Chicago Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyers for Vulnerable Seniors and Their Families

Placing a loved one in a nursing home or long-term care facility is one of the hardest decisions a family can make. You trust the facility to provide safety, dignity, and proper medical care. When that trust is broken through neglect, abuse, or unsafe conditions, the consequences can be heartbreaking. Our Chicago nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers help families across Illinois pursue answers, accountability, and compensation when facilities fail to protect the people they are paid to care for.

Illinois Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect – Why These Cases Are Different

Nursing home cases are not like ordinary injury claims. Residents are often medically fragile, have memory issues, or cannot clearly explain what is happening to them. Injuries may be brushed off as “just part of aging,” and families may be made to feel like they are overreacting. At the same time, facilities and their corporate owners may move quickly to minimize reports, control records, and protect their reputation.



Families are left trying to piece together what is going on from brief visits, staff explanations, and small clues—bruises, weight loss, changes in mood, or a sudden hospitalization. You may be worried that speaking up will make things worse, but doing nothing feels impossible. When you work with a Chicago nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer who understands these dynamics, you get a team focused on uncovering the truth, keeping your loved one’s safety at the center, and building a claim that reflects the full impact on your family.

Common Warning Signs and Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Nurse in green scrubs pushing a person in a wheelchair indoors near a window.
Person with head and arm injuries.
Unexplained Injuries, Falls, and Fractures

Repeated falls, bruises, cuts, or fractures that “no one can explain” are red flags. While some falls do happen even with good care, patterns of injury can signal inadequate supervision, understaffing, or failure to follow basic safety protocols. We look at staffing levels, care plans, and incident reports to determine whether the facility took reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm.

Person surrounded by stylized germs, indicating illness or infection.
Bedsores, Infections, and Poor Hygiene

Pressure ulcers (bedsores), frequent infections, soiled clothing or bedding, and a general lack of cleanliness often point to neglect. Bedsores, in particular, usually develop when residents are not repositioned, cleaned, or monitored as often as their condition requires. These injuries can be painful, slow to heal, and, in serious cases, life-threatening. We examine nursing notes, turning and repositioning schedules, and wound-care records to see whether the facility met accepted standards.

Human torso with arrows pointing inward towards the waist, likely indicating measurement or restriction.
Malnutrition, Dehydration, and Sudden Weight Loss

Unexplained weight loss, constant thirst, dry skin, or sunken eyes can indicate that a resident is not receiving enough food or fluids—or that help with eating and drinking is not being provided. Staff may blame “loss of appetite” or “normal aging,” but records often tell a different story. We review dietary orders, intake charts, and staffing practices at mealtimes to understand whether your loved one’s basic needs were being met.

Hand holding pills and capsules, a medical icon.
Medication Errors and Medical Neglect

In a nursing home, residents often rely on staff to administer medications correctly and to monitor changes in condition. Missed doses, incorrect medications, or failure to respond to worsening symptoms can cause serious harm, including strokes, infections, and uncontrolled pain. We analyze medication administration records, physician orders, and communication between staff and medical providers to identify where the system broke down.

Person with a dislike symbol and a ball above them.
Emotional Abuse, Threats, and Intimidation

Not all abuse leaves visible marks. Yelling, mocking, isolating residents, or using threats to control behavior can be emotionally devastating—especially for those who are confused, dependent, or afraid to speak up. Sudden changes in mood, withdrawal, fearfulness around certain staff, or refusal to participate in activities can be warning signs. We listen carefully to residents and families, review any complaints, and look for patterns of mistreatment.

A torn money bag leaking coins, representing a loss of funds.
Financial Exploitation and Misuse of Property

In some cases, staff or others take advantage of residents financially—pressuring them for money, misusing debit or credit cards, or “borrowing” valuable possessions. Missing items, unexplained bank withdrawals, or changes in legal documents can all be cause for concern. We help families piece together what has happened and pursue appropriate remedies where financial exploitation is involved.

What to Expect From Our Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Team

From your first contact with us, we understand that your main concern is your loved one’s safety and wellbeing—not paperwork or legal jargon. Our initial role is to listen: What have you seen or been told? What changes have you noticed? What steps have you already taken with the facility or regulators? Then we outline a practical plan that may include:


  • Reviewing medical records, care plans, and facility charts for your loved one
  • Obtaining incident reports, wound-care logs, fall logs, and staffing schedules
  • Collecting photographs of injuries, room conditions, and any visible hazards
  • Speaking with you, other family members, and, when possible, the resident about what they have experienced
  • Evaluating whether multiple entities may be responsible (facility, corporate owner, management company, outside medical providers)
  • Identifying all applicable insurance coverage and potential sources of compensation


While we investigate, we handle communication with the facility, corporate representatives, and insurance companies so you are not left dealing with risk managers or administrators who may be more focused on protecting themselves than helping your family. Throughout the case, we explain each step in clear, everyday language, help you decide whether to file formal complaints with regulators, and keep you updated so you always know what is happening and why.

