Chicago Injury Attorney: Know the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Dec. 20, 2012 - PRLog -- In the United States each year, there are over 200,000 reported complaints regarding home abuse and neglect. A primary cause of damage to nursing home patients is an inadequate, untrained, or even criminal staff. There are no national requirements for criminal background checks for nursing home workers, and one estimate says that there is at least one person with a criminal background employed in every single nursing home. To protect elderly nursing home residents, Chicago Injury Attorney Joseph Shannon wants families to know how to spot the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect.

The management and staff at nursing homes has the responsibility of upholding the rights of the residents, to maintain the cleanliness of the facilities, and to ensure resident safety. However, a whopping 94% of nursing homes were found to have violated these standards, according to a federal investigation conducted in 2008. Families who have loved ones in U.S. nursing care facilities need to know how to spot the tell-tale signs of nursing home abuse and neglect:

Unexplained bruises, abrasions, or burns  

Bone fractures or breaks

Bedsores  

Venereal diseases

Substandard hygiene  

Changes in a loved one's behavior or violent outbursts  

Sudden weight loss  

Medication errors or over medication

Limitations on visiting hours or staff present during all family visits  

Missing personal belongings  

Unexplained bank account withdrawals

Sudden changes to a loved one's will or transfer of title to property  

Shannon Law Group, P.C. is committed to stopping elder abuse in this country. Anyone who suspects abuse at a nursing home facility should report it to the police immediately, and seek the legal services of a nursing home abuse attorney. The abusers must be brought to justice. Visit  http://www.shannonlawgroup.com/chicago-nursing-home-abuse-attorney to learn more about nursing home abuse and neglect cases.

About Shannon Law Firm

Joseph Shannon, founder of the Shannon Law Group, P.C., is a graduate of University of Notre Dame Law School and is admitted to practice law in Illinois, Washington and Oregon state courts. He concentrates his practice in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Mr. Shannon has dedicated his practice to helping those who cannot help themselves. He is admitted to practice law in Illinois, Washington and Oregon state courts and has successfully advanced cases in numerous other states. Find out more about Shannon Law Group, P.C. at http://www.shannonlawgroup.com.