Illinois House and Senate Pass the Nursing Reform Bill
The Illinois House and Senate have approved the nursing home reform bill. The legislation is aimed at improving the care and safety levels at assisted living facilities throughout the state. Senate Bill 326 is now headed for Governor Pat Quinn's desk.
Measures in the bill include mandating that nursing homes beef up their staffing levels, satisfy higher standards before taking in residents that are suffering from serious mental illnesses, and keep more dangerous patients in secure areas where they can be supervised more closely and receive more intensive treatment. The bill also paves ground for the transfer of thousands of mentally ill patients out of assisted living facilities into community treatment programs where they can receive more appropriate and effective care. The legislation reflects the 38 recommendations made by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s Nursing Home Safety Task Force that was created following a Chicago Tribune investigation into nursing home violence that has been occurring between residents.
Our Chicago, Illinois nursing home law neglect and abuse firm is pleased to hear that lawmakers are taking steps to provide patients with the nursing care and protection that they need. Too many residents have suffered because nursing homes did not give them the proper care or make sure that they were kept away from violent residents and abusive nursing home employees. The fact that sexual assaults, assault and battery, and murders have occurred at numerous assisted living facilities throughout the state is evidence that the current system needed to be changed.
Most people that live in nursing homes do so because they need help, including specialized nursing care and assistance with their daily self-care needs. Assisted living facilities know this, and it is their job to give residents that care while protecting them from harm.
Nursing home reform bill passes Illinois House, Chicago Tribune, May 6, 2010
Legislature Passes Sweeping Nursing Homes Reform Bill, PRNewsire, May 7, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Final Report, Nursing Home Safety Task Force (PDF)
Compromised Care, Chicago Tribune
Please contact our Chicago nursing home neglect lawyers today.
