Aperion Care Elgin

There comes a time in our life when we are faced with the gut-wrenching decision to place a loved one in an assisted living center or nursing home in the hopes that the facility can provide quality care. Unfortunately, many nursing facilities are understaffed, lack proper supervision and training, or are mismanaged.

As a result, the level of neglect and abuse at the facility can quickly rise to epidemic proportions and victimize some of our most vulnerable citizens. This terror upon the residents can continue for long periods of time or across multiple establishments in the Elgin, Il area until it is reported and the state and Medicare authorities put an end to it.

The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC recognize that family members need valuable information to make informed decisions when placing a beloved one in a nursing home. Because meeting the resident's goals and keeping them safe is a top priority, we publish the most current publicly available data on safety concerns, open investigations, and filed complaints at nursing facilities throughout Illinois.

Do you suspect that your loved one is the victim of mistreatment at Aperion Care Elgin nursing home? Contact our nursing home neglect and abuse attorneys at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Aperion Care Elgin

Aperion Care Elgin is a 102-certified bed Medicare/Medicaid for-profit nursing facility (not a continuing care retirement community) providing medical and hygiene assistance services to residents of Kane County, including Elgin, Illinois. The nursing home was previously identified as a Special Focus Facility (SFF), the lowest designation for providing residents with appropriate treatment and nursing care.

Aperion Care Elgin is located at:

134 North McLean Boulevard
Elgin, IL 60121
(847) 742-8822

Website: Aperion Care - Elgin

Located close to Fox River, the residents' facility provides various services, including:

• Joint replacement/orthopedic therapy and speech
• Occupational and physical therapies by qualified physical therapists
• Short-term rehabilitation
• Disabled and senior care
• Dementia/Alzheimer's care
• Wound care
• Pain management
• IV/infusion therapies
• Post-stroke rehabilitation
• Cardiac rehabilitation
• Diabetes management
• Medication management
• Tracheostomy care/respiratory therapy
• Behavior symptom management
• Feeding tubes
• Hospice/palliative care
• CHF management

It also provides residents with post-stroke and cardiac rehabilitation care, pain management, palliative care, hospice, and care solutions for Alzheimer's and dementia long-term care.

Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns

The federal government continually releases publicly available information on nursing facilities nationwide through its website portal. Currently, Aperion Care Elgin ranks two of five stars overall rating.

The facility maintains an overall two out of five stars under the federal government rating system. This includes four stars for quality measures and staffing and one star for health inspections.

The nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC have found numerous safety concerns. Some of these patients' quality measures include:

Failure to Ensure the Nursing Home Areas Free From Accident Hazards and Provides Adequate Supervision to Prevent Accidents – Deficiency #F0689

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated September 23, 2021, the state investigator documented a failure by Aperion Care Elgin to "assist residents identified as needing assistance with nail care and hygiene. The state investigator observed the resident lying in bed who was "alert and oriented" and permitted the surveyor to look at his toenails.

The surveyor noticed that the elastic band around his socks "had left an indented mark around the ankle area," leaving his feet swollen, dry, and flaky. His right big toe "had a discolored area rubbing against the right second toe digit," and the "third right toe digit had a black discoloration that was not blanchable."

One toenail was loose from the nailbed, and the others were "long, with a thick accumulation of yellow substance under the nails." The Director of Nursing stated at the time that "it must be a fungal infection."

Resident Tried To Get Help

The resident stated, "I called the front desk multiple times for the past few weeks for a foot doctor. Up till now, I am still waiting. I am a diabetic, so I need a foot doctor." The Director of Nursing stated that the resident "needed to be put on the list for the podiatrist to see him."

The surveyor noted seeing a second resident lying in bed whose toenails were "long and edges word jagged. That resident also had a "black discoloration on the nail bed" that the resident was saying was "getting bigger." The Director of Nursing stated that the resident would be placed on the podiatry list.

A third resident was seen lying in bed with long toenails jagged with "a thick accumulation of yellow substance under the nail beds. The resident stated "that she would like to see a doctor, but "I have no money to pay him."

The surveyor identified four other residents in the facility with long, jagged toenails requiring podiatry care.

Separate Summary on Nursing Home Hazards

In a separate summary statement of deficienciesdated April 19, 2022, the state investigators noted that Aperion Care Elgin failed to "initiate interventions for a resident assessed to be at risk for elopement [wandering away]. The facility failed to follow their elopement protocol to call the police when a resident is missing."

The investigator also noted that the facility "failed to follow their policy and procedure to complete an accident/incident report and notify the Illinois Department of Public Health following the elopement of the resident."

