It seems like the stories of nursing home abuse and neglect that make the news are always rather grandiose. Typically, there’s video evidence, multiple assailants, and a vicious crime. While those stories deserve recognition, they create a public view of nursing home neglect that can be detrimental to nursing home residents and their families by painting a picture that only begins to describe the problem. Make no mistake: the stories of terrible abuse are true, and the people who commit those crimes deserve a full measure of justice.
Nursing home neglect, however, often looks much different. Families with loved ones in nursing homes need to be able to identify less obvious signs of neglect in order to protect their family members who reside in nursing homes. By most standards, Smith Crossing Nursing Home in Orland Park, Illinois is a fine nursing home. It’s a 4 star nursing home according to the Nursing Home Compare website run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
And yet, a $20,000 fine was levied against Smith Crossing for nursing home neglect that led to the wrongful death of one of their residents. Non-ambulatory residents require considerable care when being transferred from their bed to a chair or another position. Standards require that at least two people take part in the transfer. It’s not a secret or a mystery; its standard operating procedure. That’s why it can be so frustrating when a single staff member attempts to move a resident and an injury occurs. That’s exactly what took place at Smith Crossing, and In this case, the injury proved fatal. The resident was dropped and sustained severe head trauma. She died less than two weeks later.
One of our core beliefs is that nursing homes are built to fail due to the business model they follow and that unnecessary injuries and illnesses and wrongful deaths of residents are the inevitable result. Order our FREE report, Built to Fail, to learn more about why. Our experienced Chicago nursing home lawyers are ready to help you understand what happened, why, and what your rights are. Contact us to get the help you need.
Other blog posts on nursing home falls:
Unsafe use of lift at King Bruawert in Burr Ridge
Fracture neck in mechanical lift accident at Robings Manor
Violation of care plan in transfer at Frankfort Rehab