I'll never forget the call I received from a family in Romeoville whose mother had been living at a local nursing facility off Weber Road. When they visited her one Sunday afternoon, they found her with unexplained bruises on her arms, severely dehydrated, and lying in soiled bedding. She was confused, frightened, and when they asked the staff what had happened, they got nothing but excuses and dismissive explanations. This wasn't the care they'd been promised when they entrusted their loved one to this facility—and it definitely wasn't worth the $8,000 a month they were paying.
As nursing home abuse attorneys in Romeoville IL, my team and I have seen far too many cases like this. You made the difficult decision to place your parent, grandparent, or loved one in a nursing home because you wanted them to receive professional care in a safe environment. Instead, you're discovering signs of neglect, abuse, or mistreatment that make you sick to your stomach. You're angry, heartbroken, and you're not sure what to do next.
For almost 30 years, I've fought for families whose loved ones have suffered abuse and neglect in nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout Will County and the surrounding areas. Whether your loved one is in Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Joliet, or anywhere in the region, you deserve answers and accountability. Here's my promise: no money out of pocket, and no fee until we win your case. I also offer free consultations 24/7/365, because elder abuse is an emergency that can't wait for business hours.
Nursing home abuse takes many forms, and understanding what constitutes abuse is the first step in protecting your loved one. Many families don't realize that what they're seeing isn't just "poor care"—it's abuse or neglect that violates Illinois law and your loved one's fundamental rights.
Physical abuse includes hitting, pushing, restraining residents improperly, rough handling during transfers or care, and over-medicating residents to keep them sedated and compliant. I've represented families who discovered their loved ones with broken bones, bruises in various stages of healing, and injuries that staff couldn't or wouldn't explain.
Emotional and psychological abuse is harder to see but just as damaging. This includes yelling at residents, threatening them, isolating them as punishment, humiliating them, or ignoring their requests for help. If your loved one seems suddenly withdrawn, fearful of certain staff members, or reluctant to talk when staff are present, these can be warning signs.
Sexual abuse happens more often than most people realize, particularly to residents with dementia who may not be able to report what happened. Any unexplained injuries to genital areas, sexually transmitted infections, or behavioral changes warrant immediate investigation.
Financial exploitation occurs when nursing home staff or administrators take advantage of vulnerable residents, stealing money or belongings, forging signatures, or manipulating residents into changing wills or giving "gifts."
Neglect is even more common than outright abuse. This happens when facilities are understaffed, undertrained, or simply don't care enough to provide the basic level of care residents need and deserve.
Bedsores (pressure ulcers) are one of the clearest signs of neglect. These painful wounds develop when residents aren't turned and repositioned regularly. Severe bedsores can become infected, reach the bone, and even be fatal. In almost every case, bedsores are preventable with proper care.
Dehydration and malnutrition indicate that your loved one isn't receiving adequate food and water. Weight loss, dry mouth, sunken eyes, confusion, and urinary tract infections can all signal this problem.
Poor hygiene is another red flag. If your loved one is consistently found in soiled clothing or bedding, has unwashed hair, body odor, or overgrown nails, the facility isn't providing basic care.
Medication errors can be life-threatening. Wrong medications, wrong dosages, or missing doses of critical medications all constitute serious neglect that can have devastating consequences.
Nursing home abuse and neglect cases in Illinois are legally complex for several reasons, which is why you need experienced nursing home abuse attorneys in Romeoville IL who understand these specific challenges.
Nursing homes are heavily regulated by both state and federal agencies, including the Illinois Department of Public Health. While these regulations are meant to protect residents, navigating them requires specific legal knowledge. Violations of these regulations can strengthen your case, but you need an attorney who knows what to look for.
Proving what happened can be difficult. Nursing homes control all the records, and staff often close ranks to protect each other and the facility. Medical records may be incomplete or altered, incident reports may not exist, and witnesses may be reluctant to come forward for fear of losing their jobs.
Many nursing home contracts include arbitration clauses that try to prevent families from filing lawsuits. While these clauses aren't always enforceable, particularly in cases of abuse, you need an attorney who knows how to challenge them when necessary.
Corporate ownership structure complicates matters further. Many nursing homes in the Romeoville area are owned by large corporations with multiple layers of subsidiary companies. Identifying the right defendants and establishing liability requires understanding these complex corporate structures.
When you hire me to investigate suspected nursing home abuse or neglect, I approach your case with both legal expertise and genuine compassion for what your family is going through.
My first priority is your loved one's safety. If they're still in the facility, we assess whether they need to be moved immediately. While not every case requires emergency removal, in serious abuse situations, getting your loved one to safety is critical before anything else.
I obtain and review all medical records, nursing notes, incident reports, and facility inspection reports. I interview staff members, other residents who may have witnessed abuse, and consult with medical experts who can evaluate injuries and determine whether they're consistent with proper care.
