A faulty furnace led to the temperature in a nursing home resident’s room to reach 110 degrees causing the resident to suffer a heat stroke, according to an Illinois nursing home lawsuit filed in the Madison County Circuit Court recently. According to the Madison-St. Clair Record, nursing home resident Dorothy Stimson filed suit against Eden Village Care Center and Cummings Heating and Cooling which is alleged to be the company responsible for servicing the furnace during the time of the event.

The elderly are more susceptible to heat related injuries than younger people. If you watch any television or listen to radio during the summer months, you will hear public service announcements advising people to check on their elderly neighbors. Why? The answer is fairly simple. Many elderly people take medications that may inhibit their body’s ability to sweat, which is the the way our bodies naturally cool themselves. Sometimes elderly people also lack the mental awareness to know that they should drink more water to keep themselves hydrated in times of excessive heat. Whether these or other conditions were in effect with Ms. Stimson we don’t know, but regardless of the specifics of her particular lawsuit, the issue of heat and the elderly is an important topic and one that should not be overlooked.

As the economy worsens, more and more nursing home owners are tightening their belts and their budgets, leaving fewer employees to meet the needs of their nursing home residents. Whether your loved one is hurt in an event such as a fall or due to an elopement or through long-term neglect, it is important to talk to an attorney experienced in nursing home abuse cases.

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