Lauren Carroll Facing Charges of Abuse At Elgin Nursing Home
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect - October 1, 2023
Lauren Carroll, of Calumet City, Faces Charges of Abusing Patients At Elgin Mental Health Center
ELGIN, ILLINOIS (October 1, 2023) – A caretaker identified as Lauren Carroll has been charged with abusing a patient at Elgin Mental Health Center.
Elgin police officials are saying that the incident took place on May 3, 2023. Lauren Carroll is facing charges including abuse or neglect of a long-term care facility resident, battery and official misconduct.
She turned herself in on June 9 and has been released on a $9,000 bond. A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Elgin Nursing Home Abuse
Abuse in long-term care facilities is unfortunately very common. According to one report by the World Health Organization, “Rates of abuse of older people are high in institutions such as nursing homes and long-term care facilities, with 2 in 3 staff reporting that they have committed abuse in the past year.” Abuse is more likely to occur at organizations where care providers are not being properly monitored. Certain factors make care patients more susceptible to abuse.
- Poor physical health
- Physical disability
- Cognitive impairment
- Low income
- Mental illness
There are many state and federal laws that criminalize abuse at care facilities. According to the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act, nursing home patients have a right to be free from abuse. They must get the medical care that they require. One of the most common injuries that nursing home patients sustain is bedsores. This can happen when care providers allow patients to remain immobile for long periods. There are many steps that should be taken after any instance of nursing home abuse.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Employment records for all care providers should be reviewed.
The vast majority of abuse that takes place in nursing homes is preventable. One of the main reasons that abuse takes place is because care patients are not properly monitored. Many of the people who work at these institutions are not properly trained, either. It is important for abuse victims to understand that they do have rights. Any person that is abused at a care facility may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Getting Legal Help For Elgin Nursing Home Abuse
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the patient who may have been harmed at Elgin Mental Health Center. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what took place.
Have you or someone that you care about been harmed while staying at the Elgin Mental Health Center? You may have legal recourse. Our team of nursing home abuse attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that abuse victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