Standing Up to Facilities, Corporate Owners, and Their Insurers

Nursing homes and long-term care facilities are often owned by large companies that have their own legal departments and insurance carriers. They may argue that your loved one’s injuries are “just part of getting older,” insist that they followed all procedures, or blame underlying health conditions rather than their own conduct.


At Alberts & Eiler, P.C., we respond with careful preparation and seasoned advocacy. Our attorneys bring more than 30 years of combined experience working both for and against insurance companies and have completed over 100 jury trials as a team. We understand how facilities and their insurers evaluate nursing home claims, where they tend to undervalue harm, and what kinds of evidence move them toward fair resolution.


Because we intentionally maintain a smaller caseload, your family’s case receives focused, hands-on attention from experienced lawyers. We take the time to understand who your loved one is as a person, not just a patient number—to document how neglect or abuse has affected their comfort, dignity, and day-to-day life. When facilities or insurers minimize the problem or offer token settlements, our readiness to take the case into a courtroom in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois makes clear that we are prepared to fight for a meaningful result.

Common Questions About Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in Chicago and Across Illinois

  • What should I do if I suspect nursing home abuse or neglect?

    First, focus on your loved one’s immediate safety. If you believe they are in urgent danger or serious medical distress, call 911 or take them to the hospital. Document what you see: take photos of injuries, room conditions, bedding, and any visible hazards. Ask questions and request that an incident report be created. If you feel comfortable, you can also file a complaint with appropriate regulatory agencies. Before signing any documents, accepting explanations that do not make sense, or agreeing to move your loved one without a plan, talk with a nursing home abuse lawyer about your options.

  • Do I have to move my loved one out of the facility to bring a claim?

    Not necessarily. In some situations, moving is clearly the safest option and should happen as quickly as possible. In others, medical needs, availability of beds, and family circumstances may make an immediate move difficult. Our job is to help you balance safety, medical realities, and legal strategy. We can discuss options for transitioning care, protecting your loved one from specific staff members, and pursuing a claim whether or not a move is possible right away.

  • How can I tell the difference between normal aging and neglect?

    Aging and serious medical conditions can certainly lead to frailty, weight loss, and increased risk of falls—but they do not excuse poor care. The key question is whether the facility is doing what a reasonably careful facility should do for someone in your loved one’s condition: providing adequate nutrition and hydration, turning and repositioning as ordered, supervising appropriately, responding to call lights, monitoring medications, and promptly addressing changes in condition. Patterns of unexplained injuries, untreated bedsores, repeated infections, or sudden changes in behavior are strong warning signs that something more than “normal aging” may be going on.

  • Who can be held responsible in a nursing home abuse or neglect case

    Responsibility may extend beyond the individual nurse or aide you see day-to-day. Depending on the case, potentially liable parties may include the facility itself, its corporate owner, a management company, staffing agencies, outside medical providers, or others involved in your loved one’s care. In some cases, multiple entities share responsibility for understaffing, poor training, unsafe policies, or failure to act on known problems. Part of our investigation is identifying every responsible party so your claim is not limited to the person at the bottom of the chain.

  • Will my loved one have to testify or appear in court?

    Many nursing home cases resolve through settlement without a trial, especially when the evidence of neglect or abuse is strong. Even when a lawsuit is filed, our goal is to minimize stress on residents, who may be fragile or easily confused by unfamiliar settings. In some situations, we can preserve testimony through written statements, depositions, or interviews in more comfortable environments. If a court appearance ever becomes necessary, we prepare your family carefully and discuss options to protect your loved one as much as possible.

  • What types of compensation are available in nursing home abuse and neglect cases?

    Depending on the facts, a claim may seek compensation for additional medical treatment, hospitalization, or surgery made necessary by the facility’s conduct; for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of dignity; and, in appropriate cases, for permanent disability or wrongful death. Families may also recover for funeral expenses and certain related losses. Our focus is on understanding how neglect or abuse has affected your loved one’s health, comfort, and quality of life—and building a case that reflects that full impact, not just the most obvious bills.

Ready to Talk With a Chicago Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer?

If you suspect that a loved one has been harmed by nursing home abuse or neglect in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois, you don’t have to confront the facility or navigate the system on your own. Our firm combines deep insurance-industry insight, substantial trial experience, and a deliberately compassionate, hands-on approach to these cases. We offer free, confidential consultations, and you do not pay attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for your family.