Three employees leave Illinois nursing home after sexual assault investigation leads to fines

Three employees of a LaSalle County, Illinois nursing home have resigned or been fired after an investigation determined the home failed to protect residents.

The home faced two fines stemming from the sexual molestation of several female patents by a resident at the home, according to a report from the Associated Press.

While officials would not say who resigned and who was fired, they confirmed the departure of the home’s administrator, director of nursing and director of social services.

The Associated Press reported that the home was fined $20,000 by the state and faces another $20,000 fine from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The Times in Ottawa, Illinois reported that the Illinois Department of Public Health found the home at fault earlier this year for not protecting at least 10 women from molestation by a male resident of the home.

The home’s interim administrator also pointed out that the nursing home’s nutritional consultant works for the firm that provides the home’s food, a possible conflict of interest.

Putting a loved one in a nursing home is one of the most difficult tasks many of us will face. Despite every effort to ensure that your loved one is cared for in a safe and secure environment, Illinois nursing home neglect and abuse is an all-too-common occurrence.

The state offers a number of resources to those faced with the difficult decision to place a loved one in a nursing home. Click here for information on how to file an Illinois nursing home complaint and for tips on how to select an Illinois nursing home.

If you suspect neglect or abuse is occurring in an Illinois nursing home, talking to an Illinois nursing home neglect and abuse lawyer can help provide added protection for both a loved one and other residents of the home.