Chicago West Side Nursing Home Under Investigation Following Reports of Patient Violence
Last week, Illinois health authorities began a broad probe into whether a West Side nursing home has been accurately documented incidents involving patient abuse and violence. Columbus Park Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is one of the Chicago area assisted living facilities that houses older nursing home residents with younger mentally ill patients, including those who have felony criminal records.
The Chicago Tribune reports that when it initially asked the Illinois Department of Public Health for reports of assault allegations over the last 90 days involving the Chicago nursing home, the department at first said there were none. Health officials eventually came up with reports of three alleged beatings at the assisted living facility during this time period. Meantime, Chicago police say 11 alleged batteries occurred at Columbus Park Nursing & Rehabilitation Center over the same three-month period.
Just last August, Andres Cardona, a 72-year-old dementia patient was beaten by 62-year-old Ardyce Nauden, a mentally ill resident who has a history of aggressive behavior. The fatal beating happened when the 72-year-old wandered into Nauden’s room and started eating his lunch.
Five hours after the beating happened, the nursing home faxed an incident report to state officials notifying them that Cardona got hurt after Nauden threw a cup of water at the 72-year-old patient, striking him in the eye. Illinois health officials say because the report did not convey the seriousness of the attack, they did not immediately investigate the incident.
According to a state investigation, nursing home workers knew that Nauden could be violent yet neglected to protect the other patients from him. The Chicago nursing home, however, says it is challenging this finding.
A week after the fatal beating, a female patient reportedly sustained facial bruises after a 53-year-old patient who suffered from delusions and hallucinations punched her.
Preliminary data from Chicago police reports that there were 28 alleged battery, assault, or sexual assault incidents at Columbus Park between March 2008 and August 2009.
Chicago Nursing Home Neglect
Illinois nursing homes must protect residents from injuries. This includes making sure they don’t become the victims of Chicago nursing home abuse or neglect or patient violence. Unfortunately, too many residents are the victims of nursing home violence or neglect.
Compromised Care: West Side nursing home probed after death: Psychotic felon fatally beat dementia patient at facility with numerous reports of violence, records show, Behavioral Health Center, November 13, 2009
Chicago Nursing Home Assault by One Resident Seriously Injures another Patient, Steve Malman, August 27, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Compromised Care, Chicago Tribune
Please contact our Chicago, Illinois nursing home abuse law firm to discuss your case.
