Without ongoing consistent quality treatment by staff members in a nursing facility, any resident can suffer a urinary tract infection (UTI), especially those with a weakened immune system. While many UTIs can be treated effectively and quickly using antibiotics, nearly every case of infection can be prevented using specific precautions and procedures when providing care. Sadly, the Lombard elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have represented many residents who suffered urinary tract infections and other life-threatening conditions due to the negligence of their caregivers.
Urinary tract infections are often caused by bacteria or fungus. Severe cases can lead to an infection of the bladder (cystitis) or urethra (urethritis). The most common occurrences that cause the development of urinary tract infections involve unsanitary conditions, sexual activity, or inefficient wiping after voiding (relieving the bowel or bladder). If bacteria enters the urethra, the body has natural defenses to combat the infection. Unfortunately, the immune system of elderly, infirmed and disabled is often unable to fight back.
Beacon Hill Senior Living
Beacon Hill Senior Living is a 21-certified Medicare-participating continuing care retirement community providing services to residents of Lombard and DuPage County, Illinois. The facility is located at:
2400 S. Finley Rd.
Lombard, Illinois 60148
(630) 620-5850
Lombard Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
Throughout the year, the federal government and the state of Illinois routinely update their nursing home databases to include recently occurring opened investigations, safety concerns, health violations and filed complaints on facilities throughout the United States. The nursing home regulatory agencies post the updated information on numerous websites including Medicare.gov through their star rating summary system.
Currently, Beacon Hill Senior Living maintains an overall four out of five available stars compared other nursing homes nationwide. This includes five out of five stars for quality measures and four out of five stars for health concerns.
- Failure to Provide a Level of Care to Residents to Prevent the Development of Urinary Tract Infections and Restore Normal Bladder Function
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 05/08/2015, a notation was made during an annual licensure and certification survey by a state investigator concerning the facility’s failure to “implement a bowel and bladder program, analyze the voiding pattern of the residents in order to implement a specific program and [a failure to] implement an individualized intervention to improve or maintain current bowel and bladder functioning.” The state investigator also noted the facility’s failure “to maintain the position of an indwelling urinary catheter bag below the bladder.”
The deficient practice by the nursing staff at Beacon Hill involved one resident at the facility “reviewed for indwelling catheter use.” In an interview with the resident at 3:38 PM on May 5,2015, the resident said “I can feel the urge to go to the bathroom but wear diapers here. I would rather use the washroom when I call for help [but] sometimes they cannot come immediately, so wearing a diaper is okay.” The investigator also noted that during an interview with the facility’s Minimum Data Set Coordinator on 05/07/2015 that the resident “is alert and oriented”, which was confirmed by a Certified Nursing Assistant and a nurse at the facility who stated, “she can verbalize her needs, and she could ambulate [walk to the bathroom] with assistance.”
The investigator also noted that the resident presented a three-day voiding pattern between 03/03/2015 and 03/05/2015, however, “there was no analysis on the result of this assessment in order to implement a specific toileting plan for [the resident].”
During an observation of the resident with the facility’s Restorative Aide and Certified Nursing Assistant at 3:10 PM a May 5, 2015 the resident was transferred to an adult reclining chair using the mechanical lift. At that time, both the Aide and Certified Nursing Assistant placed the resident’s “indwelling urinary catheter bag on [the resident’s] lap while [the resident] lay reclining in the chair.” The following day at 1:22 PM, the nurse placed the resident’s “indwelling urinary catheter bag on top of [the resident’s] bladder area during the entire transfer from the bed to the positioning chair using the mechanical lift.”
Approximately 40 minutes later at 2:00 PM on 05/06/2015, two Certified Nursing Assistants “said the urinary catheter bag should be placed below the level of the bladder […and] we didn’t have a place to put the bag to position it below the level of the bladder.” In an interview with the Director of Nursing at 10:00 AM on 05/07/2015 it was said “the expectation is for the staff to position the indwelling urinary catheter bag below the level of bladder during transfers […and that this resident’s] clinical records and orders shows a history of urinary tract infections on 08/01/2014 to 08/08/2014 and 11/30/2015 and December 2014.”
Lombard Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you suspect your loved one has suffered a nursing home infection while residing at Beacon Hill or any other Illinois nursing facility, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC can provide assistance and discuss your rights. Our DuPage County elder abuse attorneys can build a case against all parties and the facility who caused your loved one harm to ensure they are held legally and financially accountable.
We accept all nursing home abuse cases on contingency so there is no upfront fee. Call our Lombard nursing home neglect law firm today at (888) 424-5757 to schedule your free, no obligation consultation.
http://www.lifespacecommunities.com/chicago-senior-living/lombard/
