Inspections of Illinois Assisted Living Facilities Leave State Officials Disappointed
According to the Chicago Tribune, Illinois officials were dismayed at some of the assisted living facilities in the state. The officials shared their findings with the Nursing Home Safety Task Force, which was set up by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.
The Illinois nursing homes were reportedly crowded with lots of mentally ill residents who did not appear to be getting the proper care. Some of the officials wondered whether these patients should be living in Illinois nursing homes.
For example, according to Lorrie Rickman Jones, the Division of Mental Health Director, nearly 80% of the patients living at one nursing home had a mental illness that facility administrators categorized as a “secondary diagnosis.” Jones was not convinced that these patients’ medical conditions warrant that they stay in an assisted living facility.
The Chicago Tribune notes that the classification of a nursing home patient’s condition is very important, because if more than 50% of a nursing home’s beds sleep residents that are exclusively mentally ill, the federal government will cease reimbursing Illinois for he nursing home care provided by that facility.
Chicago, Illinois Nursing Home Negligence
In Illinois, the debate over whether it makes to house mentally ill patients with elderly residents or patients that are sick from other health conditions continues. The reason for concern is that violent crimes at nursing homes involving mentally ill assailants and resident victims continue to occur. Nursing homes can be held liable for Illinois nursing home neglect if they fail to protect residents from becoming victims of nursing home abuse.
Nursing home inspections stun state officials, Chicago Tribune, December 17, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Illinois Department of Human Services
Our Chicago nursing home neglect lawyers represent patients and their families in Illinois cities throughout Will County, DuPage County, Cook County, and Lake County.
