The physical environment in and around nursing facilities must be kept sanitized at all times to ensure the health and well-being of every resident is not compromised. Shower areas and bathrooms that are not properly sanitized on a routine basis can become harboring grounds for illnesses, bacteria, and germs that can easily spread throughout the facility. Unfortunately, the Westmont elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have represented many residents who have suffered life-threatening infections that could have been prevented had the nursing staff and employees followed procedures and protocols.
The nursing facility is an enclosed environment that is shared by every resident who collectively use chairs, tables, walkways, handrails, wheelchairs and other equipment. Nearly every part of the environment undergoes human contact on a routine basis that if not properly sanitized could provide the opportunity for germs and bacteria to spread among residents.
Bria of Westmont
Bria of Westmont is a 215-certified bed Medicaid/Medicare-participating nursing home providing services to residents of Westmont and DuPage County, Illinois. The for-profit corporation is located at:
6501 South Cass
Westmont, Illinois 60559
(630) 960-2026
Additional services offered at Bria of Westmont include:
- Skilled nursing care
- Extended care
- Wound care
- Cardiopulmonary rehab
- Orthopedic rehab
- Hemodialysis
- Behavioral health
- Cardiac care
Westmont Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
Both the state of Illinois and the federal government continuously update their nursing home databases to reflect newly added information involving opened investigations, filed complaints, health hazards and safety concerns at facilities across the United States. They post the updated information on Medicare.gov and other state and federal websites.
Currently, Bria of Westmont maintains an overall three out of five available star rating in the national star rating summary system compared to other facilities nationwide. This includes three out of five stars for health concerns and staffing issues and two out of five stars for quality measures. Our Westmont nursing home neglect attorneys have found numerous safety concerns involving this facility. Two of those concerns involve:
- Failure to Ensure That Every Resident Is Provided a Safe, Clean and Comfortable Environment
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 08/28/2015, a notation was made by a state investigator during an annual licensure and certification survey concerning the facility’s failure to “ensure clean and save residents’ bathrooms.” The deficient practice by the employees at Bria of Westmont directly involved for residents at the facility “reviewed for a clean and comfortable environment.”
The failure was first noted on 06/30/2015 between 1:15 PM and 1:45 PM while the investigator conducted a brief tour of the facility including six resident rooms. During the tour, it was noted that three [rooms] on the first floor and three rooms on the second floor were found to have brown colored substance in the bathrooms. There are 13 residents who reside in the six rooms.”
The observation also included that one room “had brown colored substance on the toilet seat and there was no garbage bag in the garbage can and no toilet paper in the bathroom.” Another room “had brown colored substance on the toilet seat as well as around the rim of the toilet.” A third room “had brown colored substance all around the rim of the toilet.” “Had brown colored substance on the toilet handrail and the floor.” The fifth room had “brown colored substance on the toilet seat and the rim of the toilet. There is no garbage bag in the garbage can.” The final room bathroom toilet “was leaking from the basin there was a puddle of water near the bathroom door.” The resident stated that “the facility’s maintenance staff was aware he thought the toilet was loose on the bottom.”
- Failure to Ensure That Food Is Stored, Cooked and Served in a Safe and Clean Way
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 08/28/2015, a state surveyor made a notation during an annual licensure and certification survey concerning the facility’s failure to “demonstrate knowledge of sanitizing dishes.” The investigator also noted the facility’s failure “to implement handwashing, failed to clean kitchen equipment and failed to completely cover facial hair.” The deficient practice by the nursing staff and employees at Bria of Westmont “affects all 165 residents who are being served food in the facility.”
The investigator conducted a tour of the kitchen and asked two of the employees “to demonstrate the accuracy of the dishwashing temperature.” While on employee “Pointed to the machines gauge for reading” they are unable to answer what the acceptable range of temperature to sanitize the dishes would be. There was also a notation that kitchen staff failed to cover facial hair, exposing mustache hair in areas where the food was being prepared and served.
Westmont Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If your loved one has been injured or has died prematurely as a result of improper hygiene while residing at any Illinois nursing facility including Bria of Westmont, it’s important to speak to Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC today. Our DuPage County elder abuse attorneys can investigate your claim for compensation to determine the level of financial damages you deserve.
We accept all wrongful death lawsuits, nursing home abuse cases and personal injury claims for compensation through contingency fee agreements, so there is no need to pay an upfront fee. contact our Westmont Illinois nursing home abuse law firm today at (888) 424-5757 to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation.
