Bria Nursing Home Palos Hills

Nursing homes have a legal duty to report any abuse or allegation to the proper authorities, including the facility's administrator, IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health), state agencies, and local law enforcement, if a crime has been committed.

Unfortunately, many nursing homes fail to train their nursing staff to take appropriate measures and explicitly follow procedures and policies to minimize the potential of the victim being subjected to additional harm.

Were you abused or mistreated in Bria Nursing Home Palos? The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC have represented many victims of abuse who have suffered a severe injury at the hands of their caregivers. Call our nursing home affiliate law firm at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) to determine your legal rights.

Providing express written consent to our legal team is the first step towards holding the responsible parties accountable and seeking compensation on behalf of your family member.

Bria of Palos Hills

Bria of Palos Hills is a very large facility. The center is a for-profit 177-certified bed Medicare and Medicaid-participating senior living long-term care facility (not a continuing care retirement community) providing services to Palos Hills and Chicago area residents. The facility is located at:

10426 South Roberts
Palos Hills, Illinois 60465
(708) 598-3460

Website: https://briahs.com/location/palos-hills-long-term-care/

Bria of Palos Hills offers:

• Skilled nursing care
• Long-term care
• Rehabilitation therapies, including physical, occupational, and speech
• Wound care
• Memory care
• Orthopedic rehabilitation
• Senior living opportunities
• Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
• Cardiac care
• Hemodialysis
• STRIVE Center for Rehabilitation
• Behavioral Health

Palos Hills Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns

To ensure the information about nursing facilities remains current, the state of Illinois and the federal government routinely update their databases with the overall rating to reflect quality measures, such as newly opened investigations, filed complaints, safety concerns, and health violations at facilities in the United States. The updated information is then posted on various state and federal sites, including Medicare.gov.

Bria of Palos Hills maintains an overall two out of five available star ratings in the national star rating summary system compared to all other facilities in the United States. Their overall rating includes five out of five stars for quality measures, one out of five stars for staffing issues, and two out of five stars for health concerns of any medical reason.

Our Palos Hills nursing home neglect attorneys have found numerous complaints, investigations, and safety concerns involving this facility that include:

Failure to Protect Each Resident from all Types of Abuse Such as Physical, Mental, Sexual Abuse, Physical Punishment, and Neglect by Anybody – Deficiency #F0600

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated February 17, 2022, the State investigators determined that Bria of Palos Hills "failed to prevent a patient who is at risk for abuse and neglect from being physically abused by another resident."

One male resident was admitted to the facility with Alzheimer's disease, dysphagia, anxiety disorder, pharyngoesophageal phase, and other conditions due to a substance or known physiological condition, unspecified hearing loss, dementia, etc.

The other male resident has been living at the facility over the long-term, with a history of major depressive disorder, depressive symptoms, anxiety disorder, cognitive-communication disorder, ocular hypertension, unsteadiness on feet, repeated falls, essential primary hypertension, etc.

The State investigator noted that neither resident could account for what happened, one because he cannot remember and the other that he cannot respond.

Both Residents Have Known Aggressive Behavior

However, witness reports indicate that one resident attacked the other while they were in the dining room near dinner time and were separated by a staff member. There were no injuries or pain documented. The nursing home transferred both residents of the Palos Community Hospital emergency room for evaluation.

An interview with the assistant administrator revealed that "both residents affected have a history of physical aggression. On the day of the incident, staff indicated that both residents were beside each other in their wheelchairs.

Only one resident could get up from the wheelchair unassisted, and neither one was being supervised at the time. Their health status after the incident was not documented in their medical records, which indicates deplorable professional standards.

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

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated December 16, 2021, the State investigators determined that Bria of Palos Hills Bria nursing home "failed to have two-person staff assistance when providing transfer care to residents who are completely dependent on staff or activities of daily living and who are known to require at least two staff members while care is being provided."

The State investigators identified one woman admitted to the facility with a cognitive communication deficit, an open wound on the left hip, and difficulty walking. Shortly after the alleged violations, the woman returned home to be with family.

The Director of Nursing stated that though they were not in the building when the incident occurred, they were informed that trained nurses transferred the resident "into bed with family observing the encounter."

Alleged Abusive Nurse Aide Transfers Patient

The Bria of Palos Hills Director did state that they were part of the termination process due to "multiple complaints received of [the trained nurses' aide] attitude from the residence that [the aide] "took care of."

The Director stated, "I don't think it was abusive." The aid approach "was just not friendly or inviting. I don't know who was responsible for training the aide at the time of hire or during their working shift."

