Nursing home residents are some of society’s most vulnerable people, who often cannot take care of themselves and need help with basic needs like bathing and eating. The consequences can be devastating when neglected by the very people entrusted with their care.
- The Grove of Northbrook
- The Grove of Northbrook Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
- Urinary Tract Infection in a Nursing Home
- Why A Nursing Home Must Implement Policies to Control Infections
- Pressure Ulcers in Nursing Homes: Preventable Facility-Acquired Injuries
- How A Personal Injury Attorney Can Hold Caregivers Accountable for Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
- Hire Nursing Abuse Attorneys to Resolve Your Personal Injury Compensation Lawsuit
Negligence by nursing staff can lead to severe injury or death when residents are left unattended, leading to falls, dehydration, bedsores, and other serious health complications. When these injuries occur, the nursing home staff is often at fault for not providing adequate care.
Are you the victim of nursing home abuse while residing at the Grove of Northbrook? The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC are legal advocates for injured victims and surviving family members seeking justice and the compensation they deserve.
Contact our nursing home abuse attorneys 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 Grove of Northbrook
This large nursing home is a 134-certified bed Medicare and Medicaid-approved for-profit facility (not a continuing care retirement community) providing care and services to Cook County residents. The Grove of Northbrook is located at:
263 Skokie Boulevard
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 564-0505
Website: http://groveofnorthbrook.com/
The Grove of Northbrook provides care, services, and amenities, including:
- Behavioral Health
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Concierge services
- Dialectical behavioral therapy
- Long-stay rehab
- Medication management
- Neurological rehabilitation
- Occupational therapy
- Pain management
- Person-centered plan of care
- Post-acute rehabilitation
- Post-hospital stay rehab
- Post-surgical rehabilitation
- Physical therapy
- Respiratory therapy
- Short-term rehab
- Skilled nursing care
- Specialized wound care
- Speech therapy
- Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs)
The Grove of Northbrook Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provides updated information on all nursing homes throughout the United States, including the Grove of Northbrook. The health inspection quality measures data includes all documented violations, inspections, substantiated complaints, and penalties that determine an overall rating.
Families often use this valuable Medicaid services information when choosing the best nearby nursing homes in the community, ensuring their loved one receives the best nursing home care.
The Grove of Northbrook nursing home currently maintains four out of five stars overall long-stay and short-term care ratings in the Medicare rating system. The overall score also includes:
- Four out of five stars for health inspections
- Two out of five stars for staffing issues
- Four out of five stars for quality measures
The Cook County personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC have reviewed years of surveys, investigations, inspections, and documents concerning the Grove of Northbrook and have found serious concerns, including:
Failure to Protect Every Resident from All Forms of Abuse Including Physical and Sexual Assault, Physical Punishment, and Neglect by Anybody – Deficiency #F600
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated February 18, 2022, the state inspectors determined that the Grove of Northbrook failed to “ensure a resident was supervised to prevent the resident from being abused by another resident.”
The investigation involved a resident diagnosed with “severe, profound mental illness and cognitive decline secondary to alcoholism and dementia” in an incident with a roommate who also has “significant psychiatric impairment with delusional” thoughts.
The second resident accused the first patient of “stealing two muffins off my tray and then hitting me.” However, witnesses do not support the resident’s allegation. The nursing staff separated residents and initiated a physical check and room change.
While there is no further involvement in these two residents, the patient who alleged theft and physical violence was involved in an incident with another peer.
Failure to Provide and Implement an Infection Protection and Control Program – Deficiency #F880
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated May 30, 2019, the state inspectors determined that the Grove of Northbrook failed to “maintain infection control practices with the resident’s care equipment.”
The investigation involved a Certified Nursing Assistant shaving a resident with an electric shaver with the cord hanging from the CNA’s neck when he entered the room.” The investigators asked the CNA if they had a disposable razor.
The CNA replied, “no, I brought this from home. I don’t like using the razor because it cuts.” The investigator asked the CNA how they cleaned the razor after use and between shaving other residents. The CNA replied, “I use the alcohol pad.” However, investigators observed the CNA “standing near the nurse’s station blowing” into the “shaver and tapping it against the cart, attempting to remove hair.”
Failure to Develop, Implement and Enforce Policies and Procedures That Prevent Abuse, Neglect, and Mistreatment – Deficiency #F607
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated June 22, 2018, the state inspectors determined that the Grove of Northbrook failed to “follow their Abuse Policy for identifying, reporting, and thoroughly investigate potential abuse allegations for two residents.”
