A 49-year-old man who suffers from paralysis of half of his body has filed a negligence lawsuit against a Joliet nursing home. The Cook County Circuit Court case alleges Hillcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center failed to reposition the man frequently enough and he developed pressure ulcers as a result. According to the lawsuit, the man was later forced to undergo the amputation of most of his left leg after facility employees failed to adequately monitor his condition and one of the bedsores became seriously infected.
The man’s sister-in-law stated the 49-year-old was able to walk with assistance when he entered the Joliet skilled nursing facility. Unfortunately, because the man’s paralysis affects his right side he is reportedly no longer able to walk. His sister-in-law claims the former Hillcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center patient also lost much of his independence and mobility as a result of the leg amputation. She also added that the man was gravely ill and it was unclear whether he would survive when he was removed from the nursing home’s care.
Prior to filing his lawsuit, relatives of the 49-year-old man reportedly filed a complaint regarding the skilled nursing facility with the Illinois Department of Public Health. Following an investigation, the care center was apparently cited for a number of violations and fined more than $31,000. In 2011, 23 additional instances of physical and sexual abuse of residents were also allegedly uncovered at the nursing home within a period of five months. Illinois officials are purportedly investigating two suspicious deaths that took place within six months of one another at the facility as well.
The Hillcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has reportedly lost its federal Medicaid and Medicare certified status and is in the process of fighting to maintain a license to operate in Illinois. A certified skilled nursing facility is one that is eligible to receive federal funding. Certified facilities are also subject to both state and federal regulations. Despite that most nursing homes located in Illinois are certified, the state’s Nursing Home Care Act does not require it. Regardless of a facility’s certified status, the Illinois Department of Public Health regulates the quality of care provided in all nursing homes across the state. If you believe your family member suffered neglect or abuse at a long-term care facility in Illinois, you should discuss your concerns with a quality attorney.
If someone close to you suffered bedsores or other symptoms of neglect while residing at an Illinois nursing home, please give the skilled lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. a call at (312) 924-7575. Our caring Chicago nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys are available 24 hours per day, seven days of the week to help you protect the rights of your elderly and disabled loved ones. For a free consultation with a hardworking advocate, do not hesitate to contact Abels & Annes, P.C. through the law firm’s website.
Note: Abels & Annes, P.C. does not represent the victim in the above mentioned lawsuit.
More Blogs:
Odin Nursing Home Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Decide Whether Wrongful Death Lawsuit is Subject to Binding Arbitration, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, March 24, 2013
To Protect Loved Ones, Many Factors Should Be Considered When Choosing an Illinois Nursing Home, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, March 22, 2013
Additional Resources:
Man’s Leg Amputated Due to Joliet Nursing Home Negligence: Lawsuit, by Karen Sorensen, JolietPatch