Raids of Two Chicago Area Nursing Homes Uncovers at Least 18 Residents with Outstanding Felony Arrest Warrants
Last week, US, Illinois, and Cook County officials entered two Chicago area nursing homes to identify 18 residents with outstanding arrest warrants for felony crimes ranging from disorderly conduct to assault. Five people were arrested. One of them was a sex offender who failed to register in another US state. Three of the patients identified were too sick to be removed from their nursing home. Other warrants could not be enforced right away because authorities from other jurisdictions had issued them.
Nine of the Chicago nursing home patients with outstanding warrants were staying at Columbus Park Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. The other nine were residents of the Heather Health Center in Harvey. Authorities say there are three more nursing home patients with outstanding arrest warrants living in Somerset Place.
According to state records, the two Chicago area nursing homes involved in the sweep are home to a significant number of younger mentally ill residents and felons. As of December 10, 32 of the patients residing at Columbus Park were felons. 62 were diagnosed as suffering from a mental illness. 123 of the193 nursing home patients were younger than 65. At Heather Health Center, there were 32 felons residing in the Harvey nursing home on December 10. 49 patients were mentally ill. 58 out of 108 residents were younger than 65.
Illinois officials continue to remain concerned over the number of nursing home residents that are hurt by younger nursing home residents who are mentally ill and/or have violent tendencies. Patient violence can be grounds for Chicago, Illinois nursing home negligence if the assisted living facility could have acted otherwise to prevent the physical assault, sexual assault, or murder from happening.
This is not the first sweep of this kind involving Illinois nursing homes. According to the Chicago Tribune, Illinois State Police removed about 80 sex offenders and fugitives from 20 Northern Illinois assisted living facilities between January 2005 and June 2006. Following that sweep, there was a nearly 67% drop in the number of Illinois nursing home neglect and abuse complaints filed.
Illinois nursing homes are supposed to provide its residents with medical attention, nursing care, and physical protection from injury accidents and violent crimes.
Nursing home sweeps find 18 residents with outstanding warrants, Chicago Tribune, December 23, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Madigan Calls for Tougher Safeguards at Nursing Homes, Lisa Madigan, October 8, 2009
Compromised Care, Chicago Tribune
An experienced Chicago, Illinois nursing home negligence law firm can help you pursue your claim.
