Aperion Care Dolton

Thousands of people in nursing homes across the United States are abused or suffer at the hands of nurses and other staff. Often, these victims cannot speak up for themselves or demand their care plan be followed appropriately.

Residents affected by more severe diseases are particularly vulnerable to these dangers because they often cannot advocate for themselves. They may be unable to speak up when they are not being appropriately treated or all the resident’s needs are not met.

Were you abused or neglected while residing at Aperion Care Dolton? The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can help. Let our attorneys file a compensation claim to ensure your family receives the financial compensation they deserve.

Contact our Illinois nursing home abuse law firm at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form to schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

Aperion Care Dolton

This facility is an 88-certified bed Medicare and Medicaid-approved for-profit nursing facility (not a continuing care retirement community) providing care and services to Cook County residents. Aperion Care Dolton is located at:

14325 South Blackstone
Dolton, IL 60419
(708) 849-5000
Website: https://aperioncare.com/locations/dolton/

Aperion Care Dolton provides care, services, and amenities:

• Assisted Living
• Cardiac Rehab
• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Management
• Community Reintegration
• Dementia/Alzheimer’s Care
• Diabetes Management
• Feeding Tubes
• Hospice/Palliative Care
• IV/Infusion Therapy
• Medication Management
• Occupational Therapy
• Orthopedic/Joint Replacement Therapy
• Pain Management
• Physical Therapy
• Post-Stroke Rehab
• Respiratory Care
• Tracheostomy Care
• Short-term Rehabilitation
• Skilled Nursing Care
• Speech Therapy
• Wound Care
• Beauty salon

Aperion Care Dolton Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provides regularly updated information on all nursing homes in the U.S providing care to Medicare patients. The data includes all nursing home inspections, substantiated complaints, penalties, violations, and other safety concerns.

Many families can access Medicare and Medicaid information to determine the best nearby nursing facilities. Thus ensuring their loved one will receive the highest level of care and assistance with activities of daily living, including residents affected by severe and demanding health conditions.

Aperion Care Dolton maintains one out of five stars overall rating with the Medicare ranking system compared to all other facilities nationwide.

The average ranking for Aperion Care Dalton includes:

• Two out of five stars for health inspections
• One out of five stars for staffing issues
• Four out of five stars for quality measures

The care, service, and amenities at Aperion Care Dolton, include providing senior care where residents enjoy a comfortable healing experience, are not adequately met by the Aperion Care facilities.

The Cook County nursing home abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC have reviewed dozens of inspections, investigations, and surveys involving Aperion Care Dolton and have found serious health concerns, including:

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 August 29, 2021, the state inspectors determined that Aperion Care Dolton failed to “provide safe transfer while in a wheelchair by not attaching foot rests to a wheelchair while staff pushed the resident down the hallway to prevent a resident’s fall.” Staff must prepare residents who are being moved or need help.

Investigators reviewed a resident’s progress notes, which should contain all the resident’s needs, dated August 17, 2021, revealing that the patient “sustained a fall while a certified nursing assistant was pushing her wheelchair.” The nursing home staff sent the resident to the emergency room for evaluation.

The investigation determined that the resident was found in the hallway lying on her right side after being pushed in a wheelchair into the dining room. She abruptly dropped her feet to the floor, propelling her out of the wheelchair.

Aperion Care Dolton should have enough staffing levels to prevent accidents of this kind. All patients must be moved, and nurses and other staff must be prepared to provide appropriate transfers without accident hazards.

Failure to Protect Each Resident from the Wrongful use of the Resident’s Belongings or Money – Deficiency #F0602

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated August 23, 2021, the state inspectors determined that Aperion Care Dolton failed to protect a nursing home resident from “misappropriation of root property or exploitation. This failure affected two residents.”

In one case, the investigators interviewed a resident who stated that a former employee had stolen their belongings. The nursing home resident said, “I gave her the key to borrow my lighter, and she stole my stuff.”

