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To ensure residents remain safe at Illinois long-term care homes, the facility must ensure at least one trained professional remains on staff inside the center around-the-clock. Unfortunately, not every Home ensures that adequate staff is always on hand to ensure that the health requirements, prescribed medications and hygiene assistance are available to meet every resident’s needs 24/7. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC represent injured, mistreated and abused patients who reside at Illinois long-term care (LTC) homes like Emerald Estates.
Emerald Estates
This LTC Center is a 16-certified-bed Facility providing services to residents of Canton and Fulton County, Illinois. The ‘for profit’ Long-Term Care Home is located at:
1577 E. Myrtle
Canton, IL 61520
(309) 647-0440
Canton LTC Home Resident Safety Concerns
Detailed information on each long-term care facility in the state can be obtained on government-run online sites including the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH – ltc.dph.illinois.gov). These regulatory agencies routinely update their list of dangerous hazards, opened investigations, health violations, safety concerns, filed complaints, and incident inquiries on nursing homes statewide.
The Fulton County neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have found numerous safety concerns, violations and deficiencies at this long-term care facility that include:
- Failure to Ensure That Caregivers Are Available Around-The-Clock to Provide Cares and Services in Case of Emergency, Injury or Harm
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 02/17/2016, a state surveyor opened a formal complaint against the facility for its failure to “ensure a staff person was in the facility at all times, potentially affecting [all 15 residents] who live in the facility.”
The state investigator noted that the actions of the administration failed to follow procedures and protocols to ensure that:
“There must be a responsible direct care staff person on duty on a 24-hour basis (when clients are present) to respond to injuries and symptoms of illness, and to handle emergencies, in each defined residential living unit housing involving clients for whom a physician has not ordered a medical care plan; clients were not aggressive, assaultive or a security risk; and 16 or fewer clients.”
As a part of the investigation, the facility’s Resident Roster was reviewed noting that there “are 15 residents in the facility. Three residents have Mild Intellectual Disability, eight residents have Moderate Intellectual Disability, and four residents have Severe Intellectual Disability.
At approximately noon on 02/16/2016, a facility’s Direct Service Person (DSP) was asked “if she was aware of any delay in the resident’s meals." The DSP stated that residents “are served meals on time when she works and is not aware of any delays and meals any other time." When asked “if employees at the facility smoke?” She replied “yes, some employees smoke" and stated that “residents complain of staff smoking all of the time.”
A resident was privately interviewed in the early afternoon of 02/16/2016 and was asked “if the staff smokes outside?" The resident replied “Yes.” When asked “if staff goes out at the same time to smoke, the resident replied “Yes.” The resident was then “asked if any staff was left in the house when the others were outside smoking.” The resident replied “No,” noting that this happens a lot.
The state investigator interviewed the facility Administrator at 9:50 AM on 02/17/2016 who “confirm the facility policy states employees are supposed to go out to smoke one at a time and also that there had to be an additional staff [member] on duty before third shift could go out to smoke.”
- Failure to Ensure the Residents Are Administer Medication in Accordance with Physician’s Orders
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 10/09/2014, a state surveyor noted the facility’s failure to “ensure the specifically constituted committee approved the correct dosage of a psychotropic medication for [a resident] who took psychotropic medications.”
The investigator reviewed a 56-year-old female resident’s 10/01/2014 Physician Order Sheet (POS) that revealed the resident has diagnoses including Mild Intellectual Disability, bipolar disorder, and depression. In addition, the resident takes Venlafaxine HCl ER (an antidepressant psychotropic medication to treat Major depressive disorder, panic disorder and anxiety) 150 milligrams capsules by mouth each day at 11:00 AM. The doctor also prescribed Effexor (an antidepressant).
The investigator reviewed a copy of the 06/11/2014 Human Rights Committee Meeting Notes that revealed the resident as a “7A” and states the resident takes Effexor XR 225 milligrams daily. When interviewing the Registered Nurse at the facility on 10/09/2014, they were “asked to clarify the current dosage of Effexor for [the resident]. The RN replied that the resident takes 150 milligrams two tabs, or 300 milligrams daily,” which was a lower dosage then stated in the Human Rights Committee Meeting Notes.
Canton Illinois LTC Care Home Abuse Lawyers
If you believe that your loved one was harmed by caregivers or other residents at Emerald Estates, call Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC today. For years, our Canton attorneys have successfully resolved Illinois long-term care home abuse, neglect, and mistreatment cases. Our experience can ensure a positive outcome in your claim for compensation against those who caused your loved one harm.
We encourage you to contact our Fulton County abuse law offices by calling (888) 424-5757 today to schedule your free, comprehensive recompense case review. No upfront fees are necessary because our law firm accepts every long-term care home abuse/neglect compensation claim through a contingency fee agreement.
Sources:
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6011787FA02172016.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6011787FI10092014.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6011787FA11222013.PDF
