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Causes & Types of Neglect

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4.9 rating of 147 reviews
michelle stump avatar

michelle stump

19 days ago

Working with Ed and Amber has been a true pleasure. They handled my claim efficiently and professionally, ensuring the process moved smoothly from start to finish. Their responsiveness, expertise, and effectiveness in working with the insurance carrier contributed greatly to a successful resolution. I sincerely appreciate their efforts, dedication, and guidance throughout the matter, and I am grateful for the outstanding service they provided.

Johanna Bukowski avatar

Johanna Bukowski

2 months ago

Ed and Maggie have both been a pleasure to work with! They keep you up to date on your case, clearly explain the process and next steps along the way, respond quickly to any questions and always offer different options to discuss details (email, phone, text, Zoom, etc.). What I appreciate more than anything, is their genuine compassion and concern for you as a person. They both demonstrate true empathy for what is most likely one of the most unexpected and traumatic events in a person’s life and do everything they can to ensure justice is served. I highly recommend Collins Law!

Jeff Matticks avatar

Jeff Matticks

3 months ago

I became aware of Collins Law Group after I was involved in a motorcycle, several years ago. Since that time I have reached out to Ed Manzke, at Collins Law Group, for assistance in a couple of other areas. In each instance, I have found Ed and his team to be very helpful with great communication, keeping me informed every step along the way. Everyone who I have interacted with, at Collins Law Group, demonstrated that they are interested in building relationships so that you know who you can turn to for any of your legal needs.

Ella Folson avatar

Ella Folson

3 months ago

Chris and John were attentive and thorough to my needs throughout my entire case. I appreciate the all the time and effort they took. I will be recommending their services going forward to family and friends! Thank you so much for all your help!

J. Savv avatar

J. Savv

3 months ago

Ed Manzke was very patient and kind with helping me and my sister with our mom’s case. He often took the time out his day to explain everything to ensure we understood what was going on. The law firm itself is organized making our whole process run smoothly. I appreciate Ed and his team.

Unique Morris avatar

Unique Morris

3 months ago

Ed Manzke was very informative, clear and honest when it came to my mother and father’s case. He took his time with all of my questions and concerns, making sure that no questions went unanswered and that there was no room for confusion with our case. I’m forever grateful for Ed and everyone at the law firm.

Nick Erlenbaugh avatar

Nick Erlenbaugh

3 months ago

Collins Law was recommended to me after I was involved in an accident with a semi-truck. Amber Blevins was exceptional to work with. She is a total pro at what she does and made the process as easy as she could for me. Ed ensured I received the best outcome possible and exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone who might be shopping around for an attorney!

Dwayne Kurfirst avatar

Dwayne Kurfirst

4 months ago

I want to take a moment to recognize John at Collins Law for the incredible work he did in helping my mom secure her settlement. It wasn’t a quick or easy process—it took time, patience, and persistence—but John stayed committed every step of the way. What stood out most was his professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for getting the best possible outcome. He kept us informed, navigated the complexities with confidence, and ultimately delivered results that truly made a difference for our family. If you’re looking for someone who will put in the work, stand by you through a long process, and follow through, I highly recommend John and the team at Collins Law.

Helen Montague avatar

Helen Montague

5 months ago

We are fortunate to have had the chance to work with John Risvold as he represented my brother in his case. Professional, personable and authentic in his manner, John kept us informed throughout the long process, and was always available to respond to my many questions. Having never been involved with a law suit, I really appreciated John's patience (especially since I am 1,000 miles away) and his genuine care for my brother's well being. We are forever grateful, John. Thank you.

Matthew Malone avatar

Matthew Malone

6 months ago

I had an excellent experience being represented by Collins Law Firm. Ed Manzke and Amber Blevins were amazing to work with and truly helped me in my time of need. Both were extremely personable and knowledgeable throughout every step of the way. I would absolutely recommend them for anyone’s legal needs.

Ronnie Sanchez avatar

Ronnie Sanchez

6 months ago

I had an excellent experience with The Collins Law firm. Amber was extremely helpful, kind, and friendly throughout the entire process. She took the time to explain everything clearly whenever I didn’t understand something, which meant a lot to me. I truly felt supported and informed. I will absolutely seek Collin’s help again if I ever need legal assistance in the future. Thank you again :)

Maddie Scheele avatar

Maddie Scheele

6 months ago

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Ed Manzke and Amber Blevins. They are truly the best of the best. The efficiency and professionalism throughout the entire process of my case has been unmatched. What I really want to point out, though, is the empathy and compassion both Amber and Ed hold. That was the true difference maker. I knew they both prioritized my well-being and made that their number one priority. They represented me to their highest capabilities through every step of my case, and I cannot thank them and Collins Law Firm enough.