The investigation involved a resident who is “forgetful, disoriented, and lacks safety awareness.” The nursing staff noted that the resident’s left ankle was swollen and warm. The report also documents that “there were no predisposing environmental factors present, and no witnesses to the resident’s injuries.”
X-ray results identified “Acute -appearing remedial malleolar fracture,” noting the staff was “unable to determine the exact cause.”
The investigators asked the Director of Nursing, who investigates all resident accidents and injuries, if a report was made. The Director stated that they “did not feel abuse was a concern, did not interview staff from the previous shift, and did not report the injury of unknown origin to the Administrator because no fall or injury had been reported.”
However, the Administrator, who serves as the facility Abuse Coordinator, stated, “any unwitnessed injury and a resident who cannot tell you what happened would be investigated as a potential abuse allegation.” The Administrator also said they were unfamiliar “with the injury of unknown origin for the resident and was not involved in the investigation.”
Urinary Tract Infection in a Nursing Home
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a significant problem in long-term care facilities, and identifying UTI patients can be challenging. UTIs are the second most common type of infection in nursing homes, and they can cause significant discomfort and even death in some cases.
While there is no easy way to get rid of UTIs, there are some things nursing home staff can do to prevent them. Failing to follow infection protocols could be considered negligence.
Contributing factors that could lead to urinary tract infections in nursing home facilities include:
- A lack of appropriate catheter care will compromise a resident’s health and life when the nursing staff fails to keep the area around an inserted catheter clean and dry.
- Improper handling and storage of catheters lead to bacteria build-up and increase the chances of infection.
- Not changing dressings as often as needed or using improper techniques.
- Allowing residents to drink fluids without being able to void their bladder can also cause urinary tract infections.
- Failing to track how long a resident has been catheterized can put the patient at risk.
- Not cleaning the equipment between uses can also lead to the spread of infections.
- Not providing good lighting in the area can make it difficult to see potential contaminants.
- Immobile residents are at a higher risk for developing UTIs than those who are more mobile.
- Not providing proper hygiene assistance can also lead to UTIs.
- Incontinent residents are also at a higher risk for developing UTIs than those not incontinent.
- Bacteria from fecal matter can quickly enter the urinary tract through the urethra if proper hygiene is not maintained.
- Poor nutritional status can also lead to UTIs due to a weakened immune system.
- The use of antibiotics can kill off good bacteria that usually protect against infection, leading to a UTI.
Why A Nursing Home Must Implement Policies to Control Infections
One in every 25 patients admitted to a hospital will develop an infection, and many of these infections are preventable. Nursing homes are not exempt from this statistic, with one in 10 residents developing an infection while receiving care.
The risk of infection is exceptionally high for residents who are already frail and susceptible to health complications after a resident’s discharge from nearby hospitals and are transferred to the Grove of Northbrook to heal from a significant injury.
Infections can lead to extended recovery stays (delaying their return home), increased mortality rates, and high healthcare costs for senior care.
A nursing home must implement policies that enforce an infection prevention and control program to meet the standards set by Medicare to protect its residents. This program should include elements such as:
- Follow Hand Hygiene Procedures: the nursing staff must wash their hands thoroughly between residents or use sanitizing hand wipes.
- Clean and Disinfect Bed Rails and Surfaces: nursing home staff must clean bed rails and other surfaces with a disinfectant daily.
- Clean and Disinfect Patient Rooms: nursing home staff must clean each long-stay and short-term rehab patient’s room at least once daily using a disinfectant.
- Use Personal Protective Equipment: the nursing staff must use personal protective equipment when caring for patients with contagious diseases.
- Avoid Contact with Contagious Patients: the nursing staff should avoid close contact with patients known to have a contagious disease.
- Separate Contagious Nursing Home Patients: the nursing staff must separate long-stay and short-term rehab patients diagnosed with a contagious disease from other patients in the facility.
- Report Contagious Diseases: the nursing staff must immediately report any contagious disease cases to the appropriate authorities.
- Maintain Clean Environment: the nursing home staff must keep all areas of the facility clean and free of clutter to prevent the spread of infection.
- Monitor Nursing Home Patients for Signs of Infection: the nursing staff must monitor patients for signs of infection and report any changes immediately.
- Keep Immunization Records up-to-date: the nursing home staff must keep immunization records updated for all employees and residents.
- Educate Staff on Infection Control Procedures: the nursing home staff must be educated on infection control procedures and preventing the spread of contagious diseases to long-stay and short-term residents.
- Restrict Visitation by People with Contagious Diseases: only visitors who have been cleared by medical personnel should be allowed in the facility if a contagious disease is present.