The Director stated that she investigated the residents affected and "the incident as abuse from the way [the resident's] family member stated that [their loved one] was slung from the chair to the bed and did not substantiate the abuse." The Director immediately suspended the aide after receiving the concern, pending an investigation.

Failure to Protect Each Resident from All Types of Abuse Such as Physical, Mental, Sexual Abuse, Physical Punishment, and Neglect by Anybody – Deficiency #F0600

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated November 23, 2021, the State investigators determined that Bria of Palos Hills "failed to transcribe initial treatment orders and implement treatment orders for [1 resident] review for pressure ulcers treatment." The neglect by the staff resulted in a 5-day delay in the resident receiving wound care services, which led to a major injury.

The case involved a male resident admitted to the facility after an above-the-knee amputation of the right leg and a revision of the amputation on the left leg.

The Bria of Palos Hills resident's medical documents revealed his mental status was severely impaired. The hospital release form recommended wound care for the lower extremity wounds and a pressure ulcer on the sacrum. In addition, there were five deep tissue pressure injuries to the lumbar-sacral spinal column.

The Palos Community Hospital records show that the resident would return to the facility as an outpatient in the next 2 or 3 weeks as a follow-up.

On November 17, 2021, the Assistant Director of Nursing stated that nurses are to go through hospital paperwork and place orders. "The nurse should call the resident's doctor to verify orders or call the doctor to get the orders. Nurses are responsible for inputting the orders."

The following day, the resident's primary care physician stated, "there is no reason why the resident should not have had wound orders from the hospital or me." The physician also said that he was unaware that the resident "did not have wound care orders on admission" until sometime after he was admitted to the facility.

Physical Abuse in Nursing Homes

Nursing home abuse is a serious problem that often goes unnoticed, and residents affected by such don't usually speak up. Physical abuse in nursing facilities between residents is one form of abuse that can occur. This type of abuse often happens due to a lack of supervision by the staff.

The elderly are often the victims of physical abuse in nursing homes. It is because they are often weaker and more vulnerable than other residents. They may also be less likely to be able to defend themselves against an attack.

Physical abuse can include slapping, hitting, kicking, or shoving. It can also include force-feeding or restraining residents. This abuse can cause serious injuries, such as bruising, cuts, and broken bones.

Residents who are abused may feel scared, alone, and helpless. They may also feel ashamed or reluctant to report the abuse. It is vital for family members and friends of nursing home residents to be aware of the signs of physical abuse and to report any concerns they have to the staff or local authorities.

Types of Abuse by the Nursing Staff

When providing care to elderly residents in nursing homes, nurses and nurse aides must be careful not to become too aggressive. Often, patients cannot defend themselves from such physical abuse and can suffer severe injuries as a result.

Emotional abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse. When nurses and nurse aides are aggressive when providing care, it can lead to emotional abuse. This abuse can involve yelling, swearing, or even insulting the resident.

The abuse can also include ignoring the resident or isolating them from other residents. Emotional abuse can leave the resident feeling scared, anxious, and alone.

Psychological abuse involving isolating residents from their loved ones can be horrifying. It might include preventing them from having contact with friends and family members or refusing to let them leave the nursing home for visits. It can be very distressing for the patient, and residents affected by emotional abuse can feel loneliness and depression.

Nursing Home Negligence

The elderly are some of the most vulnerable members of our society. They often depend on others for their basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing. When these needs are not met, it can be a sign of nursing home neglect.

Neglect can take many different forms. It may include failure to serve food, water, or lack of hygiene. It may also involve leaving elderly residents in bed for long periods or failing to provide necessary and fully informed medical care.

When the nursing home neglects its maintenance, such as not checking for firmly secured handrails, it is a form of negligence.

Nursing home neglect can have severe consequences for residents. It can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and other serious health problems. When a resident needs help eating, a staff member must be available to procure food during meal times. In extreme cases, neglect can even lead to death.

If the nursing facility doesn't have an attending physician and a licensed pharmacist at all times, it can lead to situations where the residents have their medical needs neglected by the lack of adequate staff.

If you believe your loved one is being neglected in a nursing home, it is vital to take action. You can contact the authorities or hire an attorney to help you get the care your loved one deserves.

Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common and potentially serious problem for nursing home residents. UTIs can cause pain, fever, and general malaise, leading to more severe infections like sepsis. Nursing home staff must provide pharmaceutical services and treatment to minimize UTIs.

One of the main ways that nursing homes can prevent UTIs is by providing residents with adequate hydration. Nursing home staff should encourage residents to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. In addition, residents should be encouraged to use the restroom frequently.

Bria of Palos Hills staff should also ensure that residents take their prescribed antibiotics. If residents are not taking their antibiotics correctly or are missing doses, this can lead to the development of resistant bacteria and subsequent UTIs.

