Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers Home
Formally Helia Healthcare of Belleville
Illinois nursing homes have a legal obligation to report any incident or allegation of abuse that occurs in their facility. Quick action on reporting the abuse or allegation helps to ensure the safety and well-being of the victim. Unfortunately, many facilities failed to follow state and federal nursing home regulations. Sadly, the Belleville elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have handled many abuse cases where the victims suffered serious injury caused by caregivers and other residents at the facility.
Willowcreek Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is a 120-certified bed for profit Medicaid/Medicare-participating nursing facility providing services to residents of Belleville and St. Clair County Illinois. The Helia Healthcare Group-affiliated facility is located at:
40 N. 64th St.
Belleville, Illinois 62223
(618) 397-8400
The skilled nursing care provided at Willowcreek Rehabilitation and Nursing Center encompasses:
- Restorative nursing
- Wound care
- Respiratory services
- IV therapy
- Cardiac care
In addition to providing these services, the center also offers long-term care, hospice care, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and recreational therapy.
Belleville Nursing Home Resident Safety ConcernsTo ensure that American families recognize the level of care provided in every nursing facility in the United States, the state of Illinois and the federal government routinely update their nursing home databases to reflect currently filed complaints, opened investigations, safety concerns, and health violations nationwide. The updated information can be found on numerous sites including Medicare.gov.
Currently, Willowcreek Rehabilitation and Nursing Center maintains an overall one out of five available star rating compared to all other facilities listed in the national star rating summary system. This includes four out of five stars for quality measures, two out of five stars for staffing issues and one out of five stars for health inspections. Our Belleville Illinois nursing home neglect attorneys have found serious deficiencies involving this facility that include:
- Failure to Report and Investigate Any Act or Allegation of Abuse, Neglect or Mistreatment of Residents
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 06/22/2015, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure “to report an allegation of abuse immediately to the Administrator which delay the initial investigation of abuse for [one resident at the facility] reviewed for abuse allegation.”
The failure by the nursing staff was first noted in the facility’s 06/02/2015 Report of Loss/Grievance Form that revealed a grievance by a resident who “reported that she was sitting in the dining room on Sunday, 05/03/2015 at 2:00 PM, watching a video when a resident came behind her and told her to move ‘you white b****. The resident was very upset [… stating they] will not put up with it anymore [...and] states that she has had a problem before and wants the resident removed.”
In an interview conducted with the facility’s Social Services Designee at 1:45 PM on 06/18/2015, he stated that “he did not realize that this was abuse and did not report it to the administration to start an investigation.” The facility’s 06/01/2015 Report of Loss/Grievance Form documents in part that the resident’s “daughter had a complaint about [another resident] threatening to slap [their parent].” When the daughter asked the abusive resident “to stop making threats, [the abusive resident] threatened to slap [them] in the face.”
The resident victim’s son and daughter stated at 12:15 PM on 06/17/2015 that they “asked to talk with [the state surveyor] concerning their mother” stating that their mother has threatened to hit the abusive resident and will fight back when assaulted. The two children stated after complaining to the Administrator, “all that happened was the Administrator had a meeting with [the resident’s] family.” The state surveyor noted that no investigation could be found. The Social Services Designee stated at 1:45 PM on 06/18/2015 that “he did not realize that this was abuse and did not report it to the Administration to start an investigation.”
- Failure to Develop, Implement and Enforce Policies to Prevent Abuse and Mistreatment of Residents
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 06/22/2015, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure “to operationalize is Abuse Policy by not reporting an allegation of abuse immediately to the Administrator which delayed the initial investigation of abuse.”
The investigator noted that the actions of the nursing staff and Administrator at Willowcreek Rehabilitation and Nursing Center failed to follow the facility’s Abuse Prevention Program Facility Procedures that reads in part:
“Employees are required to report any incident, allegation or suspicion of potential abuse, neglect… [That they] observed, hear about, or suspect to the Administrator or any immediate supervisor who must then immediately report to the Administrator. Such reports may be made without fear retaliation.”
If your loved one is suffered injury or wrongful death caused by abuse or mistreatment while residing in any nursing facility in Illinois, including Willowcreek Rehabilitation and Nursing Ctr., Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help. Our St. Clair County elder abuse attorneys can handle the complex negotiations of filing and resolving a claim for compensation against the facility and all parties responsible for your loved one’s harm.
cCntact our Belleville Illinois nursing home abuse law firm today at (888) 424-5757 to schedule a no obligation, free full case evaluation. We accept all personal injury claims on contingency so no upfront fees are required.
