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The use of physical restraints in Illinois nursing facilities is heavily regulated by state and federal agencies. Even so, many nursing facilities fail to follow these procedures and protocols and use the restraint as an effective tool to control the resident to avoid constant monitoring or supervision, which is often detrimental to the patient’s quality of life and freedom of mobility.
The elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC provide legal advice, counsel, and representation to individuals who have been restrained against their will and without lawful authorization while residing at Illinois nursing facilities like Twin Willows Nursing Center.
Twin Willows Nursing Center
This Nursing Home is a Medicare/Medicaid-participating ‘for profit’ Center providing services to residents of Salem and Marion County, Illinois. The 72-certified-bed Facility is located at:
1600 North Broadway
Salem, Il 62881
(618) 548-0542
Salem Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
The state of Illinois and the federal government regularly update their nursing home database system with complete details of all safety concerns, health violations, filed complaints and opened investigations. The search results can be viewed on numerous sites including Medicare.gov.
Currently, Twin Willows Nursing Center maintains an overall three out of five available star rating in the Medicare national comparison analysis rating system. This includes three out of five stars for both health inspections and staffing concerns and two out of five stars for quality measures. The Marion County nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have reviewed various safety concerns, violations and deficiencies at this nursing facility that include:
- Failure to Ensure Residents Remain Free from Unauthorized Physical Restraints
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 03/18/2016, a state investigator noted that the facility failed to “assess and care plan for the use of lap cushion devices to ensure that a restraint is not used for discipline or convenience.” The deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings of incidences involving a 74-year-old resident diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
The resident was first observed just after noon on 03/17/2016 in the facility’s dining room while “seated at a table in a glider/rocker chair.” At that time, the resident “was being assisted to eat but was noted to have a lap cushioning device, used to prevent rising, in place.” The investigator noted that the resident “is ambulatory throughout the facility with the use of a specialized ambulation device [...and] does not have an assessment or a Plan of Care for the use of the lap cushioning device.”
The investigator interviewed the facility’s Director of Nurses who verified on 03/18/2016 that the resident “does not have an assessment or Plan of Care for the use of this device [...and] the resident likes to ‘pop up’ suddenly while being assisted with eating and agreed the cushion was not care planned for use by [the resident].”
- Failure to Ensure Residents Remain Free of Accident Hazards and Provided Adequate Supervision to Avoid Injury
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 03/18/2016, a state investigator noted when performing an annual licensure and certification survey that the facility failed to “thoroughly assess causative factors for falls and implement appropriate safety measures to prevent recurring falls.” The deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings involve the resident diagnosed with depression, altered mental status, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s dementia.”
The state investigator noted that the resident’s 11/19/2015 Fall Risk Assessment documents that the resident “is a high risk for falling.” In addition, the resident’s Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) and MDS (Minimum Data Set) revealed that the severely cognitively impaired resident “requires extensive assistance for transfers, ambulation, and toileting.”
The resident’s midnight 11/25/2015 Incident/Accident Report documents that the resident “was found sitting on the floor in front of the wheelchair in his room [...and] stated ‘I was trying to go to the bathroom’.” Again, at 2:40 PM on 11/29/2015, the resident’s “Incident/Accident Report documents [that the resident] was standing in the hallway in front of the wheelchair with the clip alarm in place and sounding.” At that time, the resident “slid down the front of the wheelchair and onto the floor and no injuries were noted.”
The state investigator noted that there were “no new interventions documented on [the resident’s] Incident/Accident Report, Care Plan or Nurse Notes. The investigator noted that the actions of the nursing staff failed to follow the facility’s undated policy titled: Policy for Fall Prevention that reads in part:
“After a fall has occurred, the Care Plan will be updated to reflect any changes for fall prevention.”
Salem Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you and your family believe that your loved one was victimized by residents, caregivers or visitors while a patient at Twin Willows Nursing Center, contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC today. Our Salem nursing home attorneys can represent your family in cases that involve mistreatment, neglect, and abuse. Our law firm will work on your behalf to ensure your loved one and family receives sufficient financial compensation for your damages.
Schedule your free, no obligation comprehensive case review today by calling our Marion County elder abuse law offices at (888) 424-5757. No upfront fees are required because we accept every nursing home abuse claim for compensation through contingency fee arrangements.
Sources:
http://bit.do/RILnursing-Twin-Willows-Nursing-Center
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6009484FIK03182016.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6009484FIK01292015.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6009484FIK12122013.PDF
