Does Nursing Home Owners Judgment Need To Be Called Into Question When An Adminsitrator Is Hired That Has Track Record Of Substance Abuse?
The fentanyl-overdose death of a central Illinois nursing home administrator really called into question the judgment of the owners of Timbercreek Rehab & Healthcare Center for me. Apparently, the owners of the Pekin, IL facility weren't too concerned the fact that their administrator was on probation with the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation for 'substance abuse' issues at the time of his hire. Despite a background, which would likely call into question the individuals judgment around controlled substances, the owns of Timbercreek put their administrator in charge of a lock box at the facility that was used to store narcotics...
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Nursing Home Spotlight: Galesburg Terrace
The August 12, 2010 survey completed by Illinois Department of Health personnel paints a disturbing picture of the care provided to patients at Galesburg Terrace nursing home in Galesburg, IL. In particular, major safety problems were found with patients who require tracheostomy and/or ventilator care. Observation of patients and individual charts revealed a facility teetering on the edge of disaster with vulnerable patients continually not receiving the skilled nursing care set forth in their care plans and as prescribed by their doctors. Amongst the surveys disturbing findings: Patients' oxygen levels going unmonitored resulting in dangerously low oxygen levels Staff failing...
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An Inspirational Tale: Daughter Doesn't Let Chicagoland Assisted Living Facility Push Her Around
There’s an inspirational story in the Chicago Tribune for families who have loved ones in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and feel as though the facilities are taking advantage of a captive audience—particularly in a financial sense. The article chronicles the troubles encountered by Laura Merens, who’s 89-year-old father died shortly after arrangements had been made for him to live at an assisted living facility in the Northern Suburbs of Chicago. Sadly, Ms. Merens’ father was never able to enjoy the $6,876 for ‘arrangements’ his daughter had arranged for him at The Park of Golf Mill in Niles, IL. ...
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Nursing Home Spotlight: Fox River Pavilion, Aurora, IL
The IDPH quarterly report on Nursing Home Care Act violations includes a $30,000 fine for violations relating to the area of nursing. Fox River Pavilion is a large 121 bed facility in Aurora, IL. Medicare gave the facility an overall rating of two out of five stars (below average rating) with only one out of five stars (much below average rating) for health inspections. Between July 2009 and September 2010, the facility had 15 health deficiencies, which is seven more than the Illinois and U.S. average. The February 8, 2010 complaint report that resulted in the $30,000 fine included failure to keep the facility...
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Should Nursing Homes Restrict The Sexual Activity Of Disabled Patients?
A recently filed lawsuit accuses Rainbow Beach Nursing Center (Chicago, IL) of negligently attending to the sexual health of a schizophrenic patient who became pregnant during her admission to the facility. The family of the patient who gave birth to a handicapped boy, claims that the facility was negligent for allowing mentally disabled patients to engage in sexual relations without comprehending the impacts of their actions. According to the patient's sister, Shaune Williamson Ofori-Amanfo, "These facilities accept responsibility for caring for people who aren't capable of making life decisions. They accept the responsibility of giving them food, of cleaning...
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Turning & Repositioning By Nursing Home Staff Blamed For The Leg Fractures Of Patient
Turning and repositioning are key elements in the prevention of decubitus ulcers (also known as: pressure ulcers, pressure sores or bed sores). In the process of repositioning patients, staff are to move the patient in their bed to relieve unrelieved pressure from areas on the body in contact with the bed. Depending on the patients size and ability to move themselves, one or more staff members may be required to assist in the repositioning process. Regardless of how many staff are involved in the repositioning process, moving patients should be done gently as feasible to avoid alarming them to...
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Nursing Home Spotlight: Alden Town Manor
Alden Town Manor is a skilled nursing facility in Cicero, IL that was recently cited by the Illinois Department of Health following a March 30, 2010 survey at the facility. The focus of the survey was related to a March 6, 2010 incident in which a patient fell at the facility and subsequently died due to head trauma and cervical fractures. An investigation into the incident revealed that Alden Town Manor failed to properly care for the patient in the following respects: 1. Assess a severely injured resident on the floor after a fall 2. Follow its own policy for...
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Chicagoland Manor Care Facility Named In Wrongful Death Lawsuit
A recently filed wrongful death lawsuit alleges that ManorCare's Hinsdale, IL facility was negligent in caring for a 74-year-old patient at the facility. According to the lawsuit, filed in Cook County, the patient died from acute renal failure that was brought about by severe dehydration within 30 days her he admission to the facility due to the fact that the facility failed to monitor the patients fluid intake and output. Acute Renal Failure Many people use acute renal failure interchangeably with kidney failure. Either way, acute renal failure may result after a patient has been denied adequate fluid intake. In...
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Nursing Home Ombudsman Honored For Dedication To Seniors In Illinois
I think anyone who reads a recent article by Dean Olsen in The State Journal Register will likely be left with the feeling that the world is a better place due to people like Olga Perry. Hardly a household name, Ms. Perry is one the the thousands of mainly volunteer ombudsman across the country who provide a variety of assistance to people in nursing homes. After 10-years volunteering for the long-term care ombudsman program, Ms. Perry's dedication to the rights of the elderly was finally recognized when she was presented with the 2010 Outstanding Long Term Care Ombudsman Award by...
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IL Attorney General Nabs Two Patients From An Alden Nursing Home With Criminal Warrants
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has most recently moved her troops to the Northern Illinois city of Rockford--- Alden Park Strathmoor Nursing Home to be exact-- to search for nursing home patients with criminal warrants. Operation Guardian, as the program is known, is a program created by Ms. Madigan in response to the widely publicized articles regarding the presence of violent criminals living in Illinois Nursing Homes. The program utilizes the combines resources from the Attorney Generals office, as well as representatives from state and local law enforcement agencies for unannounced visits to nursing homes that are suspected to house...
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