The investigation involved an admitted resident whose care plan stated they were "unsteady on their feet and had "depressive episodes… restlessness and agitation, anxiety disorder," and other conditions.

Patient Had Past Wandering Behavior

The resident's Minimum Data Set (MDS) revealed that they were "cognitively intact and did have wandering behavior," requiring "limited assistance of one person for bed mobility, transfers, walking, and toilet use." The resident's aggressive behavior assessment stated they "had a moderate problem with general awareness."

However, the investigators noted that there was no care plan, resident's preferences, or intervention at Aperion Care Elgin for the resident's elopement risk.

A licensed practical nurse (LPN) working at Aperion Care Elgin stated that on November 11, 2021, between 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM, they were making resident rounds when he could not find the resident in his room "in the bedroom, the window was open."

Staff Can't Remember If They Called Police

The LPN said they called a Code Pink indicating a resident was missing and notified the Director of Nursing. The LPN stated that it was very chaotic at the time and could not recall if anyone had called law enforcement.

At approximately 6:00 AM that morning, a telephone call from the hospital notified him that the police had found the resident and transported him to the emergency room.

The State investigators reviewed the facility's Code Pink Missing Resident/Elopement policy from November 15, 2018. The policy stated, "if an employee discovered a resident was missing from the facility, they should alert the staff by announcing Code Pink over the paging system and [thoroughly search] the building on the premises. The policy showed that the sheriff or police department should be notified and file a missing person report."

Why an Infection Prevention and Control Program in Nursing Homes Saves Lives

In the United States, nursing homes must have a prevention method against infection and a control program. However, a recent study found that many homes for the elderly and disabled do not perform activities that comply with this requirement.

The study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine found that only 49 percent of nursing homes had an effective infection prevention and control program for their residents.

The study also found that residents of nursing homes with effective prevention and containment programs were less likely to develop a hospital-acquired infection. The study found that the risk of hospital-acquired infections was reduced by 47 percent among residents of nursing homes with effective infection prevention programs.

This is significant because hospital-acquired infections can be deadly for nursing home residents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that hospital-acquired infections kill more than 100,000 Americans yearly.

The most highly infectious diseases in nursing homes include:

• Clostridium difficile (C-diff): This highly contagious disease can quickly spread between residents when the nursing staff fails to clean and disinfect surfaces properly. C-diff produces toxins that can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even death to high-risk seniors.
• Norovirus: This highly contagious virus causes severe vomiting and diarrhea and can be spread easily through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. It is especially dangerous for elderly residents who may become dehydrated quickly.
• MRSA: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a type of staph bacteria resistant to many antibiotics. It can cause skin infections, pneumonia, and bloodstream infections and can be spread easily through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.
• Influenza: The flu is a highly contagious virus that can cause fever, cough, body aches, and severe respiratory illness. It can be spread easily through contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva or mucus.
• Shingles virus: A viral infection that causes a painful rash and is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. It can be spread through contact with the rash or any of the fluid from the blisters.
• Hepatitis C: A viral infection that affects the liver and causes fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. It is spread through contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected person.
• Ebola: A deadly virus that causes fever, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. It can lead to widespread internal bleeding and death. Ebola is spread through contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected person.
• Zika virus: is a mosquito-borne virus linked to birth defects and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. Zika virus is most commonly spread through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.

Nursing homes must have effective infection prevention and control programs in place. An effective infection prevention and control program can help protect nursing home residents from deadly hospital-acquired infections.

Standard sterilization protocols include:

• Thoroughly washing hands when entering and exiting a patient's room can help reduce the spread of disease among residents.
• Gloves should always be worn when caring for all patients and residents, and hands should be washed regularly.
• Sanitize all equipment before and after use to prevent the spread of infection between residents.
• Use disposable residents' bed linens and gowns to avoid the spread of bacteria and other contaminants.
• Clean spills immediately to prevent the growth of bacteria and other pathogens.
• Disinfect all surfaces regularly to prevent the spread of germs.
• Keep all residents' rooms tidy per the resident's preferences to minimize the risk of contamination.

Report any concerns about nursing home abuse or neglect happening to residents immediately. Educate yourself on the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect to protect yourself or a beloved one.

Urinary Tract Infection

The nursing home staff at every long-term care establishment must follow proper procedures and protocols that prevent urinary tract infections common to at-risk patients. Following treatment and prevention protocols can minimize the potential risk of spreading an infection from one area of the body to another and between patients.

