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Any incident or allegation of abuse occurring in a nursing facility in the state of Illinois requires the immediate attention of the nursing staff and Administrator who must investigate and report the incident to appropriate agencies. The law is specific on the action that the facility must take to safeguard the victim from any further abuse from the abuser. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes follow procedures and protocols in accordance with the law. Sadly, the Virginia Illinois elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have handled many cases where the victim suffered additional abuse and mistreatment by the hands of their caregivers or other residents.
Walker Nursing Home
Walker Nursing Home is a 71-certified bed “for-profit” Medicaid/Medicare-participating facility providing nursing services to residents of Virginia and Cass County, Illinois. The Center is located at:
530 East Beardstown Street
Virginia, IL 62691
(217) 452-3218
The facility provides around-the-clock skilled nursing care along with joint replacement therapy, outpatient therapy, speech, occupational and physical therapies along with cardiac care, diabetic care, dialysis care, pain management and Alzheimer’s/dementia care.
Virginia Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
The federal government and the state of Illinois regularly update their nursing home database system to reflect the complete history of every opened investigation, filed complaint, safety concern and health violation of facilities nationwide. The results can be found on numerous websites like Medicare.gov.
Currently, Walker Nursing Home maintains an overall five out of five available star rating in the national Medicare star rating summary system as compared to every other facility in the United States. This includes five out of five stars for health inspections, and three out of five stars for both staffing issues and quality measures. However, our Virginia Illinois nursing home neglect attorneys have found numerous deficiencies involving this facility that include:
- Failure to Investigate a Report an Allegation of Abuse Involving a Resident
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 01/07/2015, a state surveyor made a notation during an annual licensure and certification survey concerning the facility's failure to "immediately notify the Administrator and State Certification and State Agency with an allegation of abuse.” The deficient practice by the nursing staff affected one resident.
The 11/05/2014 Abuse Investigation was signed by the facility’s Administrator that documents a “Certified Nurse Aide witnessed [a member of the nursing staff] verbally abuse [the resident] while providing care on 11/04/2014 during the 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM shift.” The investigator noted that “the abuse investigation documents [the Administrator] was not notified of the alleged abuse until [the following day] on 11/05/2014 at 6:00 AM. The abuse investigation also documents the State Certification and Survey Agency was not notified until [later that morning at] 11/05/2014 11:18 AM.”
The Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) verified at 2:35 PM on 01/06/2015 is having witnessed “verbal abuse by [a member of the nursing staff to the resident] on 11/04/2014 [...and] stated the incident occurred between 9:00 PM and 9:30 PM while [the CNA and other nursing staff member] were providing care to [the resident].” The CNA verified “the incident was not reported until the next morning… Stating, ‘I didn’t tell anyone it happened right away. I told [the Licensed Practical Nurse] the next day and told… the Social Services Director or Administrator.”
The state investigator noted that the actions by the nursing staff failed to follow the facility’s 10/02/2011 Abuse/Neglect Prevention Policy that reads in part:
“A staff person who observes or suspects abuse, neglect, or theft of property shall immediately report the matter to the Administrator.”
- Failure to Develop, Implement and Enforce Abuse and Neglect Policies
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 01/07/2015, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure to “follow their abuse/neglect prevention policy by not immediately notifying the Administrator with an allegation of abuse.” The investigator also noted the facility failed “to develop and implement a policy to immediately notify the State Certification and Survey Agency immediately with an allegation of abuse. This has the potential to affect all 40 residents at the facility.”
The investigator noted that “the Abuse Policy does not include an instruction to immediately notify the State Certification Survey Agency of alleged abuse. The Abuse Policy does state:
“All incidences shall be reported in writing to IDPH [Illinois Department of Public Health] State Certification and Survey Agency within 24 hours.”
In a separate summary statement of deficiencies dated 01/05/2012, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure “to address that the Administrator is to be notified immediately of any allegation of potential abuse.” The investigator noted the deficient practice by the nursing staff and Administrator “has the potential to affect all 46 residents in the facility.”
An interview was conducted with the Abuse Coordinator/Social Services Director at 10:05 AM on 01/04/2012 who stated that “all allegations of potential abuse are reported to [the Abuse Coordinator] or a member of the Abuse Prevention Committee which includes the Administrator.”
Virginia Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If your loved one is the victim of abuse, neglect or mistreatment while they resided in any Illinois nursing facility including Walker Nursing Home, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC can provide numerous legal options to stop the abuse now. Our Virginia Illinois nursing home abuse attorneys can work on your behalf to obtain the financial compensation the victim deserves.
Contact our Cass County elder abuse law firm at (888) 424-5757 today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. No upfront fees or retainers are necessary.
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6009682FIK01072015.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6009682FI01052012.PDF
