Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion

Negligence in nursing homes creates a risk of harm to residents, including but not limited to physical injuries, mental trauma, financial losses, and death. Consequently, families must exercise caution when admitting their disabled and elderly loved ones to nursing and long-term care facilities.

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

Contact our Chicago, Illinois 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.

Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion

This facility is a 222-certified bed Medicare and Medicaid-approved for-profit nursing facility (not a continuing care retirement community) providing care and services to Cook County residents. Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion is located at:

2242 N Kedzie Blvd
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 486-7700
Website: http://woodbridgerehab.net/

Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion Chicago provides the following care, services, and amenities:

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Gait transfer training
• Wound care
• Electrical stimulation
• Shortwave diathermy
• Therapeutic exercise
• An individualized plan of care
• Post-surgical care
• In-house and off-site activities
• On-site beauty shop
• Personalized nutrition services
• Hospice care
• IV (intravenous) therapy
• Body and posture mechanics
• Ambulation and use of assistive devices
• Medical rehabilitation
• Quality care for daily activities
• Selective menus for specialized dietary needs

Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion 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 information list all inspections, alleged violations, citations, penalties, and formal complaints.

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

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

• Two out of five stars for health inspections and quality measures
• One out of five stars for staffing issues
• Three out of five stars for quality measures

The Cook County attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC have reviewed much of the documentation provided by Medicare and Medicaid services regarding Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion and identified significant safety concerns, 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 March 25, 2022, the state inspectors noted that Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion failed to "Although therapy recommendations and prevent a resident from falling." The incident involved a resident with dementia and anxiety disorder.

The facility's Progress Notes, dated March 18, 2022, revealed that the resident was found on the bathroom floor "in a fetal position" just before 8:00 PM with a wound to the left eyebrow and right knee. The nursing staff transferred the resident to the hospital for emergent care.

The facility night nurse revealed to the inspectors that the resident would ambulate to the bathroom independently. The physical therapist stated that although the resident can walk steadily, they do not have the cognition and endurance "to complete the toileting task unassisted."

Allowing Dementia Residents With Covid to Wander The Hallways

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated September 24, 2021, the state inspectors determined that Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion failed to "provide adequate supervision for a dementia resident who is a fall risk and has wandering behaviors."

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 September 24, 2021, the state inspectors noted that Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion failed to "keep a resident free from abuse." The incident involved a resident with a "potential for harm to self or others, major depressive disorder, violent behavior, anxiety disorder, and other conditions."

The resident's Progress Notes revealed their agitation on numerous occasions in January, April, And May 2021 and aggressive behavior in January and February 2021.

The incident involved the abusive resident aggressively pulling their roommate's feet. The staff separated both residents and notified the facility administrator.

Failure to Timely Report Suspected Abuse, Neglect, or Theft and Report the Results of the Investigation to Proper Authorities – Deficiency #F0609

In a summary statement of deficiencies dated September 24, 2021, the state inspectors determined that Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion failed to "follow their 'Abuse, neglect, exploitation, prevention, investigation, reporting policy to report allegations of abuse to the Illinois Department of Public Health.' "

How Nursing Homes Can Prevent Abuse

Nursing home abuse can take many forms, including sexual, physical, emotional, and financial abuse and neglect. Common perpetrators are employees, but abuse can also come from visitors and other residents.

Consequences of Abuse and Neglect

Nursing homes and long-term care institutions are legally obligated to prevent abuse and neglect, regardless of who causes it. Failure to do so can lead to significant consequences to a resident and their family, such as:

• Physical injuries
• Mental trauma
• Emotional distress
• Financial losses
• Bedsores and infections
• Preventable accidents
• Untimely death

Preventing Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse is often a multi-factorial problem. Therefore, fully addressing the issue requires multiple strategies, which may include:

• Practicing proper hiring practices, e.g., conducting background checks
• Training new and existing staff members
• Hiring enough staff members to prevent problems related to short-staffing
• Implementing anti-abuse and neglect policies and enforcing penalties as needed
• Conducting regular performance audits on caregivers and other staff members
• Separating high-risk residents from the general population, if necessary

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

You can never be sure your loved one is protected from abuse and neglect in their Chicago facility. Watch out for these common signs of abuse:

• Unexplained injuries (e.g., bruises, cuts, broken bones)
• Reclusiveness, isolating behavior
• Refusal to be alone with particular caregivers or residents
• Changes in personality or behavior
• Emotional outbursts
• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Signs of dehydration (e.g., chapped lips)
• Poor hygiene
• Unsanitary or unsafe living conditions
• Recurring infections

Be wary of abuse signs that mimic other conditions, such as dementia or depression. Consult a third-party physician if you are unsure whether your loved one is suffering abuse or something else entirely.

Why Nursing Facilities Must Report Alleged Violations of Nursing Home Regulations

Illinois law requires nursing facilities to report known or suspected nursing home abuse to the authorities (210 ILCS 30/Abused and Neglected Long Term Care Facility Residents Reporting Act). Any person required to report abuse under this law who fails to comply with the requirements is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Despite the substantial penalty for failure to report, only a small percentage of cases are received by the Department of Public Health. As a result, many nursing home abuse incidents go unresolved, ultimately leaving many residents at risk of continuous mistreatment.