Common nursing home UTI protocols for residents include:

• Wear only sterile gloves when providing perineal care to help protect the resident from any possible infection.
• Always use proper hand hygiene techniques when caring for nursing home residents that will help to prevent the spread of any potential infection among residents.
• Dispose of soiled linens and clothing properly.
• Make sure that all medical equipment is properly sterilized before use.
• Clean all surfaces thoroughly with a disinfectant cleaner.
• Ensure that all nursing home residents are up-to-date on their vaccinations.
• Report any signs or symptoms of a urinary tract infection to a supervisor immediately.
• The ability to follow all prescribed treatment protocols for urinary tract infections.
• Keep a close eye on nursing home residents at risk of developing a UTI.

Following these protocols can eliminate emergency room visits and nearby hospitals to treat an uncontrolled infection requiring appropriate treatment or urgent care.

Eliminating Nursing Home-Acquired Bedsores

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services(CMS), nearly all bedsores (pressure sores, pressure wounds, pressure ulcers, decubitus ulcers) are preventable when the staff follows established nursing home resident care protocols.

Many nursing home residents are at high risk for skin diseases, which is why bedsores are devastating. Bedsores can quickly become infected when left untreated and cause sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Bedsores occur when pressure from a person's weight restricts blood flow to the skin. This major injury most commonly occurs on the heels, buttocks, and hips. As the skin becomes starved of blood, it can begin to break down and form sores. Bedsores are often painful and can be difficult to treat.

On average, nursing home residents develop bedsores because they spend long periods of time in bed or sitting in a wheelchair, especially elderly patients who are more prone to pressure ulcers. In addition, residents with diabetes or circulatory problems are also at risk for developing bedsores.

Nursing centers should take advantage of preventing bedsores by regularly changing the resident's position and using special mattresses and cushions that reduce pressure on the skin. Their prompt efforts to provide care to a developing sore, including appropriate medication and dressings, can save residents lives.

Nursing Home Resident Rights to Voice Grievances

The nursing staff must follow appropriate protocols that meet the resident's preferences, goals and needs, which could eventually lead to the resident's discharge from the establishment to return home. The protocol should include meeting the resident's nutritional needs and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any patient who cannot remain active without assistance.

Nurses and nurse aides must also provide care and service to meet the resident's medical and nutritional needs to meet the resident's goals while in the long-term care facility. Any failure to do so could lead to the resident's grievance for the facility's failure to provide appropriate treatment, care, and nutrition.

Residents in nursing centers have the right to file formal complaints to voice grievances, access to the facility's grievance policy, and the right to resolve grievances. Residents can file a grievance if they feel they are being abused or neglected.

The facility must have a grievance policy that is easy to access and explains how residents can file complaints to resolve grievances regarding major injury, daily living conditions, inability to provide prompt efforts to residents before or after a resident's discharge from a Elgin, Il disabled and senior residents long-term care establishment.

The policy must also explain how the resident will be notified of the outcome of the grievance.

When a Family Member Must File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against the Facility

Nursing home neglect and abuse can lead to the resident's wrongful death. When this occurs, every immediate family member has the legal right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against anyone whose actions lead to their beloved family member's death.

Typically, those who qualify include the surviving spouse, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, sibling, or others. In some cases, the decedent never designated a legal representative. In these cases, the Illinois civil court judge will likely appoint one.

A lawsuit can provide financial compensation to recover all of their damages, including:

• Funeral & burial costs
• Hospital bills and medical expenses not covered by Medicare
• Loss benefits
• Loss of consortium and companionship
• The decedent's pain and suffering before dying
• The family's pain, suffering, grief, and mental anxiety over their loss

However, filing a wrongful death lawsuit is complex and often requires personal injury lawyers specializing in nursing home abuse and neglect cases. Our Elgin, IL law firm has helped many families in Illinois hold the nursing facility responsible for the loss of life and those financially accountable.

Elgin, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

If you or your beloved one are a long-term care patient at an Illinois establishment and have suffered serious harm, injuries, or abuse while in the hands of nursing home caregivers, including those that Aperion Care Elgin, call us today.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC have the ability to take immediate legal steps to stop the disabled or senior care center's unacceptable behavior to residents. Our Illinois nursing facility abuse case attorneys can file claims and lawsuits on your behalf to seek financial recompense.

We encourage you to contact our law offices today by calling (888) 424-5757. Our attorneys handle all personal injury, nursing home neglect, Medicare coverage, and medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis.

Resources:

• NCEA - Reporting Nursing Home Abuse
• WHO-Elder Abuse