Theresa Thorp recently filed a lawsuit against the Lemont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after her mother, Minnie Burger, died at the facility on May 14. Thorp alleges in her lawsuit that the facility failed to give Burger proper care that would have prevented her injuries and eventual death. Burger, who was 82, fell three days before her death and suffered a fractured hip and leg.

Unfortunately Burger’s case is not an isolated incident. Several deaths occur every year at Chicago area nursing homes due to improper patient care. Often staff is overworked or not properly trained to take care of the patients. Nursing homes need to be held responsible for their shortcomings, especially when someone’s life is at risk.