Crestwood Terrace Nursing Home

No one ever expects to become a victim of nursing home abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, these heinous crimes happen to the disabled and the elderly far too often.

Sadly, nursing home staff members are often responsible for the suspected abuse and neglect of elderly patients due to being poorly trained or underpaid or not caring about their long-stay or short-stay residents' well-being.

It can be considered neglect if a nursing facility doesn't do everything to prevent accidents and ensure that the nursing home area is free from accident hazards. The lack of safety measures can lead to catastrophic scenarios.

Do you suspect that abuse and neglect led to your loved one's injuries or death while residing at Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center? The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can legally advocate by holding those responsible financially accountable on your family's behalf.

Contact our IL 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.

Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center

This facility is a 126-certified bed Medicaid-approved for-profit nursing facility (not a continuing care retirement community) providing care and services to Cook County residents. Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center is located at:

13301 South Central Avenue
Crestwood, IL 60445
(708) 597-5251
Website: https://crestwoodcare.net/

Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center provides various medical, nursing, and psychological services, including:

• Activity programs
• Assistance with activities of daily living
• Behavioral health activity-based programs
• Individual and family care plan coordination
• LGBTQIA+ inclusive care
• Licensed dietician
• Medication management
• Ongoing nursing care
• On-site physician services
• On-site X-ray & laboratory services
• Pain management
• Podiatry, dental, optometry services
• Psychological services
• Recreational activities and outings
• Rehabilitation, educational, and fitness programs
• Life skills training
• Smoking cessation

Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provides updated information on every nursing facility in the United States, providing care to Medicare patients. The report from the federal government lists all health inspections, alleged violations, penalties, and formal complaints.

Many families use valuable Medicare and Medicaid Services information and their overall rating to select the best community nursing facility to ensure their beloved family member receives the highest care and services.

Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center maintains one out of five stars for an overall rating in the Medicare system. The average rating includes:

• One out of five stars for health inspections
• One 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 much of the documentation provided by Medicare and Medicaid services and identified significant safety concerns at Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center, including:

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 June 8, 2022, the state inspectors determined that Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center failed to "adequately supervise/monitor one resident identified at risk for elopement [wandering away]." The nursing staff's deficiency resulted in the resident "leaving the facility without authorization on two occasions (April 27, 2022, and May 9, 2022)."

The facility's psychiatric rehabilitation services coordinator stated that they responded to a 'Code Pink' announced overhead, stating that "the resident had heard voices telling him to go outside before running into a neighboring house." The neighbor called the police.

In the second incident, the nursing home resident "left out the front door of the facility and began walking to the parking lot" but was "able to be re-directed and brought back inside the facility." The resident stated, "I was trying to go to my mother's house."

A nursing facility must prevent accidents and ensure the nursing home area is free from accident hazards. If they don't provide this security, they can be held liable for any injuries sustained by the residents.

Failure to Protect Each Resident from All Types of Abuse Such as Physical, Mental, Sexual Abuse, Physical Punishment, and Neglect by Anybody – Deficiency #F0600

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated January 4, 2022, the state inspectors determined that Crestwood Terrace Nursing Facility failed to "follow their abuse policy to affirm the right of their resident to be free from physical abuse."

This failure affected one resident resulting in the resident "getting hit on the head" and being sent to Palos Community Hospital for skin laceration in the forehead with 'steri-strips.'"

The investigation involved an altercation between two nursing home long-stay residents when one became verbally aggressive, resulting in physical engagement. It was found that the facility had a lack of adequate supervision of long-stay residents, as well as short-stay residents.

A Second Resident-To-Resident Physical Altercation

In a separate summary statement of deficiencies dated January 4, 2022, the state inspectors determined that Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center failed to "uphold their abuse policy and keep one resident free from physical abuse," which resulted in the resident being hit in the head unprovoked.

The investigation involved one resident in an altercation with a peer who was being physically aggressive. The injured resident stated, "I didn't do anything, and that nursing home resident started hitting me."

A Third Resident-To-Resident Physical Altercation

In a third summary statement of deficiencies dated October 20, 2021, the state inspectors determined that Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center failed to " prevent a physical assault from one resident with a known history of physical aggression and battery from assaulting peer long-stay residents."

The lack of adequate supervision by the nursing home staff resulted in one resident physically assaulting another "unprovoked," where the second resident sustained a small cut under the eye.

Nursing Home Safety: Lifesaving Infection Prevention and Control Protocols During the Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic virus has hardest hit long-term care facilities and nursing homes. Over 100,000 nursing home long-stay residents and short-stay residents have died from COVID-19 in the United States.