Investigators asked the nursing home resident what was stolen and received the response, “my lighter, cigarette, and a $5 bill.”

Failure to Ensure That Residents Are Free from Significant Medication Errors – Deficiency #F0760

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated February 19, 2021, the state inspectors determined that Aperion Care Dolton failed to “follow the doctor order for safe medication administration for one patient.”

Investigators observed a nursing home License Practical Nurse (LPN) giving a resident medications. The investigators asked the LPN to confirm the doctor’s orders. The LPN responded, “I gave the resident the wrong medication. The dose I gave is double” the dose for anticonvulsant medication.

Investigators interviewed the Aperion Care Dolton acting Director of Nursing, who said, ” I expect the nurses will follow the medication guidelines.”

Lack of Appropriate Pressure Ulcer Care a Significant Threat in Nursing Homes

Nursing home residents risk developing pressure ulcers (bedsores, pressure sores, pressure wounds, and decubitus ulcers). Without appropriate pressure ulcer care, these dangerous lesions can start developing when a patient cannot move around and their skin is constantly in contact with a surface, such as a bed or a wheelchair.

The constant pressure in the same region of the patient’s body can cause the skin to break down and form an open wound, leading to a major injury.

These ulcers can be excruciating and lead to serious health complications, including infection and death. They are also costly to treat for the patient and the healthcare system.

The multiple stages of degrading pressure sores include:

• Stage I: During the initial stage, the wound appears reddened and discolored with no skin breakage. New ulcers can heal within a few days with immediate appropriate pressure ulcer care.

• Stage II: The wound may be open and have drainage at this stage. The surrounding skin may be red, swollen, and tender. The injury may take up to two weeks to heal with proper skin care intervention.

• Stage III: The wound is now a deep sore that goes through the muscle and down to the bone. The surrounding tissue is severely damaged. The injury can take up to four weeks to heal with appropriate pressure ulcer care.

• Stage IV: This is the most severe stage of bedsores. The wound extends down to the bone and tendon. The tissue is necrotic, and there is a high risk for infection. The injury can take up to eight weeks to fully heal with proper skin care intervention.

• Unstageable: Necrotic (dead) tissue, dried blood, and built-up debris inside an open wound make it extremely challenging to accurately diagnose the wound stage. Typically, a surgeon must surgically remove (debride) the dead tissue from the area to allow the healing process to begin appropriate pressure ulcer care.

Several things can be done to prevent pressure ulcers, including repositioning the resident often, providing good nutrition and hydration, and using specialty mattresses and seating surfaces. When a pressure ulcer does develop, it must be treated promptly and aggressively by a doctor or registered nurse to reduce the risk of further injury or infection, and sometimes requires assistance from hospital professionals.

The nursing facility must provide care to residents affected by pressure sores to stop them from degrading. Allowing a pressure sore from worsening by not providing needed pressure ulcer care can be medical malpractice or negligence.

Staff Must Timely Report Suspected Abuse

Nursing home abuse is rampant in the United States, with an estimated 1 in 3 nursing home residents experiencing some form of mistreatment. Despite this alarming statistic, many cases go unreported. Reporting suspected mistreatment of a resident is essential because it can save lives.

Early reporting of mistreatment can help to protect the resident from further harm and can also help to hold the abuser accountable.

Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to being abused, as they rely on others to provide care and support. Mistreatment can take many forms, including physical violence, emotional harassment, sexual assault, and neglect. The signs of nursing home mistreatment can be challenging, as they may be subtle or hidden.

