After Reporting Illinois Nursing Home Abuse, Former Worker Says Assisted Living Facility Fired Her
A nursing home worker says that the Caseyville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center fired her after she reported that another employee was abusing a resident at the assisted living facility. Ronda Washington says she told her supervisor about the alleged Illinois nursing home abuse incident on the day that she saw it happen in February 2009.
Washington says she believed the employee’s actions violated the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act. She contends that even though the Illinois nursing home is obligated to notify the government about the alleged abuse, the assisted living facility did not do so.
Washington says she approached her supervisor on a number of occasions to inquire as to when the abuse would be reported. She said she was worried that the employee would abuse more workers.
Washington says that on August 21, after approaching the Illinois nursing home again to inquire about whether or not the facility had fulfilled its obligation to report the alleged nursing home abuse incident, the long-term care home fired her.
Illinois nursing homes must report and investigate any incidents of possible nursing home abuse or neglect. Failure to do so is negligence and can result in more abuse or neglect incidents occurring, which could place the life of a patient or multiple nursing home residents at risk. Nursing home abuse can result in not just physical injuries, but also in psychological and emotional trauma that can cause a patient’s health to deteriorate.
If you suspect that your loved one is the victim of nursing home violence, you need to contact a Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer right away.
Nursing home worker claims she was fired after reporting abuse, The Record, September 3, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Illinois Nursing Home Care Act
