By Dan Noll on August 12th, 2025 in Nursing Home Abuse
How to Choose a Safe Nursing Home for Your Loved One Explained by a Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Nursing home abuse remains a deeply troubling reality across the United States, with Illinois being no exception as it has recently been ranked one of the worst states. But the truth is that nursing home abuse is a national problem, which is why the Springfield nursing home abuse lawyers at the Noll Law Office it is important for families to know how to choose a safe nursing home.
Indeed, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse, approximately one in ten Americans aged 60 and older have experienced some form of elder abuse, with those in institutional settings facing particularly high risks. The same studies indicate that for every reported case of nursing home abuse, as many as five cases go unreported, suggesting the true scope of this crisis extends far beyond official statistics.
More locally, Dan Noll and Sarah Noll know that statistics from Illinois alone reveal that thousands of nursing home residents experience neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, or financial exploitation each year. The consequences of such mistreatment can be devastating, leading to serious physical injuries, psychological trauma, declining health, and in the most tragic cases, wrongful death.
Some of these incidents are documented in reports from the Illinois Department of Public Health quarterly reports, including fatal incidents, but this is often just a small percentage of the actual incidents that do occur. Therefore, understanding how to choose a safe nursing home has never been more critical for families seeking quality care for their loved ones.
Here at the Noll Law Office, their experienced Springfield nursing home abuse attorneys understand how to protect the rights of victims of nursing home abuse, neglect or negligence in Illinois. If you suspect nursing home abuse or need guidance in evaluating nursing home safety after an incident, call to speak with Dan Noll or Sarah Noll to learn more about your rights during a free case evaluation.
What Makes a Safe Nursing Home in Illinois
A truly safe nursing home extends far beyond meeting minimum regulatory requirements. It embodies a culture of respect, dignity, and genuine care for its residents. The foundation of a safe facility begins with adequate staffing levels and properly trained personnel. Research consistently shows that facilities with higher staff-to-resident ratios and lower staff turnover rates provide better care and have fewer incidents of abuse or neglect. The inverse is also true, as our experienced Illinois nursing home abuse lawyers know that inadequate staffing levels often result in more incidents of nursing home abuse, neglect and negligence in Illinois. Sadly, government statistics indicate that roughly 75% of nursing home fail to meet their staffing requirements during inspections or reviews.
In addition to staffing, the physical environment of a safe nursing home also plays a crucial role in resident wellbeing. Clean, well-maintained facilities with proper lighting, functioning safety equipment, and accessible common areas demonstrate an organization’s commitment to resident safety. Safe facilities implement robust safety protocols, including fall prevention programs, medication management systems, and emergency response procedures. Unfortunately, the unsafe premises at a nursing home or long-term care facility can lead to serious personal injuries to residents, including falls which are the leading cause of injury or death to individuals over the age of 65.
How to Choose a Safe Nursing Home in Springfield or Elsewhere in Illinois
Selecting a safe nursing home requires careful research, multiple visits, and attention to both obvious and subtle indicators of quality care. Begin your search by utilizing online resources such as Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare website, which provides detailed information about facility ratings, inspection results, and staffing levels. Illinois also maintains its own database of nursing home inspection reports through the Illinois Department of Public Health. Review these reports carefully, paying particular attention to any patterns of violations or recurring issues.
Once you have identified potential facilities, schedule tours during different times of day and days of the week. Morning visits might reveal how facilities handle the busy period of helping residents with daily activities, while evening or weekend visits can show whether quality care continues when administrative staff are absent.
During these visits, observe staff interactions with residents, including:
- Do caregivers speak respectfully to residents?
- Do they respond promptly to call lights?
- Are they patient when residents need extra time or assistance?
Also observe staff and ask yourself some of these questions:
- Do staff look exhausted or overworked?
- Are staff put together or looking disorganized?
- Are staff sweating and running around?
- Do staff spend a lot of time hidden or are they out observing or interacting with residents?
- Are staff spending a lot of time on cell phones or being distracted?
When possible, also engage in conversations with current residents and their families. Their firsthand experiences can provide insights that no official report can capture. Ask specific questions about response times, how the facility handles concerns or cmplaints, and whether they would recommend the facility to others.
As you get closer to making your decision, ask to review the nursing home or long-term care facility’s policies on incident reporting, family notification procedures, and how they handle allegations of abuse or neglect. A transparent facility will readily provide this information and welcome your questions. Consider the facility’s financial stability and ownership structure, which you can weave into your questions about whether the facility will accept your insurance or how the payment system works. Facilities facing financial difficulties may cut corners on staffing or maintenance, potentially compromising resident safety and leading to nursing home abuse or neglect.
How to Choose a Safe Nursing Home Includes Knowing the Warning Signs of an Unsafe Nursing Home
Recognizing the warning signs of an unsafe nursing home can help families avoid placing their loved ones at risk or identify when immediate intervention is needed after an incident. Physical indicators often provide the most obvious red flags, which includes what residents, staff and the facilities look like. Strong, unpleasant odors throughout the facility may indicate inadequate cleaning or residents not receiving timely assistance with personal hygiene needs. Visible safety hazards such as cluttered hallways, broken equipment, poor lighting, or unsecured areas pose immediate risks to resident wellbeing, as do spills, dirt, or trip-and-fall hazards.
Behavioral changes in residents and staff interactions can also signal serious problems after a resident has been there for a period of time. Although it may be normal for a loved one to be upset or sad about initially going into a nursing home or long-term care facility, those feelings should dissipate over time as a loved one adjusts. But if those feelings resurface, it may be a sign of abuse or neglect occurring at a facility – especially if a resident is not verbal or able to communicate well.
In addition to evaluating other residents and your loved one, make sure to evaluate staff members and other people working at a facility. Staff members who appear overwhelmed, frustrated, or indifferent to resident needs may be experiencing burnout due to understaffing or poor management. Facilities where staff members discourage family visits, become defensive when questioned, or restrict access to certain areas should raise immediate concerns. High staff turnover rates, frequent administrator changes, or an unwillingness to provide information about staffing levels or facility policies all suggest institutional problems that could compromise resident safety.
Was a Loved One Injured at a Nursing Home or Long-Term Care Facility in Illinois? Knowing How to Choose a Safe Nursing Home is Only One Part of How You Can Help
Choosing a safe nursing home represents one of the most important decisions families face when caring for elderly loved ones. The process demands diligence, patience, and a willingness to ask difficult questions. Remember that no facility is perfect, but safe nursing homes demonstrate consistent commitment to quality care, maintain transparency in their operations, and welcome family involvement.
But even if you choose the best facility based on your research and the recommendations made here or other websites – including by CMS, HHS and the Illinois Department of Public Health – a loved one could still become the victim of nursing home abuse, neglect or negligence.
If you or a loved one suspect or discover that a loved one has suffered abuse or neglect at a nursing home, long-term care or rehabilitation facility in Illinois, the experienced Illinois nursing home abuse lawyers at the Noll Law Office stand ready to help pursue justice and ensure such violations do not continue.
Their skilled legal professionals and compassionate legal team can guide families through the complex process of reporting abuse, understanding their rights, and seeking appropriate remedies. Do not let concerns about nursing home safety go unaddressed. Call Dan Noll or Sarah Noll to schedule your free case evaluation by dialing (217) 414-8889 or submitting a message through their website today.