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Taking Action Against Nursing Home Abuse

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4.9 rating of 147 reviews
michelle stump avatar

michelle stump

12 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

1 month 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

2 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

3 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

8 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

11 months 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 .

Taking Action Against Nursing Home Abuse

What are the Standards of Care Required by Law at Nursing Homes?

In response to reports of abuse and neglect in American nursing homes, Congress passed the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act which includes standards of care for all nursing homes. Under this law, nursing homes "must provide services and activities to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental and psychosocial well-being of each resident in accordance with a written plan of care." In order to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, nursing homes must comply with this federal law and fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Have sufficient nursing staff
  2. Conduct an initial comprehensive assessment of each resident’s functional capacity
  3. Develop a comprehensive care plan for every resident
  4. Provide the necessary services to maintain good nutrition, grooming and personal hygiene if the resident is unable to carry out these daily living activities
  5. Ensure residents receive proper care and assistive devices to maintain their vision and hearing
  6. Prevent the deterioration of a resident’s ability to bathe, dress, groom, use the restroom, eat, communicate and ambulate
  7. Provide appropriate treatment and services to incontinent residents to restore as much bladder function as possible
  8. Ensure residents do not develop bedsores, and if they do, provide the necessary treatment and services to promote healing, prevent infection and prevent new sores from developing
  9. Ensure that residents get adequate nutrition
  10. Provide residents with sufficient fluids to prevent dehydration
  11. Ensure residents have enough supervision and assistive devices to prevent accidents
  12. Ensure that residents are not subjected to significant medical errors
  13. Give residents the right to choose activities, schedules and health care
  14. Promote the residents’ quality of life
  15. Maintain the dignity and respect of each resident
  16. Provide the pharmaceutical services that the residents need
  17. Maintain accurate, complete and accessible records on each resident
  18. Ensure that the nursing home administration uses the facility’s resources effectively and efficiently

Why Don’t the Elderly Report Abuse, and What Can You Do About It?

Statistics show that the elderly are the least likely group to report abuse. The reasons are as varied as the seniors themselves. In some cases, elderly residents of nursing homes are unable to communicate with a relative about the abuse because of mental or physical impairments. Shame or a feeling of helplessness keeps other victims silent. Others are afraid of retaliation from nursing home staff if they report abuse or neglect. Finally, some seniors fear having nowhere else to go, and therefore accept abuse and neglect as unavoidable.

Whatever the reasons for the silence, this issue needs to be corrected. It is up to everyone to protect the elderly from this kind of treatment. The state and federal governments have taken notice of the problem and are implementing more oversight of long term care facilities. Family members, as well, must be aware of the problem and do their part by thoroughly vetting facilities, being involved in their loved one’s care plan, visiting often and looking for signs of abuse.

Finally, family members must be willing to step in and report a problem when they see or suspect abuse or negligence happening. Furthermore you must take steps to remove your relative from a potentially dangerous situation and contact an experienced attorney who can help you protect your loved one and get them the help they need and compensation for any injuries suffered.

When is It Appropriate to Sue a Nursing Home?

Many nursing homes cut corners because the residents they are mistreating are scared to speak up about the neglectful and abusive treatment. Even when this treatment is reported, many nursing home administrators fail to act. We have seen all too often what nursing home negligence can lead to: wrongful death, falls, injuries, bedsores, urinary tract infections, medication errors, abuse and neglect. When this occurs you should be ready to consider suing the facility.

Choosing to sue a nursing home can be a difficult decision, but there are some times when it is the best option for your family. Knowing that you are not alone, and that people in Illinois have had remarkable success in pursuing claims against long-term care homes, may help. In fact, it has been reported that the majority of all cases filed since 2004 have resulted in victims and their families receiving compensation from nursing facilities for injuries suffered. The following are some common reasons why you might pursue a claim against a nursing home facility:

  1. You suspect or have determined that abuse occurred.
  2. You have complained about the situation to the administration, but they have done nothing about it.
  3. The abuse continues to occur or is escalating.
  4. Your loved one has been injured as a result of abuse or neglect.
  5. Your loved one has passed away because of abuse or neglect.
  6. A nursing home representative has defrauded your loved one of money or other assets
  7. A lawsuit can result in compensation for the harm suffered.
  8. A lawsuit may prevent future cases of abuse or neglect from happening—either to your loved one or someone else’s.

Who Can Bring a Lawsuit for Elder Abuse or Neglect?

Nursing home patients may pursue a claim if they were injured or made ill because of abuse or neglect suffered while at a long-term care facility. If the patient is incapacitated and cannot pursue his or her own claim, the patient’s representative may do it for them. In still other cases, a spouse or child may be able to make a wrongful death claim on behalf of their relative who has passed away as a result of elder abuse at a nursing home.

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Collins Law Group IL Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Attorneys
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