our online contact form for a free consultation with a Chicago nursing home abuse attorney.