The Pearl of Hillside

formerly Symphony at Aria

Even though many nursing facilities use physical restraints to ensure that residents are not injured from falls, the Hillside, IL, facilities must follow established procedures and protocols as required by law.

While most Illinois homes perform the necessary assessments to establish a need to use the restraint in a patient, many facilities fail to promptly perform follow-up assessments or develop interventions or alternatives to using lap belts and other restraint devices.

Do you suspect your loved one was neglected or abused while receiving long-term care at The Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria)? The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC handled many cases where residents were harmed when the staff failed to follow professional standards of nursing home care and provide adequate services.

Contact our Illinois nursing home abuse lawyers at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form to schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

The Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria)

The Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria) is a 198-certified bed Medicaid/Medicare-participating for-profit facility providing nursing services to Hillside and Cook County, Illinois residents.

The Center is located at:

4600 North Frontage Rd.
Hillside, IL 60162
(708) 544-9933

In addition to providing skilled nursing care, the (former Aria Symphony) facility also offers post-acute care along with:

• Cardiac care
• Pulmonary care
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Orthopedic care for joint replacements and surgery
• Stroke rehabilitation
• Complex wound care
• Neurological care
• Nutrition problems

The Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria) Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns

The federal government and the state of Illinois routinely update their nursing home database systems to ensure families are fully informed of the quality of service and hygiene care nursing homes provide residents, according to Medicare standards.

The information reflects quality percentages, the history of all health violations, opened investigations, filed complaints, and safety concerns in nursing homes nationwide, which includes the former Symphony at Aria facility. The results are uploaded on numerous sites, including Medicare.gov.

The Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria) maintains a one out of five-star overall quality rating in the national comparative analysis Medicare star rating summary system. This Medicare rating includes three out of five stars for quality measures and one out of five stars for staffing issues and quality health inspections.

Our Illinois Hillside nursing home neglect attorneys have found numerous safety concerns and deficiencies involving the formerly Symphony at Aria facility that include:

Failure to Properly Manage a Resident’s Psychotropic Medication – Deficiency #F0758

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated October 9, 2020, the state investigator determined that Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria) failed to gradually reduce the resident’s treatment dosage of psychotropic medications as recommended by the pharmacist.

The investigation involved an 87-year-old resident of the Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria) diagnosed with dementia with behavioral disturbances, drug-induced dyskinesia (involuntary muscle movement), and cognitive-communication deficits.

Failure to Ensure the Nursing Home Areas Free from Accident Hazards and Provides Adequate Supervision to Prevent Accidents – Deficiency #F0689

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated April 28, 2022, the state investigator determined that Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria) “failed to develop a care plan with effective interventions to reduce or prevent multiple fall incidents.”

One fall led to transport to the local hospital for treatment for a laceration on the back of the head requiring sutures. Nursing home patient records indicate that the resident was found lying on the floor near the bathroom with a bleeding head.

A review of the Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria) resident’s medical records reveals that the resident had been diagnosed with cold and diabetes, unsteadiness on feet, dementia with behaviors, and tremors.

Failure to Provide Appropriate Pressure Ulcer Care and Prevent New Ulcers from Developing – Deficiency #F0686

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated November 19, 2021, the State investigators determined that Symphony at Aria “failed to prevent one resident who was dependent on nurses for turning, repositioning, and incontinent cares, and at risk for developing pressure ulcers, and infections from developing an unstated will pressure ulcer on the sacrum.”

The moderately impaired resident was transferred to the local hospital secondary to a urinary tract infection and a sacral wound.

The resident’s assessment revealed that they had documented a limited range of motion on one side and a risk of developing pressure ulcers. The document states that the Symphony at Aria resident did not have bedsores before admittance to the facility on August 26, 2021.

The Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria) resident’s medical records note that the staff should encourage small frequent position changes. However, the resident was utterly dependent on the team for positioning.

When Resident Health Is Dependent on Nursing Staff: Why Facility-Acquired Bedsores are a Preventable Major Injury

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, all facility-acquired bedsores are preventable when staff follows skin care protocols. However, many nursing facilities fail to properly care for their patients, which makes them develop these painful sores.

Bedsores occur when pressure is applied to the skin for an extended time, cutting off the blood supply to that area. Pressure wounds can develop when a person is confined to a bed or wheelchair for an extended period. The most common places for bedsores to develop are on the back, hips, and heels.

If caught early, bedsores can often be treated with a simple change in position or increased frequency of turning the patient. However, if left untreated, they can become infected and may require surgery to heal, with the affected resident being transferred to a hospital to control the pressure sore.

Nursing home neglect is a serious issue and one that needs to be addressed. Too many patients are suffering from preventable bedsores due to the negligence of their caregivers and staffing issues in the daily living centers.

We must hold nursing homes accountable for their actions and ensure that all patients receive quality health care. There is a high percentage of services that are not Medicare standard at Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria) nursing home, which results in their inability to provide care services tailored to each resident, causing more problems to their health.

Long-Term and Post-Acute Care Residents How a Lack of Staffing Supervision Could Lead to Serious Resident Falls

According to the National Institute on Aging, more than one million people, most seniors, are treated in a U.S. hospital for fall-related injuries yearly. Over 700,000 are hospitalized, and more than 30,000 die, which makes for a very high percentage.

Falls are the leading cause of injury and death among nursing home residents. Falls are the first cause of death for nursing home residents 85 years or older. Most falls in nursing homes occur when registered nurses or staff transfer residents from:

• A bed to a chair
• A chair to a toilet
• A bathroom to a bathtub

These transfers are called high-risk activities because they involve the ability to lift and move someone who is not fully mobile and may be unsteady on their feet. The quality of the staff who perform activities such as these is paramount, as they have to control and balance the resident’s body weight and frailties.

