Legionnaires’ disease in nursing homes can prove deadly, especially since senior citizens are vulnerable to infection and have weaker immune systems. Unfortunately, nursing homes do not always take the steps they should to protect residents in Chicago. This neglect may result in people becoming seriously sick or dying.
Table of Contents
An experienced nursing home negligence lawyer can help you find out if you have a case. Call Ankin Law today at (312) 600-0000.
How Legionnaires’ Disease Spreads in Nursing Homes
Legionnaires’ disease spreads when people inhale small droplets of water containing Legionella bacteria. The bacteria thrive in warm-water environments, especially manmade systems. Large plumbing systems, shower heads, sink faucets, decorative fountains, and cooling towers can all spread the disease and are common in hospitals, hotels, and, of course, nursing homes.
Legionnaires’ disease in nursing homes can spread, especially due to older plumbing systems with scale, biofilm, and sediment. All of these can support Legionella growth. Water temperatures in nursing homes may also be low to avoid residents getting scalded. This lower setting creates ideal conditions for bacteria to multiply.
In many Chicago nursing homes, residents shower every day, use nebulizers, or breathe air near cooling units that may be contaminated. These actions increase the chances of them inhaling the bacteria. Nursing homes may fail to have proper water management plans or to follow them, meaning that a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak can occur quickly.
Inadequate disinfection protocols, especially neglecting chlorine treatments, allow bacteria to multiply. Poor maintenance of cooling towers and HVAC systems can spread contaminated water droplets. Stagnant water in rarely used pipes or tanks also fosters bacterial growth. Not conducting routine water testing also prevents early detection.
One notable example of an outbreak is at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy. At least 14 residents died between 2015 and 2019 due to multiple lapses in water system maintenance. Cases such as this one highlight the importance of strict preventive measures.
Warning Signs and Health Risks of Legionnaires’ Disease in Nursing Homes
The symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease typically begin two to 10 days after exposure. In older people, particularly, it can be easier to mistake these symptoms for other age-related health issues. This can delay diagnosis and increase the risk of complications. Common symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include:
- High fever (often above 104 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Chills and cough
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle aches and headaches
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Mental confusion, especially in older adults
Caregivers should request immediate medical evaluations for nursing home residents who suddenly show symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease. Delaying treatment can mean death or severe complications such as respiratory failure, septic shock, or acute kidney failure.
Misdiagnosis and Neglect in Chicago Nursing Homes
Many cases of Legionnaires’ disease in a nursing home are misdiagnosed as common pneumonia or another infection. A major reason this happens is due to overworked or undertrained staff members. Serious neglect may be occurring when nursing home staff fail to recognize and respond to illness quickly, or when nursing homes do not report and manage outbreaks properly.
Families should watch for signs of nursing home neglect, such as a sudden decline in their loved one’s health with no clear explanation, unexplained fevers among residents, hospitalization, lack of timely medical attention, and a nursing home’s inconsistent documentation or failure to notify families about illness. These are red flags pointing to chronic nursing home problems with infection control, staff training, and facility maintenance.
When to Involve a Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer in Illinois
If someone you love has contracted Legionnaires’ disease in a nursing home, legal action could be appropriate. Consult a nursing home negligence lawyer if you suspect the facility failed to maintain a safe environment or respond appropriately to your loved one’s illness.
What kind of evidence do you need to prove nursing home neglect? Pursuing a case requires getting evidence such as medical records and diagnoses, incident reports, water system maintenance logs, inspection reports from the department of public health, photos or videos showing nursing home conditions, and testimony from healthcare professionals or staff.
This evidence can prove that a nursing home failed to maintain water systems according to safety standards, ignored or delayed medical care for a resident showing symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, did not follow proper infection control protocols, lacked an effective Legionella water management plan, or had prior health violations or complaints. A Legionnaires’ disease lawyer can help gather and analyze this information to make a case for compensation.
Damages for Legionnaires’ Disease in a Nursing Home
About 13.6% of Chicago’s population is 65 and older. Many of these seniors live in nursing homes or similar facilities. If your loved one died or became seriously sick from Legionnaires’ disease in a nursing home, your family may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, funeral and burial costs (in wrongful death cases), and punitive damages (in cases of extreme negligence).
Many claims involving nursing homes are also part of mass torts when outbreaks affect multiple residents. A mass torts lawyer can help you understand whether your case qualifies for this type of legal action. It consolidates many similar claims into one coordinated proceeding. This approach can be efficient and cheaper, and strengthen your position by combining evidence and expert testimony.
The Duties of a Nursing Home
Nursing homes have duties to provide a safe, clean, and healthy environment. This does not always happen.
The health risks in a home are not insignificant due to the vulnerability of elderly residents. They often have weaker immune systems, chronic conditions, or limited mobility. Common issues such as constant understaffing, inadequate training, and overcrowded living conditions can worsen these risk factors.
When residents live close together, illnesses such as Legionnaires’ disease can spread rapidly if nursing homes do not follow infection control protocols. Response delays and insufficient medical oversight can result in preventable health threats becoming life-threatening.
Victims of nursing home negligence and their family members can file claims under the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act. Families can also pursue claims for wrongful death and personal injury under Illinois civil statutes. Evidence can disappear and statute of limitations may apply, so it is important for families to act as quickly as possible.
A nursing home negligence lawyer in Chicago can help you navigate the legal process, whether through private settlement or trial litigation. Ankin Law can advocate for full compensation, investigate the nursing home’s actions, and consult with medical experts. Contact us today.
