Liberty Village of Carbondale
Many nursing facilities use psychotropic medications as a way to control residents and minimize the need for supervision and monitoring. However, state and federal nursing home regulatory agencies require ongoing evaluations at specific intervals to determine if and when the patient can take a reduced dose or stop taking the drug altogether. The elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC represent patients who have been given psychotropic drugs for years while residing in Illinois nursing homes like Manor Court of Carbondale.
Manor Court of Carbondale
This Center is a ‘not for profit’ 120-certified-bed Medicare/Medicaid-accepted facility providing nursing services to residents of Carbondale and Jackson County, Illinois. The nursing home is located at:
2940 W. West Ridge Pl.
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-1010
Carbondale Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
To be fully informed on the level of care nursing homes provide, families routinely research the Medicare.gov database system for a complete list of safety concerns, health violations, opened investigations and filed complaints.
Currently, Manor Court of Carbondale maintains an overall two out of five available star rating in the Medicare star rating comparative analysis system. This includes four out of five stars for staffing issues, three out of five stars for quality measures and one out of five stars for health inspections. The Jackson County nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have found serious safety concerns at this facility that include:
- Failure to Ensure the Dignity and Respect of Individuality Is Maintained for Every Resident
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 06/24/2016, a notation was made by a state surveyor during an annual licensure and certification survey involving the facility’s failure to “provide a dining experience that maintains dignity and respect for seven [residents at the facility].”
The state investigator’s findings included an observation made on the late morning of 06/22/2016 during a “meal service [that] began in the Garden Court Dining area. At this time, residents were seated and ready to receive their meal tray.” After approximately 20 minutes, resident “was sitting at the table with [another resident].” The first resident “did not have food while [the second resident] was served and began eating. At the same time, [another resident] was sitting at a table without a lunch tray, while [their] table mates were already eating.”
The resident without the food tray “then began reaching for other residents’ food and then began scraping at his napkin with a spoon while waiting for his tray to be delivered.” The investigator interviewed a Certified Nursing Assistant working in the dining room that verified that “during the same time and date, not all of the residents were served meals at the table at the same time.”
- Failure to Provide Every Resident an Environment Free of Accident Hazards
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 06/24/2016, a state investigator noted a deficient practice during an annual licensure and certification survey concerning the facility’s failure to “store chemicals in a secured area not accessible to cognitively impaired, mobile residents.” The investigator noted that this failure had the potential to affect multiple residents at the facility.
The findings of the investigator came after an environmental tour conducted at around noon on 06/23/2016 with the facility Administrator in training and the Maintenance Supervisor. An observation was made of a “one-half full spray bottle containing clear liquid seen sitting unattended on a cart in a hall adjacent to the dining room on Independence Hall. The label on the bottle was unable to be read due to fading and worn appearance.” It was later determined to be a sanitizing solution with chemicals considered to be hazardous.
The facility’s Director of Nursing was interviewed that same day in the early afternoon and indicated that “she did not consider having a bottle of sanitizing solution sitting on a cart in the hall a safe practice […and] provided the names of [two residents] on Independence Hall who are mobile and cognitively impaired and being at risk for obtaining the cleaning solution.”
- Failure to Ensure Residents Remain Free of Unnecessary Medications
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 06/24/2016, a notation was made during an annual licensure and certification survey by a state investigator concerning the facility’s failure to “attempt a gradual dose reduction of the psychotropic medication” use on a resident at the facility.
The investigator noted that the resident’s Physician Order Sheet (POS) indicated that the resident had been receiving psychotropic drugs by mouth each day since October 2014. “Pharmacy consultation report shows gradual dose reductions had been recommended on 05/11/2015 and 10/15/2015 as provided by the facility.” However, the resident continued to be given the same dosage.
Carbondale Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you suspect your loved one has been given unnecessary medications while residing at Manor Court of Carbondale, contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC. Our nursing home attorneys can intervene on your family’s behalf to ensure your loved one’s health is properly managed. Our law firm is experienced in successfully resolving claims and lawsuits for financial compensation.
We urge you to contact our Jackson County elder abuse law office at 888 424-5757. Schedule your appointment today to speak with one of our experienced lawyers for your free full case review. No upfront fees are required.
Sources:
http://bit.do/RILnursingIntManCrt-Carb
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6016885FIK06242016.PDF