However, if you suspect your family member is being abused or neglected in a nursing home, it is essential to report it immediately to the proper authorities. The common signs of abuse in nursing centers include:

• Physical abuse: Any physical punishment, assault, or inappropriate touching is abusive. The physical mistreatment could include hitting, slapping, tripping, and pushing residents around.
• Verbal abuse: Yelling, screaming, cursing, and making fun of residents is verbal harassment. Residents affected by mistreatment can feel anxious, scared, and humiliated.
• Emotional abuse: Ignoring residents, withholding love and affection, and threatening them are all forms of emotional mistreatment. Residents affected by this form of harassment experience feelings of sadness, fear, and loneliness.
• Sexual abuse: Forcing residents to participate in sexual acts against their will or making lewd comments is sexual abuse. Residents affected by this form of harassment feel violated and traumatized.
• Financial abuse: Misusing or stealing a resident’s money or possessions is economic exploitation, leaving residents feeling helpless and vulnerable.
• Neglect: Failing to provide necessary food, water, clothing, shelter, or medical care is neglect. Not following the resident’s preferences and a complete care plan is also a form of negligence, which can lead to serious health problems for the resident.
• Social isolation: Limiting contact with friends and family members. Residents affected can feel lonely and isolated from the outside world.
• Unexplained injuries: Bruises, cuts, welts, burns, and fractures inconsistent with the resident’s normal activities may be signs of inappropriate senior care and lack of adequate supervision in the nursing home.
• Improper medication management: Giving the wrong dose or not giving medication can be signs of mistreatment or neglect. Wrongly dispensing medicines can also be harmful to the residents’ health.
• Poor hygiene: Not bathing or grooming residents properly can lead to skin infections and other health problems.
• Furniture and bed rails misuse: Using furniture or bed rails for restraint purposes instead of safety is a form of mistreatment, which can cause injuries to the resident and limit their movement and independence.
• Lack of supervision: Not providing enough staff to adequately monitor residents in every nursing home area leads to accident hazards, falls, and neglect.

Reporting suspected mistreatment can be daunting, but many resources are available to help. If you suspect your loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home, contact the National Center on Elder Abuse at 1-800-222-8000 or file a report online.

You can also contact your state’s long-term care ombudsman program for assistance. A comprehensive list of state ombudsman programs can be found here.

After you get your loved one or the abused resident to a safe place, contact our legal team. They will advise and guide you through getting the damages for what your family endured.

Why Nursing Staff Must Follow a Resident’s Drug Regimen In Their Care Plan

As a long-term care facility resident, the nursing staff must follow the resident’s drug regimen in their care plan. Providing the appropriate treatment ensures that the resident receives the proper medications and dosages for their unique needs. Residents affected by severe health conditions must receive extra care.

The nursing home must provide pharmaceutical services by a licensed pharmacist who follows protocols to ensure that no unnecessary drugs are being ordered and administered that could compromise the resident’s health.

Here are three reasons nursing staff must follow the drug regimen transcribed in the resident’s complete care plan.

To Prevent Dangerous Drug Interactions

Certain medications can interact with each other in dangerous ways. Residents affected by several diseases usually have to take many drugs. For example, taking two blood thinners can increase the risk of excessive bleeding.

If the nursing staff is unaware of all the drugs a resident is taking, they may inadvertently prescribe a medication that could interact dangerously with other medicines. Following the resident’s care plan allows nursing staff to avoid dangerous drug interactions.

To Ensure That you Are Taking the Right Medication for Your Condition

Each resident’s care plan is tailored to their unique needs. The medications in your care plan are meant to treat your specific condition or conditions. If the nursing staff does not follow your care plan, you may take the wrong medication, which could delay your recovery or worsen your condition.

Residents affected by several diseases, run a risk of these conditions worsening if given the wrong medication, drugs are administered at the wrong time or if the medications interact with each other.

To Prevent Errors in Dosage

Taking the wrong medication dosage can be as harmful as taking the wrong one altogether. If a registered nurse does not follow your care plan, they might give you too much or too little of a particular medication.

Too much of a medication can be toxic, while too little may not be enough to treat your condition effectively. By following the drug regimen in your care plan, nursing staff can avoid dosage errors.

