As if nursing home patients and their families didn’t have enough to worry about with respect to receiving proper medical care, many patients may be shocked to learn that they are living amongst registered sex offenders. While the component of sex offenders in nursing homes is nothing new, the fact remains that as a generation… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: illinois
Learning About Nursing Homes, Part 1: Nursing Home Surveys
Posted in Selecting a Nursing HomeFor many families, there’s a real feeling of helplessness when it comes to selecting a nursing home for a loved one or perhaps learning more about an existing one. Certainly, with many families living vast distances from their loved ones, I can sympathize as to the feelings of despair. However, there is some good news…. Continue Reading
New Program Focuses On Staffing To Improve Patient Care In Nursing Homes
Posted in National Nursing Home IssuesI recently read about The Critical Access Nursing Home Project, a program initiated to help ‘at risk’ nursing homes in urban areas in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Georgia improve the quality of their care. Though participation in the program is voluntary facilities must meet criteria applicable to the composition patient demographics such as: operating in… Continue Reading
Tougher Regulations For Illinois Nursing Facilities Caring For Children Coming In Near Future
Posted in Children In Nursing Homes, Group Homes, Foster Care & Day Care, Group HomesThe widely publicized Chicago Tribune investigative article regarding a large number of neglect-related deaths of children at a Chicago nursing facility appears to have caught the attention of Illinois officials. Recently, Illinois officials held meetings with child advocacy groups and representatives from facilities that care for disabled children in order to get input regarding legislation… Continue Reading
More Care Options for Seniors Leaves Some Nursing Home Operators Crying Poor
Posted in Illinois Nursing HomesNot surprisingly, nursing homes make money by keeping their facilities fully stocked with patients. Many expenses relating to the operation of skilled nursing facilities are fixed– utilities, lease of the property and staffing— are all relatively constant for nursing home operators– regardless of how many people are in facility. Lower occupancy rates obviously translate to… Continue Reading
Nursing Home Spotlight: Collinsville Rehabilitation & Health Care Center
Posted in Illinois Nursing Homes, Sexual Abuse & AssaultAccording to a January, 2010 report from the Illinois Department of Health, Colliinsville Rehabilitation & Health Care Center made several errors with respect to handling incidents in which a patient was sexually assaulted by another patient. The nursing home survey revealed that in November, 2009 a convicted felon as admitted to the facility as he… Continue Reading
Nursing Home Safety Bill Provides Promise Of Improved Care In Illinois
Posted in Illinois Nursing HomesLast week, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill that promises to improve care of nursing home patients throughout the state. Though many of the details need to be hammered out, the new legislation will hopefully eradicate many of the recurring problems patients face such as: violence, recurring episodes of neglect and inconsistent care. Among… Continue Reading
Class Action Lawsuit Against Skilled Healthcare Seeks Damages For Chronic Understaffing Of Nursing Homes
Posted in Nursing Home StaffIf you were to look at just one criteria for selecting a nursing home, I’d tell you to look at the facilities staffing levels. Sure, its nice to have a sparkly new facility and perhaps a gourmet chef, but when it comes down to patient care nothing can take the place of a sufficiently staffed… Continue Reading
Nursing Home Spotlight: Milestone-Elmwood East
Posted in Choking, Illinois Nursing HomesMilestone-Elmwood East is a small, 12-bed nursing home located in Rockford, Illinois. Milestone, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit corporation that provides “residential, developmental, vocational, and social support services for adults and children with mental retardation, autism, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy.” This facility committed serious violations that led to the choking death of one resident. (See Nursing Homes Abuse… Continue Reading
Day Care Worker Leaves Children Unattended In Gym. Situation Demonstrates The Need For More Regulation Of Child Care In Alternative Settings
Posted in Children In Nursing Homes, Group Homes, Foster Care & Day CareA client emailed my the above news clip regarding a day care worker at a gym that abandoned the children she was responsible for looking after in order to attend to a personal errand. Of course, I was shocked and appalled by this blatant disregard to child safety, but what is most disturbing about… Continue Reading
Nursing Home Spotlight: Addolorata Villa: Wheeling, Illinois
Posted in Illinois Nursing HomesEven at nursing home facilities with relatively high Medicare ratings and low average number of health deficiencies, serious problems can still occur. Despite a three-star (average Medicare rating), Addolorata Villa (a nursing home located in Wheeling, Illinois with 91 certified beds) failed to provide proper care and services to an elderly female resident after a fall,… Continue Reading
Nursing Home Injury Laws
Posted in Assisted Living Facilities, Broken Bones, Choking, Dehydration, Food Poisoning, Malnutrition, Medical Malpractice, Medication Errors, Neglect, Nursing Home Abuse, Nursing Home Injury, Osteomyelitis, Sepsis, Subdural Hematoma, Wrongful DeathIn times of need, locating necessary information regarding the legal rights and resources for nursing home patients can be difficult and imposing. In this respect, we are proud to introduce a new resource for patients, families and practitioners looking for a concise compilation of information regarding nursing home laws. Nursing Home Injury Laws, provides every states’:… Continue Reading
Thankfully, We Now Have Many Laws To Protect The Elderly From Abuse In A Variety Of Settings. However, Laws Are Worthless, If The People For Whom They Are Intended To Help Are Unaware Of Them
Posted in Group Homes, Nursing Home AbuseOver the last 20 years, federal and state legislatures have drafted many laws with the intention of protecting the most vulnerable members of our society– they elderly. As the laws accumulate, it is important to know what laws apply to particular situations of abuse or mistreatment and how to properly apply them to particular situations…. Continue Reading
Is Adult Day Care A Reasonable Alternative To Nursing Home Care?
