Think of everything your elderly loved ones have survived—wars, depression, and your annoying, “rebellious” period. Some cultures regard their elderly as sages to be revered, and it’s safe to say that Chicago residents are no different. We all want what’s best for our loved ones, and that means ensuring their comfort and happiness. Unfortunately, while elder care facilities are trusted to provide a safe environment for their clients, but more and more attorneys are finding that this simply isn’t the case. Elder law in Chicago provides strict guidelines which these facilities are obligated to abide by, but elder abuse is still rampant. If you suspect your loved one’s elder care facility is not following through on their promise of superior care, it is important that you contact an Elder law attorney immediately to ensure your loved one receives adequate, compassionate care. Ask yourself the following questions to determine the best course of action.

Does your loved one seem persistently depressed or suicidal?

Some do not take to aging well, but that doesn’t mean that you should regard elderly depression as normative. Understand that mental illness is just that—an illness. And just as Chicago elder law requires that facilities attend to any physical injury, so, too, are care facilities required to address psychological ailments. While researchers are still attempting to understand the cause and nature of dementia, depression is often directly influenced by a patient’s surroundings. It may indicate a deeper problem—is your loved one unable to get out of bed? If so, the facility should make attempts to move your loved one into common living areas and provide mental and social stimulation. An elder law attorney will let you know what to look for if depression and suicidal behavior is an area of concern.

Have you noticed bruising and other signs of physical abuse?

As we get older, our vascular systems become inflexible. As a result, the elderly are more prone to bruising. But this doesn’t mean that bruises are to be expected or, worse, ignored. This is for a number of reasons. Most elder care attorneys would note that, as the guardians of the physical and mental well-being of their elderly clients, care facilities are obligated to run regular physical assessments on their patients and report any concerns to legal custodians. If you notice bruising before a physician, this should concern you, particularly if your loved one is on blood thinning medication. The more abhorrent reason is that bruising often indicates physical trauma. Chicago practitioners of elder law take cases of physical abuse seriously, and should be contacted immediately if you suspect deliberate harm.

Does your loved one appear malnourished?

Strokes and other ailments can impact motor control, while type II diabetes and obesity can determine diet. In many cases, elderly patients are placed on specific diets to accommodate the physical abilities of their patients. This includes gelatin-infused water to prevent choking and reduced calorie diet to maintain the health of an increasingly sedentary population. If your loved one loses or gains a huge amount of weight within a short period of time, this should concern you. An elder care attorney will help you to determine whether this is cause for alarm.

Chicago elder law identifies a strict protocol regarding elder care. Due to the natural course of the aging process and the increase of physical and mental ailments among this population, it is important that you be aware of what to look for with regards to elderly abuse. Persistent threats of suicide and complaints of depression should be addressed as real health concerns, whether through medication or counseling. Bruising can indicate a lack of adequate medical staffing, or, worse, physical abuse. Finally, because diet can often determine the health of your loved one, look for signs of malnourishment. Should you have any concerns about the well-being of a relative in a care facility, contact an elder care attorney immediately.

Elder abuse is reprehensible, and elder law attorneys are doing everything in their power to put an end to it. Visit the Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog to learn what steps you can take to prevent and address elder abuse. Visit here for more information.

Visit here: http://www.goodinfohome.com/Art/1035161/88/Elder-Attorneys-Ensure-Compassionate-Care.html and http://www.plurk.com/johnydeepguptill

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