The outlook on nursing homes in illinois

After finally selecting the perfect new place of residence for an elderly loved one, it can be upsetting to discover neglect, to say the least. No matter how serious the situation might be, abuse within the walls of a nursing home is simply unacceptable. The following information takes a look at local nursing homes and their ability to protect and care for senior residents across the state of Illinois.

Last August, WQAD-TV shared the unsettling news that Illinois had the highest number of reported incidents of nursing home abuse in the country between 2015 and 2016, followed by Texas and California. Even more disturbing, WQAD noted that a large number of abuse cases go unreported — despite federal laws requiring staff to do so. More specifically, staff must report incidents within a two-hour window if a serious injury is involved; in less severe cases, there is a 24-hour reporting window. Although Medicare prides itself in its concern over elderly patients in these facilities, the inspector general has placed recent pressure on the agency to begin scrutinizing computer records for possible signs of abuse.

The Belleville News-Democrat also weighs in on the state’s nursing homes and their abiity to provide quality care for residents, reporting that nursing homes in the metro-east area specifically provided substandard care. Some critics blame insufficient government reimbursement, understaffing and poor training. Others point toward the state’s privatized Medicare and Medicaid system, which often does not provide adequate funding. Whatever the reason, it is clear that Illinois is struggling to protect its nursing home patients: six residents died due to poor care from 2015 to 2017, and 13 out of the 18 nursing homes in Clair County received “below average” scores from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. As the problem persists, countless patients continue to suffer.