Leticia Pink avatar

Leticia Pink

7 months ago

Ms. Maggie Galka is an experienced environmental (radon) attorney who prioritizes her clients' health and safety in her legal practice. She maintains thorough records and offers strategic advice while working with government agencies. Ms. Galka demonstrates key values such as integrity, expertise, respect, empathy, and compassion essential for positive outcomes. Her professionalism, follow-up and communication skills are excellent. Ms. Galka's guidance extends beyond legal issues, and the Collins Law Firm advocates strongly and effectively for clients. We sincerely thank Collins Law Firm, and in particular Ms. Galka, for helping our family reach a successful outcome and for their meaningful impact on our community. I strongly recommend Ms. Galka and Collins Law Firm as an outstanding legal firm.

Megan avatar

Megan

7 months ago

I can’t say enough good things about John Risvold at The Collins Law Firm. From start to finish, John was professional, responsive, and incredibly knowledgeable. He took the time to explain everything clearly, kept me informed throughout the process, and always made me feel like my case truly mattered. His dedication, attention to detail, and genuine care made a stressful situation much easier to handle. John’s expertise and clear communication built a lot of trust, and I’m very grateful for his hard work. I would highly recommend John Risvold to anyone looking for a reliable and skilled attorney.

David Bretti avatar

David Bretti

7 months ago

(Translated by Google) They are very responsible in what they do, they were able to resolve my case quickly and efficiently, I especially recommend Mr. Chris for always being in contact and being honest throughout the process 👏🏻 (Original) Son muy responsables en lo que hacen, pudieron resolver mi caso de forma rápida y eficaz, recomendando, especialmente el Se Chris por siempre estar en contacto y ser sincero en todo el proceso 👏🏻

Jas R. avatar

Jas R.

7 months ago

Amber was very thorough, informative, and made this process very easy for me, which I greatly appreciated considering all the events that led up to this point. Justice isn’t always served, but working with Collin’s Law Firm really me feel that my injuries were tangibly worth something, and that to some degree, justice was served. Would highly recommend this law firm to anyone seeking out a personal injury firm/attorney.

Amy Ressen avatar

Amy Ressen

9 months ago

I wana say a huge thank you to the Collin’s Law firm and Chris Gauthier for helping me with my Complicated case. They helped me put my life back together after a horrible incident that I didn’t think I could over come. Chris was always good about communicating and he made sure I got what I deserved! I highly recommend this law firm they were so kind and reassuring that things would work out. Thank you again for all the hard work and being there to help me through the process when I didn’t know where to turn to for help! Thanks again Chris and The Collin’s Law firm!

Lauren Dryanski avatar

Lauren Dryanski

9 months ago

I had an exceptional experience with Collins Law Firm . A special thank you to Chris, my lawyer, and Patti, the legal assistant. They helped me navigate my car accident proceedings from start to finish, and I always felt like I was in great hands. Chris was incredibly knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and explained everything in a way I could understand. He always made sure I felt informed and supported, especially when it came to legal details I wouldn’t normally know. Patti was also wonderful—very helpful, communicative, and always made sure I had everything I needed throughout the process. I never once doubted this team. They made everything easy and stress-free. I would absolutely recommend Collins Law Firm to anyone in need of legal support!

Will Brooks avatar

Will Brooks

10 months ago

John brings impressive expertise and heartfelt dedication to every matter he handles. His thoughtful approach and clear communication make it easy to trust his advice, and it’s evident he is committed to fighting for what’s right with both professionalism and empathy. John’s balance of insightful expertise and warm, personal attention truly sets him apart.

Icela Hernandez avatar

Icela Hernandez

0 years ago

If ever needed. I will gladly go to the Collins law firm again. They were always quick to respond any questions. Happy to say case is closed and all went well .

Causes & Types of Neglect

What are the Causes of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect?

The reasons why nursing home abuse occurs are many and varied; however, the majority of abuse happens for the following reasons:

  1. The elderly population is increasing and the capacity and capability of care centers have not kept pace.
  2. There are not enough nursing home beds to serve the entire elderly population, which results in overcrowding.
  3. 80% of nursing homes do not have enough staff to provide adequate care, leading to overworked staff and neglected patients.
  4. One nurse’s aide may be responsible for the care of 30 patients.
  5. Managers hire incompetent personnel.
  6. Employees are improperly trained.
  7. 92% of nursing homes employ at least one convicted criminal.
  8. Nursing homes fail to monitor nursing home conditions and personnel.
  9. Only 7% of full time employees at nursing homes are registered nurses.
  10. Very few nursing homes have an RN on duty 24 hours a day.
  11. Wages for nursing assistants and orderlies are low, typically not much more than minimum wage, making it hard to attract top employees.
  12. Working daily with the elderly is very difficult, physically and mentally.
  13. More than 50% of patients do not have a close relative to check up on them and make sure they are fine.
  14. Over 65% of residents have some sort of impairment that affects daily activities such as washing, dressing, eating or walking.
  15. Many residents have some level of cognitive impairment as well: 42% mild, 27% medium, 31% severe.

