Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog

At the Emerald Park Health Care Center, a Chicago nursing home, the following incidents were noted by IDPH surveyors:
•A resident with a history of alcohol use got drunk, passed out and was carried to his room by an employee. After being put to bed, the resident was not checked by staff. He was found in cardiac arrest by another resident about 11 hours later and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
• Staff did not monitor other residents who were often intoxicated and their care plans did not note alcohol was a problem.
• An employee pulled off a resident's wig and threw it on top of a fan. Nursing staff witnessed the incident, but did not intervene. The supervisor said she told the employee to never do it again, but did not report it because she did not feel it was abuse.
• On another occasion, the same resident had a swollen face and was admitted to the hospital with a brain hemorrhage. The administrator did not investigate the injuries or notify the Department as required by state law.
• A resident with a history of wandering was able to leave the facility through a basement door. Staff frequently switched off the door alarm to accept deliveries, but did not provide visual supervision of the exit as required by facility policy.
• Specialized rehabilitative services were not provided to those residents identified with mental illness or substance abuse problems.
• No plans were in place to assist residents with re-integration into the community or to prevent residents from engaging in harmful behaviors.

The Illinois Department of Health produces quarterly reports on nursing home violators. To access the website: http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/nursing_home_violations/quarterlyreports.htm

At a Scott County nursing home incidents of abuse by the staff included:
• Squirting a blind resident in the face and making her think it was nasal secretions.
• Rolling blankets to make it appear someone was in the bed of a resident who was diagnosed with anxiety and became upset when others were in her room.
• Crawling on the floor and barking at a resident who had a fear of dogs.
• Purposely making a resident wait for her medication, even though it was known the resident believed taking her medication at the same time daily would help her medical condition.
• Attempting to convince a resident that catsup was blood.
• A nurse did not intervene when one resident bit another resident and later admitted commenting that the resident deserved it.

The Illinois Department of Health produces quarterly reports on nursing home violators. To access the website: http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/nursing_home_violations/quarterlyreports.htm

A nurse at an Energy, Illinois nursing home admitted that she turned audible door alarms off because she could not talk on the phone while they were sounding. As a result a resident with an electronic monitoring device escaped from a facility, stole a van and drove 50 miles away. A farmer discovered the resident in his barn and notified local authorities.

The Illinois Department of Health produces quarterly reports on nursing home violators. To access the website: http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/nursing_home_violations/quarterlyreports.htm

A resident suffered soft tissue trauma after repeatedly hitting himself on the head and face without staff intervention. The resident had removed his protective helmet. An Illinois nursing home neglect lawyer would best be able to determine whether the staff acted wrongfully in allowing this injury to occur.

The Illinois Department of Health produces quarterly reports on nursing home violators. To access the website: http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/nursing_home_violations/quarterlyreports.htm

A resident at a Chicago nursing home, Lakeview Living Facility, was raped by another resident who was supposed to be under constant watch because of an earlier rape allegation. Upon further investigation by the Department it was found that the man had inappropriate sexual contact with four other residents that was not reported to the Department as required by state law.

The Illinois Department of Health produces quarterly reports on nursing home violators. To access the website: http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/nursing_home_violations/quarterlyreports.htm