Many families entrust their loved one’s care to nursing homes in an effort to provide the highest level of nursing care in a safe environment. Unfortunately, there are numerous environmental and hazardous risks that pose extreme danger to residents, especially those suffering from dementia or other mental condition. Sadly, the Chicago elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have represented many family members who have lost a loved one due to a preventable accident caused by the negligent actions of the nursing staff and employees at the facility.
Without appropriate measures, residents in nursing facilities can face immediate danger from exposure to toxic chemicals, disinfectant liquids and sprays, undisposed razor blades and other dangerous products. The nursing staff is required to ensure that residents remain safe at all times and are not exposed to any hazardous materials that could pose an immediate danger like unsecured oxygen tanks left out in the open instead of being properly secured as required by law.
St. Paul’s House and Health Care Center
St. Paul’s House and Health Care Center is a 110-certified bed non-profit Medicare/Medicaid-participating nursing facility providing services to residents of the Chicago metropolitan area. The facility is located at:
3800 N. California Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60618
(773) 478-4222
St. Paul’s House and Health Care Center offers:
- Short-term rehabilitation services
- Assisted living options
- Skilled nursing care
- Memory support
- Neurological care
- Physical, speech, occupational and pulmonary therapies
- Orthopedic rehabilitation
- Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
- Wound care
Chicago Area Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
Every month, the state of Illinois and the federal government routinely update their nursing home databases in an effort to reflect the most currently opened investigations, health violations, safety concerns and filed complaints against every facility in the United States. The information is posted online on numerous websites including Medicare.gov, through their comparative analysis star rating summary system tool.
Currently, St. Paul’s House and Health Care Center maintains an overall three out of five available star rating when compared to every other facility in the United States. This includes three out of five stars for both health concerns and quality measures. Our Chicago nursing home neglect attorneys have found numerous safety concerns involving this facility that include:
- Failure to Provide Every Resident an Environment Free of Accident Hazards and Risks and Provide Adequate Supervision to Prevent Avoidable Accidents
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 08/20/2015, a notation was made during an annual licensure and certification survey by a state investigator concerning the facility’s failure to “ensure razors, chemicals, and oxygen tanks were kept out of residents’ reach.” The investigator also noted the facility’s failure “to ensure a chair alarm was attached properly to a resident’s clothing.” The failures by the nursing staff at St. Paul’s House and Health Care Center has the potential to affect [two residents at the facility] reviewed for environmental safety.”
One failure was first noted during an observation that occurred on 08/17/2015 at 9:37 AM on an initial tour of the facility’s second floor East unit where “a razor was found inside the drawer of the storage bin in the common shower room. The door to the shower room and the storage bin were both unlocked. One resident’s bathroom contained a 35 count container of disinfecting wipes, along with 29.7-ounce aerosol cans of room air freshener. In another resident’s bathroom was a 12.5-ounce aerosol can of disinfectant spray, as well as a 30-ounce spray bottle of stain remover. All of these products had labels cautioning keep out of the reach of children.”
The state investigator also noted that in a resident’s room, “behind the doors two oxygen tanks in a rolling holder.” The resident “was in bed, using oxygen at two liters per minute via nasal cannula supplied by an oxygen concentrator.” A nurse providing the resident care noted stated that the resident “is bed-bound and uses the oxygen concentrator […and that the resident’s] Hospice Agency brought in these oxygen tanks and left them in her room, although oxygen tanks are usually stored in the oxygen supply closet.”
As a part of the initial environmental tour occurring at 1:02 PM on 08/17/2015 with the Housekeeping/Maintenance Director, it was noted that the “five common shower rooms located on the second floor East unit had a cabinet containing seven razors. The door to this cabinet was not locked.”
The investigator interviewed the facility’s Director of Nursing at 3:45 PM on 08/18/2015 who stated that “chemical should be kept out of the resident’s reach, and oxygen tank should be stored in the oxygen supply closet, for resident safety… […and] oxygen tanks brought in by Hospice Agency should also be stored in the oxygen storage closet […and] razors should be stored in a locked cabinet or locked supply room. Used razor should be disposed of in a sharps container designated for such items.”
Chicago Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If your loved one has been harmed or killed by the negligent actions of the nursing staff at any Illinois nursing facility including St. Paul’s House and Health Care Center, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC can take appropriate immediate legal action. Our Cook County elder abuse attorneys can begin the process of obtaining the financial compensation your family deserves for your damages.
To successfully resolve your compensatory claim against the nursing home, contact our Chicago Illinois nursing home abuse law firm today at (888) 424-5757. We handle all personal injury claims for compensation on contingency so no upfront payment is necessary.
http://stpaulshouse.org/
