Chicago Nursing Home Infections Lawyer

Seek Justice for Infections in Chicago Nursing Homes

Chicago area nursing homes, such as those in Ravenswood and Lincoln Park, are consistently failing to protect residents from urinary tract infections, infected pressure ulcers, and pneumonia. A Chicago nursing home infections lawyer from our firm is here to support you and your loved ones in seeking justice for these serious negligence cases. 

Contact us today for a free consultation about nursing home neglect. 

Settlements Recovered by Our Chicago Law Firm

• $3,000,000: John was a nursing home resident at an Andersonville facility, recuperating from hip replacement surgery, when he developed pressure sores. He passed away from sepsis, and our nursing home negligence attorneys secured a settlement for his widow.
• $2,150,000: Rosa developed bed sores and a bacterial infection while staying at a Hyde Park nursing facility, which ultimately caused her death. A nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer in Chicago from our firm proved that inadequate staffing and insufficient disease control measures resulted in her infections.

What Are the Most Common Infections Sustained by Nursing Home Residents?

Nursing home residents are at increased risk of infections because their immune systems decline with age. 

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the leading causes of hospitalization in nursing home patients, often resulting from poor hygiene or dehydration. While UTIs can be uncomfortable and painful for a person of any age, they can quickly become a kidney infection or sepsis for elderly residents. 

In a study of over 600 nursing homes, approximately 82% of facilities had at least one case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). 

This antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection is highly contagious and can result in death. MRSA commonly colonizes pressure ulcers, which are a common sign of nursing home neglect. 

Pneumonia is one of the deadliest and most common infections in nursing homes, as it is highly contagious. Poor hygiene and inadequate disease control measures can lead to widespread infections among nursing home residents, particularly when common areas are not sanitized regularly.

Common causes for infections in Cook County nursing homes include overprescribing antibiotics, negligent supervision, poor infection control measures, and insufficient cleaning protocols. 

Low staffing has been a serious issue throughout Illinois for years now. This also leads to high levels of infectious disease. 

Tragically, reports have suggested that understaffing is a deliberate choice by some nursing homes, as it allows them to retain more profits from insurance companies and Medicaid. Not only is this illegal, but it puts patients at serious risk of illness or injury. 

Nursing homes, assisted living facilities, staff members, doctors, and administrators may be held liable if a facility-acquired infection results in serious illness or death. 

What Is the Average Payout for Infections in Illinois Nursing Homes?

The average payout for nursing home infections is $553,954. Factors that determine how much you may receive include the severity of the illness, available evidence, potential liability, and overall medical expenses. 

Example Cases

Ethel Bolton, 84, was a nursing home patient at Glenshire Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Richton Park. Inadequate medical supervision by her presiding doctor, Lance Wallace, caused her to develop painful decubitus ulcers, which caused sepsis. 

After Ms. Bolton passed, her surviving family members sued the facility, accusing Dr. Wallace of failing to treat her skin breakdown. The Cook County Circuit Court awarded the family $500,000.00.

Another case involved Alice Horne, 82. Ms. Horne was a resident of Lexington Health Care of Orland Park Inc. who suffered from diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Over the course of several months, she developed severe pressure ulcers that became infected, ultimately causing her death. 

Ms. Horne’s estate sued the nursing home, claiming that proper supervision and wound care would have saved her life. The facility ultimately settled with her family for $150,000.00. 

How Does the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act Protect Elderly Patients From Infections?

State law requires nursing homes to designate at least one Infection Prevention and Control Professional who will create infection control policies, educate the staff, and report on disease outbreaks. 

This law also requires facilities to screen nursing home patients for communicable diseases and offer vaccinations if necessary (210 ILCS 45/2-213). 

Federal law requires infection control measures for all medical facilities that take Medicare or Medicaid (F880, F881). 

These programs must include surveillance to identify disease outbreaks, reporting systems on interventions and disease outcomes, and antibiotic stewardship programs to reduce antibiotic resistance (42 CFR § 483.80). 

The Chicago Department of Health is responsible for monitoring disease outbreaks in Chicago area nursing homes and can impose fines for facilities that do not promptly report any infections (2-112-320). 

How Long Do Victims and Family Members Have to Take Legal Action?

Nursing home residents and their families have two years to file a personal injury claim against the responsible agency (735 ILCS 5/13-202). It’s crucial to contact our legal team for a free consultation as soon as possible to ensure that we can file on time. 

How to Strengthen Your Case

Infections can quickly become deadly in vulnerable elderly patients, making it essential that you act quickly. Follow these steps to protect your loved one and strengthen your nursing home neglect case.

• Seek Medical Care: If possible, have the resident transferred out of the nursing home and to a hospital, such as Loyola University, for treatment and monitoring.
• Collect Evidence: Take photos of visible injuries, like pressure sores, and preserve medical records. Request doctor’s orders, cleaning logs, and patient charts. Seek inspection records from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
• Interview Witnesses: Speak to other residents or nursing staff to determine when symptoms arose, what conditions are like in the facility, and if other patients have shown symptoms of disease.
• Report the Illness: Call the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Nursing Home Hotline (800-252-4343) or submit a complaint online. 
• Do Not Speak With Insurance: The nursing home’s insurance company may attempt to negotiate with you, pressuring you to accept a low settlement offer or to waive your rights. Do not speak to any officials without your attorney present. 
• Consult a Chicago Nursing Home Lawyer: Our compassionate and highly experienced attorneys will advocate for you and your loved ones, ensuring you are treated fairly by the legal system. Contact us to schedule a free case review. 

Why Choose Our Chicago Nursing Home Lawyers

Our Super Lawyers® will stand with you throughout the legal process, gathering strong evidence and negotiating firmly with insurance agencies. We have secured over $450 million in successful verdicts and settlements across the past 25 years, with a 98% success rate at trial.

We understand the fear, pain, and confusion that residents and their families face when navigating a personal injury case. Our caring Million Dollar Advocates work tirelessly to ease your stress while giving you the best possible chance of success. 

To begin, we’ll gather information about the illness and review medical records to identify potential negligence, such as inadequate staffing, poor disease control, or overuse of antibiotics. 

We’ll also coordinate with medical experts who can give their unbiased opinion as to what caused the infection and whether the care offered was adequate. Our Chicago personal injury lawyer team will handle insurance agency negotiations, legal filings, and trial preparation so that you can focus on supporting your loved one through this challenging time.

The team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers works on a contingency fee basis: no fees unless we win. To schedule your free case review with an experienced elder abuse attorney, call us at (888) 424-5757 or use our online contact form. 

Sources: Law.com