If you are considering placing a loved one in a nursing home, or are managing the care of a loved one already living in a long-term care facility, you should know that the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act exists to protect nursing home residents from abuse and neglect.
Though the Covid-19 pandemic has changed many things about the way nursing homes operate, residents’ rights are still protected by law. These include:
- The right to be treated with dignity and respect and to be free of abuse and neglect.
- The right to make personal choices in one’s own care and accommodations. Residents have the right to choose their own doctor, decide what to wear, what to eat and how they would like to spend their free time.
- The right to be fully informed. Residents should know and understand facility rules, receive advance notice of a change in rooms or roommates, and receive information in the language they understand, i.e. Braille.
- The right to report violations. Residents have the right to present grievances to nursing home staff or file complaints with the state ombudsman without fear of retaliation.
- The right to access family, friends, health providers, ombudsman and whomever the resident wishes to see. Residents also have the choice to refuse visitors. (In-person access may be restricted due to Covid-19, but facilities are expected to provide appropriate alternatives such as outdoor or distanced visits or online communication.)
- The right to manage their financial affairs, including personal funds, information about available services and the price for each service. Residents should not be charged for services covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
- The right to privacy and confidentiality involving medical, personal or financial matters. Residents may have private communication with any person of their choice.
- Rights during transfers and discharges: Residents must be given a 30-day notice of a transfer or discharge that includes the reason, the transfer/discharge date and the location to where the resident is being transferred.
We trust nursing home facilities to take good care of our loved ones. But, unfortunately, they sometimes fail to fulfill their responsibilities under the law, and, even in these difficult times, they can still be held accountable for their actions.
The personal injury attorneys at Mitchell Hoffman & Wolf have decades of experience assisting victims and families of people suffering from nursing home neglect and abuse in cases involving bed sores, falls, malnutrition and medication errors.
If you or a loved one have experienced abuse or neglect in a nursing home, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Mitchell Hoffman & Wolf. We are here to help.
Your Recovery Is Always Our Focus.
Call us at 312.726.6722 for a free consultation.