Nursing home staff must also be alert to the signs and symptoms of UTIs. If a resident displays any of the following signs or symptoms, staff should immediately notify a doctor: pain or burning when urinating, urgency or frequency of urination, cloudy or bloody urine, pelvic pain, fever, and chills.

Staff members can help minimize urinary tract infection risk for nursing home residents by providing pharmaceutical services and treatment.

How Appropriate Care and an Infection Prevention Control Program Can Minimize UTIs and Bed Sores

UTIs are common in nursing home residents and can often be treated effectively with antibiotics. However, UTIs can lead to serious health complications, such as sepsis, if left untreated. Residents affected by UTIs need to be under constant surveillance.

Bed sores are common in nursing home residents and can often be prevented with reasonable care and professional standards. By implementing an appropriate care plan and an effective infection prevention control program in senior care, nursing homes can minimize the risk of UTIs and bed sores among their residents.

Malnutrition and Dehydration

Malnourishment can come about in nursing facilities in many ways. It can be created by factors such as poor nutrition intake from an unbalanced diet, hardship to procure food, eating disorders, digestive diseases, chronic conditions that prevent a person from eating enough food, medication side effects, a lack of enough staff to serve food in a dining room, and even neglect or abuse from lack of professional standards.

When it comes to senior care, it's essential to know that illnesses like Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's, as well as residents in memory care, are often accompanied by a lack of thirst, which makes recognizing the signs of dehydration in residents affected by the condition critical.

A handful of signs to look for when spotting the residents affected by dehydration and malnutrition. People who suffer from malnutrition will experience different symptoms depending on how severe their case is, ranging from mild to life-threatening.

Some conditions that can result from malnutrition include:

• Osteoporosis
• Anemia
• Peptic ulcers
• Skin problems
• Kidney stones
• Seizures
• Mental confusion

Nursing Home Staffing Problems

In the United States, the issues caused by understaffing in senior citizen home centers have gotten so bad that it is now illegal to underpay staff. Chronic staff shortages negatively affect elderly care facility residents, from daily discomfort and anguish to extreme cases like wrongful death.

Many patients in these facilities cannot care for themselves physically, mentally, or at both levels. Less personnel implies less assistance in getting elderly people moving. This particular step is crucial to reduce or altogether avoid the risk of getting pressure ulcers.

Residents affected by staff shortages can be severely injured from lack of proper care. Even simple duties like following proper hygiene practices provide challenges for facilities. Authorities need to pay particular attention to the ongoing nursing care staff deficit. Several examples show how this condition results in suffering, agony, and even death.

Medication Errors and Overmedication

Every year, preventable medication administration errors cause hundreds of thousands of adverse drug events, some of which in care facilities can be fatal or result in serious illnesses or injuries. These mistakes include giving incorrect prescriptions or dosages, mislabeling pharmaceuticals, failing to obtain a thorough medical history, and neglecting to record the patient's reactions to specific medications.

Approximately 800,000 adverse drug events occur each year in long-term care institutions, meaning residents affected by medication errors are particularly vulnerable to permanent harm or death.

A medication error known as overmedication occurs when a nursing home resident is given too much medication in terms of amount or dosage.

Intentional overmedication occurs when a facility wrongly intends to sedate a patient for extended periods, also known as a "chemical restraint," rather than addressing the patient's problem, which frequently results from a flawed caretaking philosophy that often resorts to overmedication.

Unintentional overmedication can occur due to understaffing or inexperienced, improperly trained staff. Residents affected by this, whether deliberate or not, can suffer from significant harm, illness, or even death, and nursing facilities ought to be held legally liable for these mistakes.

Palos Hills Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Do you suspect a family member is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect while at Bria of Palos Hills nursing homes or partner providers of care? Do you believe the staff failed to respond appropriately to your loved one's needs?

The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can take immediate legal action to hold the facility accountable for substandard nursing home care. Call us today at (888) 424-5757 ( toll-free phone number) or use the contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Our legal team accepts all personal injury cases and wrongful death lawsuits on a contingency fee agreement. This arrangement ensures you will pay no upfront fees until we resolve your issue through a negotiated settlement or jury award.

Our Cook County elder abuse lawyers have years of experience handling nursing home cases involving abuse, mistreatment, sexual assault, negligence, and financial exploitation. Providing express written consent to our legal team is the first step towards compensation.

We have immediate access to all necessary resources to investigate your case, gather evidence, and file a claim on your behalf to obtain the financial compensation you deserve.

Resources:

• WHO-Information About Elder Abuse
• NCLER-Older Adults Abuse