Diabetic nursing home residents require a higher level of assistance from the nursing staff and Medication Administering Coordinator at the facility. Any lack of monitoring or substandard care can cause a significant decline in the resident’s health with the potential of claiming their life if their blood sugar drops to dangerous levels. Unfortunately, the Elmhurst elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have handled many cases involving a lack of quality care that claimed the life of the nursing home resident.
Diabetes is a serious condition where the body no longer has the ability to process sugar at acceptable levels. In these cases, the resident is required to receive immediate doses of insulin to restore their blood glucose to acceptable levels. Any drop in blood sugar can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion and eventually a loss of consciousness. Many diabetic patients suffer from irritability, mood changes, tiredness and severe fatigue. Their condition can involve severe infections, damage to tissue and nerves and bedsores, especially in the lower extremities.
Elmhurst Extended Care Center
Elmhurst Extended Care Center is a 39-certified bed Medicare/Medicaid-participating for profit facility that provides nursing services to residents of Elmhurst and DuPage County, Illinois. The Care Center is located at:
200 E. Lake St.
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
(630) 516-5000
In addition to providing around-the-clock skilled nursing, Elmhurst extended care center also provides inpatient hemodialysis, memory care, respite care, long-term care, and rehabilitation that encompasses cardiac, orthopedic, stroke recovery, fall prevention education, and gait training.
Elmhurst Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
To provide public transparency concerning nursing homes throughout the United States, the federal government in the state of Illinois routinely update their databases to reflect opened investigations, safety concerns, health violations and filed complaints nationwide. The updated information is then published on a variety of websites including Medicare.gov through their comparison analysis tool star rating summary system.
Currently, Elmhurst Extended Care Center maintains an overall five out of five available star rating compared to other facilities throughout the United States. This includes five out of five stars for quality measures and staffing issues along with four out of five stars for health concerns. Although the nursing facility has an above average rating, our Elmhurst nursing home neglect attorneys have found numerous concerns and complaints causing actual harm involving this facility. One major concern includes:
- Failure to Provide Necessary Services and Care to Ensure That Every Resident Maintains Their Highest Well-Being
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 06/09/2015, a complaint investigation was opened against the facility for its failure to “assess and monitor a resident for signs and symptoms of [diabetes] notify the physician of a significantly low blood sugar level, and monitor resident after a significant drop in blood sugar.” The state investigator noted that the failure by the nursing staff at Elmhurst Extended Care resulted in the resident’s “blood glucose [dropping] to critically low levels requiring hospitalization.”
The state investigator reviewed the resident’s 05/18/2015 4:38 PM Progress Note that revealed the resident’s “blood glucose level was 57 mg/dl [milligrams per deciliter].” However, “there was no documentation to show [the resident’s] low blood glucose level was treated and that the physician was notified of this low blood glucose level.” Later that evening at 11:19 AM, the resident’s progress note “shows that at 10:30 PM, [the resident] was noted with hallucinations, he was sweating and had increased lethargy […and that the resident’s] blood glucose level was check and it was 22 mg/dl [where 80 is normal], and [the resident’s medication] was given. The physician was notified and orders were received to repeat [the resident’s medication] doses when blood glucose level was 50 or below.” Thirty minutes later, the resident’s blood glucose level registered 48 mg/dl and the resident was given another dose of their medication. However, the investigator indicated that a review of the resident’s record “did not show any evidence of [the resident’s] blood glucose level was checked at 11:30 PM and that [the resident] was closely monitored.”
The following morning at 9:23 AM on 05/19/2015 revealed the resident’s blood glucose level was 50 mg/dl […and the resident] was encouraged to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but the resident refused.” 17 minutes later at 9:40 AM, the resident “was found unresponsive, paramedics were called and [the resident] was transferred to the local hospital.”
The state investigator interviewed the facility’s Director of Nursing at 10:02 AM on 06/01/2015 who stated that “the nurse should have informed the doctor every time the [resident’s] blood sugar levels were low […and stated] she would have expected the nurses to be checking frequently and documenting the condition of the resident beginning with recognition of the low blood sugar of 57 on 05/18/2015 at 4:38 PM […and stated] that she doesn’t recall any recent in-service regarding management of diabetic residents given to the nursing staff.”
Elmhurst Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you believe your loved one has been harmed due to the negligence or mistreatment of the nursing staff at Elmhurst Extended Care Center or any Illinois nursing facility, contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC today at (888) 424-5757 to file a claim or lawsuit for compensation. Our DuPage County elder abuse attorneys can take appropriate measures to hold the facility and all parties responsible for causing your loved one harm. We accept all nursing home abuse cases on contingency and do not require any upfront payment.
