Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

It’s incredibly difficult to trust others with the care and safety of your loved one, especially when they have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Nursing home staff members are trained to take certain precautions to ensure the comfort and safety of these patients. Unfortunately, certain malicious staff members take advantage of Alzheimer’s or dementia patients, assuming that they may not realize or remember that anything happened.

Nursing home abuse happens every day in Champaign and can cause severe emotional and financial stress for the nursing home resident and family members. If you have been affected by nursing home abuse in Champaign, a personal injury lawyer at Spiros Law, P.C., can help you file a claim to pursue justice and rightful compensation for any related damages or expenses.

Nursing Home Abuse of Patients with Alzheimer’s or Dementia

Unfortunately, nursing home residents who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia are very vulnerable to nursing home abuse. Staff members, taking advantage of a patient’s condition, may commit any of the following acts:

• Theft or financial fraud
• Sexual or physical abuse
• Verbal harassment
• Failure to provide proper care

Often, these abusive behaviors are performed under the assumption that Alzheimer’s or dementia patients will not realize that they are being taken advantage of, however, any form of abuse can severely damage the patient emotionally and result in financial repercussions for the family. If your loved one has dealt with nursing home abuse in Champaign, a Champaign personal injury lawyer can help you hold the responsible parties liable.

Memory Loss and Nursing Home Abuse

For many families, taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia proves too difficult to do without help. Many people make the difficult decision to place their loved one in a nursing home so they can be cared for by more capable hands and have constant attention for their specific needs. When families trust their loved ones to these facilities, they reasonably expect the workers and caretakers to keep their loved one safe. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Far too often, the people meant to protect residents instead abuse the patients in these facilities. Alzheimer’s and dementia patients are at a considerably higher risk of abuse than other patients are. Symptoms of their disease that abusers take advantage of include:

1. Patient’s inability to discuss or express their feelings: Many patients with these diseases are unable to discuss or express their feelings, meaning they are often unable to communicate instances of their abuse. This inability allows abusers to continue taking advantage of patients without fear they will come forward or incriminate them.
2. Memory loss: Memory loss is one of the main symptoms of these diseases. Patients may not be able to remember instances of their abuse. Even if they do, abusers may be able to manipulate them into believing it did not happen or convince others that what they remember is false because of their illness.
3. Difficulty recognizing people and places: Another symptom is the difficulty that patients have recognizing people and places, which can make it difficult or impossible to identify their abuser or give specifics about the abuse they have endured. This difficulty allows abusers to continue taking advantage of people without fear of retaliation, because the patient is unable to identify their abuser.

If you suspect that a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia is suffering abuse in their nursing home, there is legal help for your situation. We will fight to stop the abuse and help you obtain compensation for the crimes committed against your family member. No one should have to worry that their loved one is being abused in a facility meant to care for them. People responsible for abuse should be brought to justice for their crimes.

Contact a Champaign Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

At Spiros Law, P.C., our lawyers are experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse in Champaign, and we can help you successfully file a claim to pursue justice and compensation for your suffering. Call our offices today at (217) 328-2828.