Covid-related deaths are a tragedy of immense proportions, but they could have been prevented if better infection control protocols had been followed in the nursing home.

Care homes should respond appropriately when a disease such as COVID-19 spreads like wildfire between long-stay and short-stay residents.

Some of the most important protocols for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in nursing facilities include:

• Screening all nursing home staff and visitors for COVID-19 before they enter the facility
• Isolating nursing home residents who test positive for COVID-19
• Requiring all nursing home staff to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks and gloves
• Frequently cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces in the facility
• Encouraging nursing home residents to practice social distancing whenever possible
• Provide nursing home residents information about COVID-19 and how to protect themselves from infection

Any failure to provide preventive care that meets all the resident's needs is considered neglect.

Crestwood Terrace Infection Control Deficiencies

The Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center has been cited for deficient infection control practices. On December 28, 2020, the facility was cited for failing to follow proper infection control protocols. The inspectors observed that "staff did not always wear face masks when interacting with residents."

The facility was also cited for failing to properly clean and disinfect surfaces. The inspectors observed that "the nursing station countertop was not cleaned and disinfected after each use."

These deficiencies put the residents of Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center at risk of contracting COVID-19.

Pressure Ulcers That Could Be the Result of Negligence

Patients confined to a bed or wheelchair are at high risk for developing pressure wounds, otherwise known as bedsores. Elderly patients and those with debilitating illnesses are especially susceptible.

Pressure ulcers are preventable when the nursing home staff takes the proper precautions, like repositioning the patient every two hours and ensuring that their skin is clean and dry.

Additionally, if nursing home staff respond appropriately to existing bedsores, they can make the patient feel more comfortable and well-cared for, preventing a major injury.

However, when bedsores do develop, it could indicate abuse or neglect on the part of the nursing staff. In some cases, bedsores can become infected and lead to life-threatening complications.

What Are Bedsores?

Bedsores are pressure wounds that form when constant pressure on one area of the body, causing the skin and underlying tissue to break down. They most commonly develop on bony areas of the body, such as the hips, knees, ankles, shoulders, back, and head.

Nursing home patients confined to a bed or wheelchair are at a higher risk of developing bedsores because they cannot move independently to relieve the pressure.

Elderly nursing home patients and those with debilitating illnesses are especially susceptible because they often have fragile skin and might not be able to tell caregivers that they're in pain.

A registered nurse must always check for the initial signs of bedsores in long-stay residents and short-stay residents alike since it can only take a few hours in the same position for a pressure sore to start forming.

Pressure Sore Stages

There are four stages of bedsores, ranging from mild to severe:

• Stage 1: The skin is red and painful when touched
• Stage 2: The skin breaks open and forms a blister or shallow crater
• Stage 3: The skin continues to break down until it forms a deep crater. The area around the sore might be swollen due to the infection.
• Stage 4: The sore extends through all layers of skin into muscle or bone. The area around the sore is swollen, and there might be tunnels under the skin connecting different parts of the wound.

The Prevalence of Nursing Home Bedsores

Every year, an estimated 2.5 million people in the United States are victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. This number includes residents who suffer from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and those who are neglected or mistreated.

Bedsores are among the most common forms of neglect in long-term care facilities and nursing homes.

The Illinois Department of Public Health estimates that 30 percent of nursing home long-stay residents develop bedsores at some point during their stay.

The study indicates that this happens partly because many nursing facilities are understaffed and do not have enough registered nurses or aides to help residents get up and move around regularly.

As a result, nursing home residents are often left sitting or lying in the same position for hours.

How Are Pressure Sores Prevented?

Bedsores are a preventable problem in nursing homes, often developing when long-stay residents are not repositioned frequently enough, leading to pressure ulcers on the skin. The nursing staff, including a registered nurse, must ensure that residents are moved and rotated regularly, but this often does not happen. As a result, many residents develop painful and dangerous bedsores.

Nursing home staff must be more diligent in preventing these ulcers from developing. Residents should be moved and rotated at least every two hours, and bedsores should be monitored closely. If a bedsore is detected early, it can often be treated successfully.

However, if left untreated, bedsores can progress to open wounds and even lead to death.

The registered nurse in charge and the nursing home staff must take the responsibility seriously and work to prevent bedsores from developing. By failing to do so, they are putting residents at risk and inflicting needless pain and suffering.

Why Nursing Staff Should Timely Report Suspected Abuse to Proper Authorities

No one wants to think their nursing home staff could hurt them. Unfortunately, abuse does happen in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Timely reporting suspected abuse to the proper authorities as soon as possible is of extreme importance.

