Chicago Nursing Home Abuse :: Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog

Home > Chicago Nursing Home Abuse

February 8, 2010

Chicago, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven Levin on Nursing Home Safety

Chicago nursing home attorney Steven Levin wrote to the Chicago Tribune to praise them for their commitment to uncovering nursing home abuse. He applauded the Tribune’s efforts in raising public awareness of Chicago nursing home abuse. Attorney Levin believes that there is a critical need for adequate staffing in nursing homes to protect residents from harm or abuse. When nursing-home owners focus on census over patient care, nursing home negligence ensues. Care workers must be sufficiently trained to create an environment void of physical and sexual abuse. Steven Levin urged readers to contact their respective state representatives to demand legislation that provides minimum staffing standards for Illinois nursing homes. This will help avoid Chicago nursing home abuse. To read the entire letter to the editor, please check out the link.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, Chicago Nursing Home Abuse, Chicago Nursing Homes, Compromised Care: Tribune Investigation, Levin & Perconti in the News

| Share

January 27, 2010

Chicago Tribune Report on Sexual Abuse in Chicago Nursing Homes

As Chicago nursing home attorneys, we have represented hundreds of victims of nursing home abuse and neglect and witnessed many instances of sexual abuse in Illinois nursing homes. Today, the Chicago Tribune reports on their latest investigation into poor care in Chicago nursing home, focusing on sexual assault and abuse in nursing homes throughout the city.

Citing incidents at such nursing homes as Rainbow Beach Care Center and All Faith Pavilion on the South Side, and Sheridan Shores Care & Rehabilitation Center, Warren Park Health & Living Center and Somerset Place on the North Side, the investigation reveals the epidemic of sexual violence, along with the fact that little is being done to stop it. According to the Tribune’s investigation, 86 cases were investigated, but only one arrest was made.

Throughout Chicago, nursing home owners, such as Eric Rothner (who has ownership in Rainbow Beach, Sheridan Shores and Somerset Place), operate their homes at below-average staffing levels. This creates an environment where even the most well-intentioned direct care staff cannot deliver the proper care and attention that the residents need and deserve. In addition to low staffing levels, Chicago nursing homes often mix populations of elderly residents with younger, mentally-ill residents. Sometimes, these psychiatric residents have histories of violent crime. This creates an unsafe environment for more vulnerable residents, because nursing homes do not have the staff to properly monitor psychiatric residents.

To read the Tribune’s entire report on their investigation into sexual abuse in Chicago nursing homes, follow the link.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: All Faith Pavilion, Chicago Nursing Home Abuse, Compromised Care: Tribune Investigation, Sex offenders and parolees in nursing homes, Sheridan Shores Care & Rehabilitation Center, Somerset Place

| Share

January 25, 2010

Care Centers Nursing Home Avoids Closure

A Merrillville nursing home with a history of safety problems has avoided a likely closing by finding a buyer. The state health department had issued an emergency order requiring the Northlake Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to hire a state-approved nursing home administrator in order to monitor patient care. The nursing home is on its third and final probationary license and would not win a permanent license when that probationary experience expires. The nursing home had previously been owned by Care Center, Inc. This is a for-profit company based in Evanston, Illinois and owned by operator Eric Rothner. Many of the nursing homes owned by Rothner have suffered patient safety problems and are being investigated by Illinois authorities. The poor care given to the elderly at nursing homes owned by Care Center, Inc. has been a topic of past Chicago nursing home negligence blog posts. Additionally, the nursing home abuse attorneys of Levin & Perconti have filed nursing home lawsuits against many of their nursing homes. To read more about the Care Center nursing homes, please click the link.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, National Nursing Homes, Care Centers Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect, Chicago Nursing Home Abuse

| Share

January 18, 2010

Illinois Task Force Proposes Sweeping Reforms to End Violence in Chicago’s Troubled Homes

A panel appointed by Illinois governor Quinn proposed a great deal of reforms that are designed to end the chronic violence and elderly abuse that plague many Illinois nursing homes. Also, the panel is brainstorming ways to foster better treatment for people with serious mental illness living in nursing homes. One of the proposals is to have tightened criminal background checks of new nursing home residents. They are also recommending that the state police start searching Illinois nursing homes for residents with outstanding warrants. Illinois nursing homes should be brought up to the standards spelled out in federal government studies on nursing home care. An important way to achieve this goal is to divert the mentally ill people from nursing homes into more appropriate treatment settings in their communities. Finally, Illinois has recognized that mixing the elderly and mentally ill in understaffed nursing homes creates a great deal of nursing home abuse. To read further into the new panel, please click the link.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, Chicago Nursing Home Abuse, Chicago Nursing Homes, Compromised Care: Tribune Investigation

| Share

January 15, 2010

Illinois Governor Panel Proposes Sweeping Nursing Home Reform

An Illinois nursing home panel appointed by the Governor proposed an array of reforms that are designed to end the chronic violence and nursing home abuse that plagues the elderly. The panel is also trying to foster better treatment for better treatment for people with serious mental illness living in nursing homes. New proposals range from tightened background checks of new nursing home residents to stronger sanctions and enforcement of facilities with chronic safety breaches. The safety task force also recommended that state police begin searching residents for outstanding warrants. He also wants to increase minimum staffing requirements of the facilities to bring them up to federal government studies in nursing home care. Illinois must pull itself from last place and learn to become a leader in nursing home care. The task force is focused on outlining a broad plan to expand housing and treatment options and divert mentally ill people from nursing homes. The task force was formed in response to the Chicago Tribune reports on assaults, rapes and murders in Illinois’ nursing homes. The most important issue is whether the state should have separate facilities for those with violent backgrounds. Many people that you should not mix dangerous and vulnerable residents. To learn more about the task panel, please click the link.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Chicago Nursing Home Abuse, Chicago Nursing Homes, Compromised Care: Tribune Investigation, Nursing Home Abuse

| Share

January 13, 2010

Chicago Aldermen Discuss Tougher Oversight for Nursing Homes

Chicago aldermen stated that they were considering steps to strengthen oversight of troubled nursing homes that admit high numbers of felons and psychiatric patients. The city began focusing on felons and psychiatric patients in nursing homes after the Chicago Tribune published a series that exposed cases of rape and murder in nursing homes that mix criminals with the elderly. The Foster District police commander stated that there were nearly 5,000 calls for police service coming from Somerset Place nursing home in Uptown. She added that nearby shop owners were adversely affected by some residents who cause disturbances. While Chicago once inspected and licensed nursing homes, they have now turned over those responsibilities to the state. One alderman stated that the city should consider resuming licensing and inspecting facilities. Many were shocked at the number of felons and mentally ill patients that were housed with seniors. A representative from Loyola University stated that students are harassed by residents at Wincrest Nursing Center. She stated that residents were using drugs and panhandling because they were not getting the requisite care. To learn more about the Chicago nursing home plans, please click the link.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Chicago Nursing Home Abuse, Chicago Nursing Homes, Compromised Care: Tribune Investigation, Incidents, Somerset Place

| Share

Contact Us

Disclaimer

The purpose of this blog is to deliver news and information that is relevant to our areas of practice. The news and information reported on this blog represent the legal actions of attorneys throughout the United States. Our firm does not claim to represent plaintiffs in all of the lawsuits, settlements, and jury verdicts reported, only those noted as Levin & Perconti cases.