- Reinforce Infection Control Procedures Regularly: infection control procedures must be reinforced regularly to ensure that all employees and residents follow them correctly.
Pressure Ulcers in Nursing Homes: Preventable Facility-Acquired Injuries
Nursing home negligence is often the cause of developing pressure ulcers (pressure sores, pressure wounds, bedsores, decubitus ulcers). These sores are preventable, according to Medicare, but often go untreated due to the negligence of nursing homes.
Bedsores form when constant pressure on an area of the skin cuts off the blood supply and can lead to infection and even death. Nursing home residents are at high risk for bedsores because they often spend long periods in bed or in a wheelchair.
Some contributing factors that lead to developing pressure wounds in a nursing home include:
- A lack of proper skin care: Many disabled and elderly nursing home residents lose skin integrity due to medical conditions, immobility, or other factors. A lack of good skin care can lead to tissue breakdown, causing bedsores to form.
- Pressure from sitting or lying in the same position for too long: When a person cannot change positions due to illness or disability, pressure accumulates in some regions of the body, such as the buttocks and hips. This pressure can cause blood vessels to close off and deprive the skin of oxygen, leading to tissue death and the formation of bedsores.
- Incorrectly fitted mattresses and bedding: Mattresses that are too soft or too firm can cause pressure sores. So can sheets and blankets that are too tight or too loose.
- Limited mobility: Nursing home residents who cannot move around often are at high risk for developing bedsores, especially if confined to their bed or wheelchair for long periods.
- Poor nutrition: Malnutrition can weaken the skin and make it more susceptible to damage from pressure and friction.
- Dehydration: When a person is dehydrated, their skin becomes dry and brittle, making it more likely to tear or crack under pressure.
- Infection: A bacterial infection can further damage the skin and make it more prone to developing bedsores.
- Smoking causes the blood vessels to constrict, which reduces blood flow to the skin. This makes the skin less able to heal quickly if damaged, increasing the risk for bedsores.
- Age: Elderly people are more at risk for developing bedsores because their skin is thinner and less elastic than younger people. In addition, they may be less able to move around independently and less likely to report discomfort or pain.
- Illness: People who are sick or hospitalized often develop bedsores because they cannot move around like they usually would, which is especially common in patients hooked up to a ventilator or other machines that keep them immobilized.
- Gross obesity: People who are very overweight are at increased risk for developing bedsores because more fat tissue is available for compression against the mattress or chair surface. In addition, obese people may have difficulty moving around independently, increasing their chances of remaining in one position for an extended period.
- Incontinence: Wetness from incontinence can increase friction against the skin, leading to irritation and damage over time.
- Poor environmental conditions: Not adequately cleaned and maintained assisted living facilities can be breeding grounds for bacteria and fungus, increasing the risk for infection-related bedsores.
- Use of restraints: Restraints such as straps or cuffs that keep a person in a fixed position can lead to tissue death due to lack of blood flow and cause severe bedsores.
Nursing home residents should be assessed regularly for the risk of developing bedsores. Preventive measures should be taken to avoid pressure ulcers if a patient is at risk. These measures include repositioning the resident frequently, using support surfaces, and providing adequate nutrition and hydration.
Unfortunately, many nursing homes do not provide adequate care to their residents, which leads to the development of bedsores. If you have a loved one who is a nursing home resident, monitor them for signs of bedsores and advocate for their care if necessary.
How A Personal Injury Attorney Can Hold Caregivers Accountable for Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
Many families find themselves in the difficult situation of having a loved one injured due to nursing home abuse or neglect. These injuries can be devastating physically and emotionally and often leave families struggling to know where to find help.
A personal injury attorney specializing in nursing home abuse can be an invaluable resource for these families.
An attorney will have the experience and knowledge needed to help families get the compensation they deserve for the injuries their loved one has suffered. They will also be able to provide support and guidance through what can be a difficult time.
Contact an attorney from our law offices if you are looking for help after your loved one has been injured, mistreated, abused, or neglected in a nursing home. We will take immediate steps to prevent abuse from occurring again and ensure the family receives the financial compensation they deserve from the caregivers’ behavior.
Hire Nursing Abuse Attorneys to Resolve Your Personal Injury Compensation Lawsuit
Do you suspect your loved one was abused or neglected while residing at the Grove of Northbrook or another Illinois long-term care facility? The nursing home abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help.
Talk to our Chicago, IL law firm 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.
Our personal injury attorneys accept all nursing home abuse cases and wrongful death lawsuits on a contingency fee agreement. This arrangement ensures you will pay no upfront fees until your legal team obtains financial recovery through a negotiated settlement or jury award.
