I last wrote about Shady Oaks West nursing home in Lockport, Illinois back in May when they were being investigated by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) after one of their residents suffered a severe fecal impaction at the nursing home. The condition, potentially lethal if left untreated, required a surgical solution.
The situation at Shady Oaks West seems to have improved little, as more investigations are underway by the IDPH stemming from allegations of nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect.
The current investigations surround a 30-year-old man with profound mental retardation and Cerebral Palsy. Like the earlier victim, this man was also hospitalized with a report of fecal impaction. Unlike the earlier case, however, the fecal impaction was only one of several severe injuries and conditions.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was called to Shady Oaks West to transfer the resident to a local hospital for the reported condition. According to the report, when the EMS arrived on the scene, they were told that the man had been laying in bed screaming for six hours.
At the hospital, it was determined after X-rays that the man’s leg was severely broken. Yet, there was no report indicating a nursing home fall, or any other incident that could have resulted in the injury.
Shady Oaks West never investigated any of the incidents. There was a statement made with regard to the impaction, but the broken leg and the allegations that the victim had been screaming for hours was completely overlooked.
Clearly, there are serious issues with nursing home neglect at Shady Oaks West. The IDPH investigation revealed that the man had been observed “screaming and crying” during transfers. Someone at Shady Oaks West knows what happened to the victim, but they haven’t come forward.
At our law offices, our Chicago nursing home lawyers are experienced investigating nursing home abuse and neglect. If you have a loved one who has been injured in an Illinois nursing home, and you feel that nursing home neglect has been instrumental in their injuries, contact our Chicago nursing home lawyers for a free and confidential evaluation of your case.