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We expect that when we make the tough decision of putting our beloved family member in a nursing home, they will be treated with respect and dignity. While some nursing homes do go above and beyond to ensure your loved one is taken care of, this is not always the case. Sadly, some nursing home staff members abuse patients in various ways.
Some engage in physical abuse by hitting, slapping, punching and kicking patients. Some engage in mental abuse by calling patients names and taunting them. In some cases, these incidents are captured in photos and videos that are recorded by staff members’ cell phones and posted online to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and other social media sites. This causes embarrassment for the patients and their family members.
A woman who was a patient in an Illinois nursing home was taunted by staff members, with the incident recorded and posted on Snapchat. The woman’s family found out and is suing the nursing home for $1 million in damages.
The Abington of Glenview was sued by the family of a 91-year-old woman with dementia. The patient was known to dislike hospital gowns, so two staff members thought it would be funny to taunt the woman by videotaping her in distress as a staff member tries to put a gown on her. In the video, the woman is seen waving her arms to protect herself, since she is immobile.
The incident occurred just before Christmas and was posted on Snapchat. It was captioned as “Margaret hates gowns” and featured two laughing face emojis.
The family is disgusted by the situation, When they found out, they filed a lawsuit against the Abington. The staff members should not have had cell phones in the woman’s room and her privacy was clearly violated.
The two staff members involved have been charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Both were terminated after it was determined that they violated the Abington’s policies. However, the family of the woman claims that the staff members still remained on the job for several weeks after the nursing home was informed of the incident.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Abington failed to have an abuse prevention policy in place. The woman is no longer a patient there. According to her family, the abuse she suffered at the Abington has caused her anxiety.
Harvey L. Walner & Associates, LTD has been winning cases like these for over 50 years!
Nursing home abuse can happen in many ways. While many cases involve physical abuse, more and more staff members are mentally abusing patients through social media. Patients and their family members should not have to endure this abuse and lack of privacy.
If your loved one has been taunted or teased by nursing home staff—whether or not the abuse was posted online or on social media—seek legal help. Your loved one has the right to privacy and dignity as a nursing home patient. The Chicago nursing home abuse lawyers at Harvey L. Walner & Associates, LTD can help you understand your rights and hold the liable parties accountable for their actions. To schedule a free consultation, call (312) 313-2888 or fill out the online request form.
