Articles Posted in Nursing Home Neglect

Holiday visits to a loved one in a nursing home should be a time of connection, warmth, and comfort. Unfortunately, what begins as a cheerful reunion can sometimes lead to the distressing discovery of an injury or signs of neglect. When you uncover such issues, whether it’s bruising, unexplained pain, a fall injury, or signs…

On December 2–3, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final rule removing the federal requirement that Medicare- and Medicaid-participating nursing homes maintain a registered nurse (RN) on-site 24 hours per day and rescinding the minimum-hours-per-resident-day staffing floors that had been adopted in 2024. The change reverses the 2024 rule…

Holiday periods such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s consistently strain nursing homes that already struggle with chronic staffing shortages. When facilities operate with too few nurses or certified nursing assistants (CNAs), or rely heavily on temporary agency staff who are unfamiliar with residents, the quality of care can quickly deteriorate. Missed medications, delayed assistance,…

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in older adults and in nursing homes they’re one of the leading infection problems staff and families encounter. What many people don’t realize is how quickly a simple UTI can become life-threatening sepsis in frail residents, and how missed signs or delays in treatment dramatically increase risk. In this…

Sepsis is not an illness that “waits its turn.” It is a life-threatening organ-dysfunction caused by the body’s extreme response to infection, and in older adults, especially nursing home residents, sepsis can develop quickly and carry a high risk of death or long-term disability. How long someone can survive with untreated sepsis depends on many…

When families place their loved ones in a nursing home, they expect compassionate care, medical attention, and respect. Unfortunately, negligence in nursing homes is far too common, often resulting in serious injuries, illnesses, and even death. Nursing home negligence occurs when a facility or staff member fails to provide the level of care that a…

Nursing home residents who cannot speak, because of advanced dementia, stroke, traumatic brain injury, or developmental disability, are among the most vulnerable people in long-term care. When a resident cannot tell you what’s happening, families and care teams must rely on observation, medical knowledge, and a healthy skepticism to spot nursing home abuse and neglect…

In early September 2025, health officials in Illinois made a sobering determination: two cases of Legionnaires’ disease were linked to a long-term care facility in Bloomingdale. The facility, Alden Valley Ridge Rehabilitation and Health Center, became the focal point of an outbreak investigation after environmental testing traced the presence of Legionella bacteria to its cooling…

Nursing homes serve as vital care facilities for elderly and disabled individuals who require daily assistance. However, not all facilities uphold the highest standards of care. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), many nursing homes across the country, including in the Chicago area, have been cited for violations related to patient…

Caring for a loved one with dementia is emotionally and practically challenging. When families move a parent or partner into a nursing home, they expect safety, compassion, and specialized care. But dementia both increases vulnerability to nursing home abuse and is worsened by poor care. In this blog, we discuss what families need to know…