A few years back, this woman—Patricia—came to see me. She was shaking, and not because it was cold outside.
Her mom was in a nursing home off 22nd Street in Oak Brook. Nice-looking place. You'd drive by and think, "Yeah, that looks like somewhere I'd put my parent."
Patricia went for a surprise visit one Tuesday. Found her 79-year-old mother with stage 4 bedsores. Stage 4 means it goes down to the bone. The facility never called her. Never said a word.
That's when I realized nursing home abuse doesn't just happen in the bad neighborhoods or the run-down facilities. It happens in Oak Brook. It happens in places that charge $8,000 a month. It happens in buildings that look nice from the parking lot.
If you're reading this because something feels wrong with how your mom or dad or grandparent is being treated, you're probably right. Your gut is telling you something, and you should listen to it.
I'm Scott DeSalvo. I've been doing injury law for over 20 years, and a big part of my practice is nursing home cases. I take these cases personally. Maybe it's because when I was a kid, my own father got screwed over by the system after he got hurt. I swore I'd never let that happen to the families I represent.
You can call me right now. Any time. Middle of the night, doesn't matter. The number is (312) 500-4500. We'll talk about what's going on, and I'll tell you straight whether you've got a case or not.
Most people think abuse means some orderly is smacking around your grandmother. That happens, and when it does, it's awful. But abuse comes in different forms, and some of them are harder to spot.
Bruises that nobody can explain. Broken bones from a "fall" that doesn't make sense. Burns. Cuts. Marks on the wrists or ankles from restraints.
I had this case—guy was 81, lived in a place near Route 83. He had bruises all over. The nursing home said he was "difficult" and "fell a lot." Turns out one of the staff had a temper and got rough with residents who moved too slow. We got that staff member fired, but only after my investigation turned up what was really going on.
This is where people die.
Medications not given on time. Or not given at all. Infections that go untreated. Medical problems that get ignored until they're life-threatening.
And bedsores. God, the bedsores I've seen in Oak Brook nursing homes would make you sick.
Here's the thing about bedsores: they're preventable. If the staff turns the patient every two hours, keeps them clean and dry, and pays attention, bedsores don't happen. When they do happen, it means somebody wasn't doing their job.
I've seen bedsores so bad they needed surgery. On people whose families were paying thousands of dollars a month for "quality care."
Yelling. Threatening. Ignoring call buttons. Leaving people alone in the dark. Making them feel like garbage.
I've talked to families whose parents or grandparents completely changed after moving into a nursing home. Got depressed. Got scared. Stopped eating. And it wasn't Alzheimer's or age—it was the way the staff treated them.
This stuff is hard to prove, but it's real, and it destroys people.
This one makes my blood boil.
Staff members "befriend" a confused resident and then start asking for money. Or they forge checks. Or they help themselves to jewelry and cash.
If you notice money missing, or your mom suddenly has a new "best friend" on the staff who's really interested in her finances, pay attention. That's a problem.
Sometimes abuse isn't about doing something to a person. It's about not doing what you're supposed to do.
Not bathing them. Not feeding them enough. Leaving them in wet or soiled clothes for hours. Not answering the call button when they need help getting to the bathroom.
I've walked into rooms during investigations that smelled like hell. Dirty. Disgusting. And these are Oak Brook facilities we're talking about—not some dump in a bad neighborhood.
You can file a complaint with the state. You should file a complaint. But here's what happens: the state is overwhelmed. They investigate when they get around to it. Maybe they fine the nursing home $10,000.
Federal Regulations which apply to nursing home aren't follows. What is their attitude to not following patient safety laws?
Big deal. These corporate nursing home chains make millions. A $10,000 fine is nothing to them. They factor it into the cost of doing business.
What actually gets their attention is a lawsuit. An Oak Brook Nursing Home abuse lawyer who knows how to cost them real money. Someone who's not afraid to take them to court.
And Oak Brook cases are tricky because a lot of these facilities are owned by big national companies. They've got law firms on retainer whose job is to make your case go away cheap. They'll stall. They'll make it complicated. They'll hope you give up.
I don't give up. I've been doing this too long, and I've seen too much. I know the facilities around Oak Brook—from the ones near Oakbrook Center to the places over by York Road. I know the DuPage County courts. And I know how to win.
I'm not trying to freak you out, but you need to watch for this stuff when you visit:
Injuries they can't explain. Or injuries they give you a BS explanation for. "Oh, your dad fell." "Your mom was combative." If it doesn't add up, it probably didn't happen the way they're telling you.
Weight loss. If your loved one is losing weight and the nursing home says they're just "not eating," that's a problem. It's their job to make sure residents eat.
Dirty. If your mom's room smells bad, or her clothes are dirty, or she hasn't been bathed, somebody's not doing their job.
Scared. If your dad suddenly gets nervous around certain staff members, or won't talk when they're in the room, something's wrong.
Bedsores. Any bedsore is a red flag. Stage 3 or 4? That's neglect, plain and simple.
Staff that discourages visits. If they make it hard for you to see your loved one, or they're weird about when you can visit, ask yourself why.
Trust your gut. If something feels off, it is. Don't be afraid to call an Oak Brook nursing home abuse lawyer.
When you call me, here's what happens.
We talk. For free. You tell me what's going on. I ask questions. I tell you whether I think you've got a case.
If you hire me, I get to work.
I get the medical records from the nursing home and from your loved one's doctors. I pull the facility's staffing records—because most of these cases come down to them being understaffed and not giving a damn. I talk to witnesses. I inspect the place if I need to. And I bring in medical experts who can look at the care your loved one got and tell me exactly where the nursing home screwed up.
