Local Nursing Homes Fined

In recent news, it has been revealed that three nursing homes in central Illinois areas have been fined by the State of Illinois for violating their license agreements. The nursing home facilities that were fined include Gardenview Manor in Danville, University Rehab in Urbana, and Accolade Paxton Senior Living in Paxton. The violations were made aware after the Illinois Department of Public Health conducted routine inspections. University Rehab was charged with two Type B violations, while Accolade Paxton Senior Living was reprimanded with one Type B violation.

However, Gardenview Manor in Danville received the highest fine among the three for a Type A violation, totaling $25,000. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Type A violations are considered to be the second-most-serious violation category, meaning that there was a substantial probability that death or serious mental or physical harm will occur or has already occurred at this facility. In the case regarding Gardenview Manor, the facility gave a resident medication that was ordered for another resident. This resulted in the resident who received the wrong medication to require hospital care for anti-coagulant poisoning and low blood pressure, which was included in the IDPH’s report.

Nursing home abuse and neglect is a serious issue, and within this past week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made an announcement that was aimed to help consumers. Starting October 23^rd, the agency added a new icon next to nursing homes with reported violations. This icon is designed to make it easier for consumers to identify nursing homes that have been reported for violations regarding neglect, abuse or exploitation.

The website already provides information on nursing home violations, but it has been too difficult for consumers to access in the past, which is why the new icon has been added to the CMS’s Nursing Home Compare website. Updated monthly, the icon will warn consumers about the harmful abuse citations of residents within the past year and potential harmful abuse that occurred during the past two years. The icon comes after the agency’s initiative in April to ensure nursing home quality and safety, which is a growing concern in the healthcare system. This concern is a result of rising costs, an aging population, and shortages of staff. The CMS is focused on increasing transparency between nursing homes and consumers, strengthening oversight, and increasing enforcement of nursing home facility quality of care rules.

Situations of nursing home abuse or neglect are treated with the utmost importance at Spiros Law, P.C. and our attorneys understand the pain and suffering families experience as a result. At Spiros Law, P.C., our attorneys are experienced in handling legal matters involving nursing home abuse and neglect. If your loved one has suffered abuse, neglect or harm while receiving care at a nursing home facility, contact one of our attorneys today at (217) 443-4343 to discuss your available legal routes for receiving the compensation you and your loved one deserve.