There is clear evidence that a staff member at Clearbrook Center nursing home in Rolling Meadows, Illinois physically abused a 27-year-old female resident with profound mental retardation, pervasive developmental disorders, and epilepsy.
In mid-October of last year, a member of the housekeeping staff witnessed one of the Aides at Clearbrook Center slap the resident twice, once on either side of her face. She reported the assault approximately 45 minutes later to her supervisor who reported the incident to the Residential Services Director.
The victim was physically examined shortly afterwards. A scratch was found on her face, her skin was reddened, and two small abrasions were found on her neck. Because there were no security cameras present to document the incident, and only one witness was present to witness the assault, and the victim’s severe disorders prevent her from testifying as to the chain of events, the facility concluded that it was impossible to determine the truth.
When questioned by nursing home investigators from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, Clearbrook Center administrators alleged that the victim may have injured herself.
When the burden of proof is set so high that a witness and physical evidence are not enough to warrant further action, it’s hard to imagine what might. For the families of severely disabled residents at Clearbrook Center, this is a very ominous situation.
The fact that violence exists in nursing homes is a secret of which few are aware. Violence can occur when a staff member strikes a resident, or when residents injure each other. In any event, nursing homes have an obligation to protect the residents in their care from harm. When they fail to do so they are guilty of nursing home neglect.
If you have a loved one who has showed signs of nursing home neglect in Clearbrook Center or any Illinois nursing home, contact my law offices for a free and confidential evaluation of your case. At my law offices, we never charge a fee unless we take, and win, your case.