Reporting Nursing Home Abuse in Cook County, IL

If you are a family member, visitor, or nursing home resident, you can report abuse or neglect in Illinois to:

• Protective Services for Seniors
• Department on Aging
• Department of Public Health – Nursing Homes in Illinois
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman
• Office of Attorney General

You can also call the following hotlines:

• 1-800-252-8966 (Senior Helpline, in state line)
• 1-888-206-1327 (Senior Helpline, TTY access)
• 217-524-6911 (Senior Helpline, out of state)

How Quality Care Can Prevent Nursing Home Falls

Older adults are more susceptible to falling due to a variety of reasons, such as:

• Blurred vision
• Unsteady gait
• Cognitive impairment
• Certain medications that cause dizziness or affect balance
• Weakness and lack of mobility

Aside from having an increased risk of falling, elderly residents are also less able to get up from the floor and are more likely to suffer severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head trauma.

Preventing Falls

Nursing homes can help reduce falls through the following strategies:

• Conducting fall risk assessments on at-risk individuals, e.g., residents who have just completed major surgery
• Decreasing medications whenever possible
• Illuminating walkways, staircases, and other accident-prone areas
• Ensuring a protected environment, e.g., removing tripping hazards
• Providing gait, strength, and balance training
• Correcting vision
• Prescribing mobility aids

Why Nursing Home Negligence Increases the Risk of Infections

The elderly have a higher risk of infection due to decreased immune response, which is a normal part of aging. Hence, a nursing home must have infection control and prevention procedures in place to reduce the risk of facility-acquired infections, such as:

• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Pneumonia
• IV or catheter-related infection
• Surgical site infection
• Bloodstream infection

Infection Complications

Failing to mitigate and treat infections can lead to severe complications, including:

• Worsening of physical symptoms:
  • Pain
  • Fever
  • Gastrointestinal problems
• Recurring infections
• Sepsis
• Death

Some mild infections can resolve independently without treatment, but since seniors are more prone to severe symptoms, immediate action is usually necessary.

Preventing Nursing Home Infections

Nursing institutions can reduce the risk of infection among residents and staff members by:

• Implementing outbreak control measures
• Establishing personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols
• Disinfecting common areas regularly
• Conducting infection management training and education
• Establishing infection surveillance systems

Nursing Home Neglect Often Leads to Bedsores

Even with the absence of wilful abuse, many nursing home residents are not protected against neglect. Neglect fails to provide for a resident's basic needs, including food, medication, treatment, and social interaction. It can either be active (intentional) or passive (unintentional), but it is generally considered abuse.

One of the most common signs of neglect is the development of pressure ulcers, typically resulting from laying in one position for too long.

Bedridden or physically-limited residents require assistance from staff to perform basic tasks and engage in physical exercise. When neglected, they may develop bedsores due to lack of movement.

Complications of Bedsores

Generally, residents with bedsores require treatment to heal, regardless of the severity of the sores. When left untreated, bedsores can lead to:

• Cellulitis (skin infection)
• Bone infection
• Joint infection
• Cancer (squamous cell carcinoma)
• Abscesses (collection of pus)
• Sepsis (bacteria in the bloodstream)

Severe cases of bedsores can ultimately lead to death.

Pressure Sore Prevention

Pressure ulcers are easily preventable in most cases. A patient will have less risk of developing bedsores if the following steps are implemented in their care:

• Frequent repositioning
• Adequate hydration and nutrition
• Proper skincare (keeping the area dry and moisturized)
• Regular physical activity
• Frequent monitoring

How Nursing Home Negligence Can Lead to Medication Errors

Medication errors lead to increased healthcare costs, adverse side effects, and in severe cases--death. In nursing homes, the most common causes of medication errors are:

• Misdiagnosis
• Prescribing errors
• Dose miscalculations
• Faulty distribution practices
• Poor labeling
• Incorrect drug administration
• Failed communication between healthcare staff

Underlying factors that can lead to these errors include:

• Human error
• Understaffing
• Technical deficiencies
• Poor communication
• Underperforming management
• Inadequate training

Reducing medication errors involves around addressing the underlying issues that cause them. Nursing facilities must implement proper procedures from diagnosis to drug administration to prevent these mistakes.

Medication Error Complications

Some people do not experience any effects after taking the wrong dose or drug aside from not experiencing any relief from their illness. In other circumstances, however, medication errors can lead to:

• Rashes
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Gastrointestinal problems

Some medication errors may require hospitalization and even death.

Preventing Medication Errors

Senior living institutions can mitigate the risk of drug errors by addressing the underlying issues that cause them. The following strategies can help:

• Using improved computerized systems
• Training new and existing employees
• Establishing order writing and distribution standards
• Improving labeling practices
• Educating residents about their drug plans
• Improving prescription verification processes

Hire Experienced Chicago Lawyers to Resolve Your Nursing Home Compensation Claim

Was your loved one neglected and abused while residing in Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion or any other nursing home in Chicago? The nursing home abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can help you obtain the justice you deserve.

Contact our Chicago law firm 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 nursing home abuse cases and wrongful death lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This agreement ensures that you will pay no upfront costs until we resolve your claim through a negotiated settlement or jury award.

Resources:

• Nursing Home Facilities | CMS
• Pressure Sores | Johns Hopkins Medicine