Elder Law

Illinois Nursing Home Facing Fines for Abuse

By Levin & Perconti

LaSalle County could face federal and state fines of $20,000 or more for violating codes at a nursing home where a male patient is accused of sexually molesting 10 women. The Illinois Department of Public Health recommended that the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services fine LaSalle County $20,000 plus $100 for each day between the times that the complaint was filed until a review showed the nursing home was back in compliance. The Illinois Department of Public Health spokesperson stated the violations resulted from ?systemic problems? at the LaSalle County Nursing Home, problems that resulted in the man abusing other patients. The male patient abused dementia patients from December until May. Nurses, employees and patients interviewed by the state health department said that the male resident touched female residents? breasts, tried to kiss them and used foul language in talking about sex in the nursing home?s common areas. The report stated that due to the administrative staff?s failures to implement policies and procedures for elderly abuse, failure to recognize abuse, and failure to effectively manage facility resources, sexual abuse occurred for 10 residents. The fines levied to LaSalle County were typical for the types of violations found at the home. To read more about the nursing home violations, please click the link.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on August 07, 2009 (boomark / email).