I also investigate the facility's history. Has it been cited for violations before? Are there patterns of similar complaints? Does it have adequate staffing levels? This context often reveals systemic problems that contributed to your loved one's injuries.
Nursing home abuse cases often require expert testimony from geriatric specialists, wound care experts, and nursing home administration experts who can testify about proper standards of care. I work with trusted professionals who can evaluate your loved one's condition and provide authoritative opinions about what happened.
I also document the full impact of the abuse—not just the physical injuries, but the emotional trauma, the loss of dignity, and the impact on your entire family. These cases are about more than just money; they're about accountability and preventing the same thing from happening to someone else's loved one.
Insurance companies and nursing home corporations often try to settle these cases quickly and quietly to avoid bad publicity. While I'm always open to settlement if it's fair, I don't accept lowball offers that don't fully compensate for the harm done. If necessary, I'm fully prepared to take your case to trial in Will County courts.
In Illinois nursing home abuse cases, families may be entitled to several types of compensation. Medical expenses cover treatment for injuries caused by abuse or neglect, including emergency care, hospitalization, wound treatment, and ongoing care needs. Pain and suffering compensation addresses the physical and emotional trauma your loved one experienced.
If your loved one passed away as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect, you may have a wrongful death claim. This includes compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and the suffering your loved one endured before death.
In cases of particularly egregious abuse or willful neglect, punitive damages may be available. These are designed to punish the wrongdoers and deter similar conduct in the future.
If you suspect your loved one is being abused or neglected in a Romeoville nursing home, act quickly. Document everything—take photos of injuries, unsanitary conditions, or anything else concerning. Note dates, times, and names of staff members present. Keep detailed written records of what you observe.
Report the abuse to the Illinois Department of Public Health's nursing home complaint hotline at 1-800-252-4343. Also report to local law enforcement if you believe a crime has occurred. Consider removing your loved one from the facility if their safety is at immediate risk.
Seek medical evaluation from an independent physician who can document injuries and assess your loved one's condition. Get copies of all medical records, care plans, and incident reports from the facility—you're legally entitled to these.
Most importantly, contact nursing home abuse attorneys in Romeoville IL immediately. Evidence can disappear quickly, and staff memories become conveniently hazy. Early legal intervention protects your rights and your loved one's interests.
I've spent almost 30 years fighting for people who can't fight for themselves. Nursing home abuse cases are deeply personal for me because they involve our most vulnerable population—seniors who depend completely on others for their care and dignity.
My experience with Illinois nursing home regulations, corporate nursing home litigation, and Will County courts means I understand how to build and win these cases. I've recovered compensation for families throughout Romeoville, Plainfield, Lockport, and surrounding communities whose loved ones suffered in nursing facilities.
You won't pay me anything unless we win your case. No money out of pocket, no upfront fees—I only get paid when you do. This means I take on all the financial risk and expense of investigating and litigating your case.
I'm available 24/7/365 because elder abuse is an emergency. If you discover signs of abuse on a weekend or late at night, you shouldn't have to wait until Monday morning to talk to an attorney.
You trusted a nursing home to care for someone you love, and they betrayed that trust. Your loved one deserves better, and your family deserves answers. Don't let the facility intimidate you or convince you that what happened is normal—it's not.
Call me today for a free, confidential consultation. I'll review what happened, explain your legal options, and tell you honestly whether you have a case. There's no obligation and no cost for this conversation.
Whether your loved one is in a facility off Weber Road, near Route 53, or anywhere else in Romeoville or Will County, I'm here to help. Let me fight for justice while you focus on caring for your loved one.
Your family's pain and anger are justified. Let's channel them into action and accountability. Call anytime, day or night—I'm ready to help.
Find Out What YOUR Case Might Be Worth...for free.
Think your loved one's being abused or neglected? Here's what you do:
Get them out if you can and it's safe. Get medical help—treat injuries, document what happened. Take pictures of anything you can see. Write everything down while it's fresh—dates, times, what you saw, who you talked to. Keep every piece of paper—medical records, care plans, whatever contract you signed with the place.
Report it to Illinois Department of Public Health. File a complaint. They investigate.
Then call me. (312) 500-4500. Free consultation. I'll listen. Answer questions. Give you straight talk about what options you've got.
Don't talk to the nursing home's lawyers or insurance people without your own lawyer. They're not helping you. They're protecting the facility.
Your loved one's been abused or neglected? I can help.
Can't undo it. But I can fight to get you every dollar Illinois law says you deserve. And hold the place accountable so maybe it doesn't happen to the next family.
Remember: No money out of pocket. No fee until we win. Free consultation 24/7/365.
(312) 500-4500. Any time. Middle of the night, doesn't matter. You're up at 3 AM worried? Call.
Consultation's free. Advice is free. Peace of mind knowing someone's listening? That's worth something.
Don't wait. Evidence goes away. People forget. Nursing home's lawyers are already working. You need someone on your side.
Your fight is my fight.
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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