Why Each Nursing Home Must Implement an Infection Prevention and Control Program

Residents affected by some form of disability, or the elderly, are some of the most vulnerable populations involving outbreaks of infectious diseases. Because of that, nursing care homes must have an infection prevention and control (IPC) program in place to protect residents from bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

IPC programs are designed to reduce the spread of infections and outbreaks in long-term care facilities.

A well-run IPC program should be proactive and comprehensive, encompassing everything from hand-washing protocols to staff training on infection control best practices.

Nursing facilities that fail to implement an IPC program put their residents at serious risk of contracting a life-threatening infection.

What is an Infection Prevention and Control Program?

An IPC program is a set of policies and procedures designed to reduce the spread of infections in a health care setting. IPC programs address three main areas: hand hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and contact precautions.

• Hand hygiene protocols should include proper hand-washing techniques
• Environmental cleanliness procedures should focus on preventing the build-up of dirt and dust in common areas
• Contact precautions are designed to prevent the spread of infections through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects or from one resident to another

Why Are These Programs Important?

IPC programs are vital because they help reduce infections in nursing care homes. By reducing the number of diseases, nursing homes can improve the quality of care for residents, lower health care costs, and reduce the risk of mortality.

IPC programs are also crucial for protecting staff members from contracting infectious diseases. One study found that IPC programs can reduce the rate of nosocomial infections by up to 50%.

The Dangers of Urinary Tract Infections in Nursing Facilities

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common infection in long-term care facilities. Residents affected by these infections can have severe health problems, especially the elderly ones. If you or a loved one who is a resident in a nursing facility has been diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, it is essential to know your rights.

What are Urinary Tract Infections?

Urinary tract infections are a type of infection that can occur anywhere along the urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. UTIs are usually caused by bacteria that enter the urinary tract through the urethra and travel to the bladder.

Symptoms of a UTI may include:

• Pain or burning during urination
• Frequent urination or an urgent need to urinate
• Cloudy or bloody urine
• Low-grade fever
• Strong smelling urine
• Pressure or pain in the lower abdomen or back

If left untreated, UTIs can spread from the bladder to the kidneys and cause serious health problems. UTIs are particularly dangerous for elderly patients because they are more likely to have other health conditions that make them susceptible to complications from an infection. If a resident is suffering from a UTI, they must receive the appropriate treatment so that the situation doesn’t worsen.

For example, diabetes can weaken the immune system and make it more difficult for the body to fight infection. Patients with a history of heart disease may be at risk for endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves, if they develop a UTI.

UTIs in Nursing Homes

Urinary tract infections are widespread in nursing homes. They account for 20% of all diseases in long-term care facilities. There are several reasons why UTIs are so common in nursing facilities.

• First, nursing home residents are often incontinent and have difficulty communicating their need to use the restroom. It increases their risk of developing a UTI because bacteria can quickly enter the urinary tract if urine lingers too long in the bladder.
• Second, nursing home residents often have catheters, tubes inserted into the bladder through the urethra to allow urine to drain without going to the bathroom. Catheters increase the risk of developing a UTI because they can introduce bacteria into the bladder or allow existing bacteria to grow and multiply.
• Finally, nursing home residents often take medications that weaken their immune systems and make them more susceptible to infection.

If you know of a resident suffering from UTIs repeatedly while under the care of a nursing facility, do not hesitate to contact us. We will provide all the support you need to get your loved one to a safe place and seek compensation for the suffering they have been through.

Hire Nursing Home Neglect Attorneys to Hold the Facility Accountable

Was your loved one neglected and abused while residing in Aperion Care Dolton or any other nursing home in Illinois? The nursing home negligence attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help.

Contact us at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form to schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

Our personal injury attorneys accept all nursing home cases and wrongful death lawsuits on a contingency fee agreement. This arrangement ensures you will pay no upfront fees until your legal team resolves your case through a negotiated settlement or jury award.

Resources:

• Healthcare Providers Violations: | Medicare
• Mayo Clinic – Pressure sores