If you or a loved one suspect abuse in a nursing home, the first step is to report it to the proper authorities. By doing so, you can help stop the abuse from continuing. The sooner you report the abuse, the sooner an investigation can begin.

An Investigation Can Gather Important Evidence

When you report suspected nursing home abuse, an investigation will be launched. This investigation will be conducted by trained professionals who know how to gather evidence. This evidence will be significant in determining whether or not abuse in the nursing home has occurred.

You May Be Able to Get Compensation for Your Injuries

If you have suffered any form of physical punishment or emotional harassment due to nursing home abuse, you may be able to get compensation for your injuries. This monetary recovery can cover your damages and help pay for medical bills, therapy, and other expenses related to the abuse.

The Nursing Home Must Implement an Infection Prevention and Control Program

Those who have a disability of any kind or who are elderly are among the groups most at risk from infectious illness outbreaks. To safeguard long-stay residents against germs, viruses, and fungus, nursing homes must have an infection prevention and control program (IPC).

A collection of guidelines and practices managed by the control program are intended to stop the spread of diseases in a healthcare environment. The three main focuses of IPC programs are contact precautions, environmental cleanliness, and hand hygiene.

Control program initiatives aim to stop outbreaks and diseases from spreading in long-term care institutions.

Long-stay residents of nursing facilities who do not have an IPC program in place run the danger of getting a life-threatening infection.

Urinary Tract Infection in Nursing Homes

Elderly people frequently experience a urinary tract infection (UTI), an infection of the urinary system, including the bladder, kidneys, ureters, and urethra. If bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Chlamydia, and mycoplasma enter the urethra while your loved one is in the nursing home, they could cause UTI. These diseases can cause long-stay residents lose control of their bowels or bladder.

Using catheters and soiled diapers are only two ways these bacteria can infect the urethra. The elderly may also have other illnesses that can conceal the symptoms of UTI.

Therefore, nursing home staff must be highly vigilant while looking for these signs. Yeast infections, bladder cancer, Lyme disease, ovarian cysts in women, and other conditions can mirror the symptoms of a UTI.

What are the Symptoms of a UTI?

A person with a UTI may complain of any or all of the following:

• A strong, persistent urge to urinate
• Burning feeling when you urinate
• Cloudy, bloody, or dark urine
• Strong smelling urine
• Pain in the upper back and side or lower abdomen

Not all urinary tract infections may be prevented. However, nursing home staff can take precautions to lessen the likelihood that an elderly person will get a UTI or that an existing UTI will worsen. These include drinking enough water, wiping correctly to prevent bacteria from getting into the urethra, changing diapers timely, and checking catheters.

Properly Managing Antianxiety or Hypnotic Medication (Antipsychotic Medication)

A national issue is coming to light within our long-stay residents' communities. Nursing facilities are understaffed for a variety of reasons, and some are resorting to the practice of overmedicating or overdosing. Nursing homes can accommodate more residents with fewer staff members by overmedicating the residents. In addition to violating people's right to age with dignity, this practice also puts them in grave danger.

Psychotherapeutic drugs can enhance a patient's well-being, especially when experiencing depressive symptoms. However, using antipsychotic medication to incorrectly manage behavior in long-stay residents can have very negative consequences.

Potent psychotherapy drugs have undesirable side effects that can render even young and physically fit patients helpless. It can cause age-related declines in liver function and considerably lower medication metabolism in elderly people.

Chemical Restraints

Chemical restraint is used to describe excessive constraint and behavior control with drugs. Some individuals may require well-managed and carefully chosen psychotherapy drugs to avoid harming themselves or others or maintain their mental and emotional stability.

However, using psychotherapeutic medications without a valid medical justification, such as depressive symptoms, excessively, without the patient's consent, or simply as a restraint for the convenience of a designated nurse or caregiver, is considered elder abuse when chemical restraints are used.

It is much simpler to administer psychoactive medications to agitated elderly long-stay residents than to give them the adequate supervision, attention, direction, and physical support they require.

Hire Personal Injury Lawyers to Receive Financial Compensation from All Responsible Parties

Was your loved one neglected and abused while residing in Crestwood Terrace Nursing Center or any other nursing home in Illinois? The nursing home abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can help.

If the nursing home failed to prevent accidents or didn't ensure that the area around the facility was free from accident hazards, your loved one might be entitled to compensation for their sustained injuries.

Contact us 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 legal team accepts all personal injury cases and wrongful death lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This agreement ensures that you will pay no upfront fees until we resolve your claim through a negotiated settlement or jury award.

Resources:

• Healthcare Providers Violations: | Medicare
• CMS – Nursing Home Requirements