The recent inspection report of the Sacred Heart Home in Chicago contains a horrific incident of nursing home abuse. Beyond that, it also paints a picture of a nursing home out of control, where resident violence has become a daily occurrence.
A resident of Sacred Heart Home was publicly beaten by nursing home staff, the result of a nursing home that has neglected abuse training and proper staffing. The resident was hospitalized after she was put in a headlock and repeatedly punched. Another resident present for the beating told inspectors that the nurse told the victim she was going to “kick her A**” before the assault. The assault was witnessed by multiple staff members, and yet none of them immediately reported the assault to Nursing Home Administration. One staff member claimed that a report was made and slipped under the Administrator’s door, but this was unconfirmed.
The violence at Sacred Heart was not confined to staff. Resident on resident violence has become commonplace. One resident received two lacerations after an assault by another resident. Another resident was struck with a shoe. Another resident was choked. Another resident was assaulted while in bed. Another resident’s foot was crushed. Another resident was kicked.
The list goes on and on, and none of these incidents were reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Nursing homes have an obligation to protect the residents in their care from themselves, from staff, and also from other residents. Resident on resident violence is becoming more and more common in Illinois and across the country. Because nursing homes only need to have 50% of their residents be over 65-years-old to qualify for Medicaid funding, more and more mentally ill younger residents are being housed with our vulnerable senior population.
If you have a loved one who has shown signs of injury in an Illinois nursing home, contact my law offices for a free and confidential evaluation of your case.