As you can see, the conditions in the nursing home care industry make it ripe for abuse. Overworked, underpaid, improperly trained and unsupervised employees, working with elderly patients unable to care for themselves, results in frequent cases of abuse. Our loved ones deserve better.

What are the Different Types of Elder Abuse and Neglect?

Unfortunately, the dependent condition of most nursing home residents makes them especially vulnerable to all types of abuse, physical violence and neglect. Of the abuse reported in nursing homes, 29% is physical abuse at the hands of staff, 22% is resident-to-resident abuse, 21% is psychological abuse, 14% percent is neglect, 7% is sexual abuse and 7% is financial exploitation. The following explains the different types of abuse that our loved ones may be experiencing:

  • Physical Abuse Physical abuse is any non-accidental use of force against a senior citizen that results in injury, pain, impairment or death. It is the easiest type of elder abuse to spot. However, that is only the case if relatives visit the facility often or get frequent, detailed medical reports from the physician. Examples of physical abuse include: unnecessary use of restraints or confinement, assault and battery, dropping patients, using force to assist patients, shoving or knocking a patient down, hitting, biting, scratching, hair pulling, deliberate and inappropriate use of drugs, breaking bones, or any act of violence directed towards the elderly that results in physical harm. Nursing home injuries from physical abuse may include: broken bones, internal injuries, burns, overdoses, concussions, welts, marks, choking, bruises, black eyes, or sprains. Physical abuse can be very serious and result in coma or even the untimely death of a resident.
  • Psychological Abuse Psychological abuse is often subtle and hard to detect because nursing home residents rarely talk about it or report it. However, it is more common than physical abuse and can be perpetrated by staff or fellow residents. It encompasses any psychological distress or emotional pain inflicted by a caregiver or fellow resident and includes: threatening or intimidating residents; terrorizing or menacing patients so they fear for their safety; making the elderly question their sanity; humiliating, ridiculing or demeaning patients; blaming, scapegoating or making the elderly feel guilty for needing care; verbal abuse of any kind, including using profanity; isolating an elderly person from activities or friends; and terrorizing or menacing the elderly or ignoring them.
  • Medical Negligence/Neglect Medical negligence or neglect is frequently the result of overcrowded facilities and unqualified, untrained staff. The consequences of neglect can be just as serious as physical abuse, although this type of abuse may be more difficult to spot. Examples of medical neglect include: prolonged deprivation of water and food, lack of care for medical conditions, lengthy periods without patient supervision, failure to provide medication on time, failure to monitor or aid patient with nutrition, medicating patient with antipsychotic drugs not prescribed or recommended by a physician, and failure to coordinate patient care with all providers to ensure continuity. Among the most common results of negligence are bedsores or pressure sores. These injuries are caused when there is unrelieved pressure to the skin, and they can quickly deteriorate into a serious or even life-threatening medical condition, if left untreated. Nursing home residents are at high risk for bedsores because they often remain in a bed or wheelchair for long periods of time. If the staff neglects to move patients often enough, they can develop serious bedsores. Other results of neglect include dehydration, malnutrition, patients’ medical conditions spiraling downward due to lack of treatment or under medication, clogged breathing tubes, infection or sepsis, burns, injuries from unnecessary falls, and once lucid patients suddenly behaving confused and unresponsive due to overmedication.
  • Sexual Abuse Sexual abuse is any contact of a sexual nature with an elderly patient without that person’s consent. This type of abuse can involve sex acts; rape; forcing a patient to watch sex acts or pornography; or forcing an elderly person to undress. This type of abuse can be psychologically as well as physically damaging to senior citizens.
  • Financial Abuse and Exploitation Seniors who suffer from lost mental capacity, Alzheimer’s or dementia are especially vulnerable to this kind of abuse. It involves the theft of an elderly person’s money or property. Be on the lookout for common warning signs that your loved one may be a victim, such as: significant withdrawals from their accounts, changes in their financial condition, missing money or possessions, changes in their will or other important documents, additional names on their signature card and unusual purchases on their credit card. Examples of financial abuse might include:
    • Unauthorized use of an elderly person’s checks, credit cards or accounts.
    • Stealing cash, checks or items of value.
    • Forging an elderly patient’s signature.
    • Engaging in identity theft of a senior.
    • Coercing or convincing an elderly person to give a caregiver access to credit cards or bank accounts.
    • Coercing or convincing an elderly person to change his or her will.

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Collins Law Group IL Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Attorneys
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