Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

State authorities are trying to determine whether someone tipped off to a Chicago nursing home that it was about to receive a surprise inspection by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office. Celeste Jensen, the facility administrator for Grasmere Place, was reportedly waiting for law enforcement officials when they arrived on July 22 for what should have been a surprise “Operation Guardian” investigation.

When inspectors arrived for the surprise visit in July, the Chicago nursing home was fully staffed and undergoing repairs. However, during an unannounced follow-up visit on August 16, the facility was in less immaculate condition and there were less staff members on duty. Jensen says that a city official from the Department of Family and Support Services had warned her about the original visit.

Operation Guardian
The unannounced visits under “Operation Guardian" are supposed to protect residents from Illinois nursing home abuse and neglect. State and local law enforcement teams and health inspectors work together to conduct unannounced inspections of assisted living facilities to make sure that they are in compliance with safety and health regulations and remove patients that have outstanding arrest warrants from the premises. If nursing homes are notified in advance about the visits, they may remedy any existing safety issues, health hazards, and other violations prior to the inspection to make it appear as if there are none. To date, the sweeps have led to the arrest of at least 20 residents with outstanding warrants.

Inspection was no surprise to nursing home, Chicago Breaking News, September 1, 2010

Related Web Resources:
IIllinois Department of Family and Support Services

Illinois Attorney General

Related Blog Story:

Illinois Nursing Home Sweep Leads to Fugitive’s Arrest, Chicagonursinghomeabuselawyerblog.com, July 2, 2010