Many falls can be prevented if the staff follows appropriate supervision and assistive protocols when helping residents with these high-risk activities.

Falls can have tragic consequences for nursing home residents. Injuries from falls can include broken bones, head injuries, and even death. These injuries can often lead to hospitalization or long-term care in a senior care facility.

Problems That Lead to a Higher Percentage of Falls in a Nursing Home

• Understaffing: A lack of sufficient staff to meet all the resident’s needs can lead to falls when a percentage of available nurses and nurses aides assist residents in transferring from the bed to the bathroom or wheelchair.
• Poor lighting: Inadequate lighting in hallways and common areas can make it difficult for residents to see where they are going, leading to more falls.
• Lack of safety rails: A high percentage of nursing homes do not have safety rails in bathrooms, leading to more falls when residents try to get out of the bathtub or shower.
• Medication errors: Errors involving medication can often lead to dizziness or lightheadedness, leading to a fall.
• Carpeting: Many nursing homes have carpeted floors, which can have lumps or bumps, making residents unable to walk correctly.
• Poorly maintained walkways: If Illinois nursing homes’ walkways are not well-maintained, they can be slippery and dangerous, leading to more falls.
• Inadequate assistance with transfers: Many nursing homes do not provide adequate assistance with transfers, leading to more falls when residents try to get out of bed or move around.
• Limited range of motion exercises: If residents are not regularly engaged in a range of motion exercises, their muscles can weaken, making them more susceptible to falls.
• Poor nutrition: If residents are not eating properly, their health weakens, and they may be less able to balance themselves and more likely to fall.
• Lack of exercise: Muscle strength is essential for elderly residents and their health. If patients are not getting enough exercise, their muscles will weaken and be more susceptible to falls.

If a beloved family member has suffered a fall while being a resident at Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria) facility in Illinois, do not hesitate to contact our Cook County lawyers.

They are specialized in Medicare standards of care and will be at your service to get you the compensation you deserve and help your loved one regain control of their situation.

Nursing Staff Must Implement Gradual Dose Reductions on Psychotropic Medication

When managing psychotropic medications in residents, gradual dose reductions and nonpharmacological interventions are critical. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association found that these methods are associated with a significant decrease in psychotropic drug use.

To begin with, gradual dose reductions allow for more controlled weaning away from drugs, which can be done by working with the resident’s doctor to gradually lower the dosage of the psychotropic medication.

This approach is preferable to abruptly stopping the medication, leading to withdrawal symptoms and other health problems the resident may suffer.

Non-pharmacological Interventions

In addition, non-pharmacological interventions can help reduce the percentage or eliminate the need for psychotropic drugs. Some of these interventions include therapy, relaxation techniques, and social activities.

By engaging in these activities, patients can improve their mental well-being without relying on medication and regain control of their mental faculties.

Continuing psychotropic medication can significantly decrease the resident’s ability to perform activities of daily living, which makes families more dependent on care facilities.

Implementing gradual dose reductions and nonpharmacological interventions present a high percentage of success cases and can benefit the health of residents, their family members, and staff. It can help reduce or eliminate the need for psychotropic drugs while providing residents with supportive activities and therapies.

When Patients Are Subjected to Abuse and Neglect

It’s hard to imagine that anyone willingly neglects or abuses an elderly person, but the percentage of neglect and abuse in the United States gets higher yearly. Countless residents are subjected to physical, emotional, and financial abuse by those who should be providing a care service.

• What are abuse and neglect? Abuse can take many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and financial exploitation. Neglect can involve failure to provide necessary care or services, such as food, water, clothing, medical care, or protection from hazards.
• Why does abuse happen? There are many reasons why abuse occurs. Sometimes the staff is inadequately trained or understaffed. In other cases, staff may be motivated by greed and take advantage of residents who cannot protect themselves. Some abusers may simply be angry and take out their anger on vulnerable residents.
• What are the consequences of abuse? Elderly abused residents may suffer physical injuries, psychological trauma, or even death. Residents who are neglected may become malnourished or dehydrated. Financial exploitation can deprive residents of their life savings, or the care facility might be charging for services it didn’t provide.
• How can we prevent abuse? There are several steps we can take to prevent abuse. We can provide better training for staff members and increase oversight to ensure that residents are adequately cared for. Families can also prevent abuse by visiting their loved ones and monitoring their care.

The consequences of abuse and neglect can be tragic. It’s essential to be aware of the signs of abuse and take steps to prevent it.

If your beloved family member was abused or neglected in any way at Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria), do not hesitate to contact our experienced attorneys to help hold the responsible party accountable.

Who Might Be Held Responsible for The Abuse and Neglect?

The circumstances of the case will determine who is legally responsible. Even so, the care facility or its employees are frequently at fault. The failure to provide the requisite level of care for its residents may be the fault of both parties.

A legal team may be required to conduct a thorough investigation and ascertain the entire scope of the facility’s liability in a resident’s abuse case.

However, “care home abuse” refers to any mistreatment elderly patients endure while on the property; it does not imply that staff members are always to blame. It might originate from an outside source, such as a resident’s frequent visitor. That does not, however, totally absolve the care home or caregivers of responsibility.

They should have seen the warning signals and informed the appropriate local authorities. It’s perhaps possible that they purposefully prolonged the elder’s misery.

Hillside Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Was your loved one hurt while residing in any Illinois nursing facility, including the Pearl of Hillside (formerly Symphony at Aria)? The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can help.

Our Hillside nursing home abuse attorneys can protect your loved one’s rights and assist in obtaining the financial compensation you deserve.

To schedule a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our Cook County elder abuse law firm at (888) 424-5757 or use the contact form. No upfront fees are required.

Resources:

• About Pearl of Hillside
• The Pearl of Hillside Analysis