Posted in Day Care LiabilityFor families and individuals who provide care for older adults, adult day care centers or adult day services can be an important tool in providing adequate care. Providing round-the-clock care for an elderly loved one can be a huge, but worthwhile time commitment. Adult day care centers can provide a much needed break for caregivers,… Continue Reading
Elder Abuse: Why Bruises Can Be Tell-Tale Signs Of Poor Care
Posted in Nursing Home Abuse, Unexplained BruisingPerhaps there is no more visual reminder of abuse or mistreatment than a bruise. The discoloration is not only ugly in appearance, but it can also be a source of pain for the individual. Because bruising can be a relatively common occurrence in the elderly, I think its important to learn more about this medical… Continue Reading
Investigation Concludes: Most Nursing Home Administrators Are Never Disciplined For Poor Care
Posted in National Nursing Home IssuesInformation compiled by the Illinois Nursing Home Task Force revealed that out of 407 complaints directed to administrators from 2005 through 2009, only three of the complaints resulted in discliplinary action. Obviously, the overwhelming majority of complaints directed towards nursing home adminsitrators– the effective heads of the operation— went without any action. In Illinois and… Continue Reading
Nursing Home Spotlight: Exceptional Care, Burbank, IL- Not Living Up To Its Name
Posted in Choking, Illinois Nursing HomesThe Exceptional Care nursing home is a small 55 bed nursing home located in Burbank, IL. According to the government’s Medicare website, the facility received only one out of five stars, which is a much below average rating. The facility received only two out of five stars for health inspections, which is a below average… Continue Reading
Court Date Set In Illinois Elder Neglect Case
Posted in NeglectWill County, Illinois Judge Amy-Bertani-Tomczak has set a December 2nd court date for two sisters facing criminal neglect charges relating to the care of their mother. Prosecutors brought the charges against Bernice Brandon and Elizabeth Williams after a medical examiner determined that their neglect contributed to the death of their mother, Hattie Smith. According to… Continue Reading
Illinois Nursing Home That Turned ‘Blind Eye’ To Sexual Assaults Now Faces Fines
Posted in Illinois Nursing HomesThe LaSalle County Nursing Home is a medium-sized 99 bed nursing home facility in Ottawa, Illinois. On June 6, 2009, the Illinois Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) released a report following an investigation, revealing that a male resident at LaSalle County had molested ten female residents. LaSalle County now faces fines from authorities. The IDPH… Continue Reading
Nursing Home Spotlight: Westshire Nursing and Rehab Center, Cicero, Illinois
Posted in Illinois Nursing HomesWestshire Nursing and Rehab Center (“Westshire”), a massive 485-bed facility located at 5825 West Cermak Road in Cicero, Illinois, was recently cited by the IDPH and fined $35,000. Westshire was last cited by the IDPH in November 2007 for endangering residents by inadequately supervising a resident accused of sexual assault on another resident. The… Continue Reading
What is a surviving spouse entitled to in a wrongful death lawsuit against a nursing home?
Posted in Frequently Asked QuestionsMost states have enacted a specific cause of action for wrongful death lawsuit. For example, in Illinois, a surviving family spouse and/or family member is entitled to bring a lawsuit for the loss of the deceased services. Although no award can truly replace your loved one, you can be compensated for the loss of support… Continue Reading
Nursing Home Spotlight: Rockford Healthcare & Rehab Center Fined For Failing To Prevent Pressure Ulcers
Posted in Illinois Nursing HomesIn December 2008, the Illinois Department of Public Heath (IDPH) completed a survey of Rockford Healthcare & Rehab Center, located at 1920 North Main Street in Rockford, Illinois. Finding significant problems with the facility, it issued a notice of a Type A violation and a fine of $15,000. IDPH found that Rockford Healthcare & Rehab… Continue Reading
Man Falls From Fourth Floor Window To His Death At Alden Nursing Home
Posted in Alden Nursing Homes, Illinois Nursing HomesThe Chicago Sun Times reported on the death of 84-year-old, Benny Saxon. Saxon was a resident at Alden Wentworth Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Chicago, Illinois when he either jumped or fell to his death from the fourth floor. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office pronounced Saxon dead shortly after the incident. Chicago Police… Continue Reading
Ouch! Chicago Nursing Homes Average $77,198 Per Year
Posted in EconomicsAs if there wasn’t enough depressing economic news already bombarding you on a daily basis, a new report in Crain’s shows the cost of long-term care in Chicago has been increasing 6% annually since 2005– more than three times the rate of inflation. According to a study completed by Genworth Financial Inc., the average cost… Continue Reading