I know Illinois nursing home law. I know the Nursing Home Care Act. I know how to prove they were negligent. I know how to show their conduct was willful and wanton, which matters because that's when you can get punitive damages.
And I know how to deal with the big defense firms these facilities hire. They don't scare me. I've been going up against them for 20 years.
Your loved one deserves compensation. That includes medical bills for treating the injuries from the abuse. Pain and suffering. Emotional distress. The cost of moving to a better facility. Punitive damages if the facility's conduct was really bad. And wrongful death damages if your loved one died because of the abuse or neglect.
I don't settle cheap. I know what these cases are worth.
There are other lawyers who do these cases. Some of them are fine.
But here's why families in Oak Brook call me.
Try calling another lawyer at 10 PM on a Saturday night. See how that goes.
I'm available 24/7 because nursing home emergencies don't happen Monday through Friday, 9 to 5. If you find out something's wrong at 2 AM on Sunday, you shouldn't have to wait until Monday morning to talk to somebody.
When I was nine, my dad got catastrophically injured at work. His case took 17 years. At the end, his own lawyer sued him for more fees.
I became a lawyer because I saw how regular people get chewed up by the legal system. I represent people differently. With respect. With honesty. I treat you like family.
I'm a graduate of Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyer's College. I've completed "The Edge" program. These are elite training programs. Not one in 10,000 lawyers has done what I've done.
Why does that matter? Because if we can't settle your case for what it's worth, I'm ready to go to trial. And insurance companies know that about me. It gives us leverage.
No money out of pocket. No retainer. No upfront costs.
I only get paid if I win your case. If we lose, you owe me nothing. I take the hit.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
Step 1: We Talk
You call me. We talk about what happened. I tell you if I think you've got a case. No charge. No pressure.
Step 2: I Investigate
If you hire me, I start digging. Medical records. Staffing records. Witnesses. Experts. I build the case.
Step 3: I Make a Demand
Sometimes I can settle without filing a lawsuit. I present the evidence to their insurance company and demand fair compensation. If they're reasonable, we settle. If not, we sue.
Step 4: Lawsuit
I file in DuPage County court. They hire a big defense firm. We do discovery, depositions, all that. I've done this hundreds of times.
Step 5: Settlement or Trial
Most cases settle. Insurance ccompanies know that when they are dealing with an Oak Brook Nursing Home abuse lawyer who knows his stuff, they better at least consider settlign the case. But if they won't pay what your case is worth, I'm ready to go to trial. I've tried over 30 jury cases. I'm not afraid of a courtroom.
People always ask, "What's my case worth?"
Honest answer: I can't tell you until I know the details.
But here's what the law allows us to get in Illinois:
Some cases settle for $100,000. Some for $500,000. Some for over a million. It depends on how bad the abuse was and how strong the evidence is.
Don't wait. Every day that goes by is another day your loved one might be suffering.
Document everything. Take photos. Write down dates and times. Keep copies of medical records. Get names of staff you deal with.
Make sure they're safe. If it's bad, move them. I can help you figure out how to do that.
Report it. Call the Illinois Department of Public Health. File a complaint. It creates a record.
Don't confront the facility alone. Let me handle that. Anything you say can be used against you later.
Call me. Let's talk about what happened and what to do. No charge.
Yes. In fact, dementia patients are the most vulnerable because they can't speak up. I can build the case using medical evidence and expert testimony.
They always say that. That's why we investigate. Usually what they call an accident was actually neglect.
Two years in Illinois. But don't wait. Evidence disappears. Witnesses leave. The sooner you call me, the better.
It's illegal for them to retaliate. If they try, that's another lawsuit. Most families move their loved one to a better place once we get involved anyway.
You can afford me. I work on contingency. No money out of pocket. No fee unless we win. If we lose, you owe me nothing.
Don't sign anything without calling me first. These facilities try to buy people off cheap. Once you sign, it's too late.
I represent families all over Oak Brook and DuPage County.
Whether your loved one is in Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Westmont, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Elmhurst, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton—wherever—I can help.
I'll meet you wherever you're comfortable. My office, your home, a coffee shop. Doesn't matter to me.
Hiring Scott was one of the best moves I have made in my life. Scott is a down to earth person and attorney. Scott is a 5 star first class act who really knows his stuff. The Judge said his presentation was one of if not the best he had ever seen. Take my advice, hire Scott I’m sure you’ll be 200% satisfied I was.
Scott not only cares about the case, but he truly cares about his clients and that makes him the best lawyer I have ever met and hired! He won my case! He is thorough in everything he does. I highly recommend Scott, and will always refer him to family and friends.
I hired Scott DeSalvo upon a friend’s recommendation. His office kept me informed of developments as they happened, and I felt the settlement reached was fair considering my injuries. I would highly recommend Scott DeSalvo to represent your personal injury case.
Nursing home abuse is real. It happens in Oak Brook. It happens in nice places. It's not your fault.
You can hold them accountable. You can get compensation. And you can help make sure it doesn't happen to someone else.
But you need to act now. Don't wait. Don't assume it'll get better. Don't let them tell you it was just an accident.
Call me at (312) 500-4500. Any time. Day or night. I answer my phone.
No money out of pocket. No fee unless we win. No pressure. Just straight talk.
Your fight is my fight.
Call me now at (312) 500-4500. Let's talk about what happened and what we're going to do about it.
Main Office:
1000 Jorie Blvd Ste 204
Oak Brook, IL 60523
New Cases: 312-500-4500
Office: 1 312-895-0545
Fax: 1 866-629-1817
service@desalvolaw.com
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