Each year many more Illinois residents become unable to care for themselves. Baby boomers are rapidly reaching retirement age and starting to experience the many physical issues that can accompany getting older. While medical advancements have increased the quality of healthcare, not every disease is curable. There are many mental and physical conditions that require constant care and supervision as individuals age.
As a result, many Illinois families rely on nursing homes to provide care for their aging loved ones. This care can include both mental and physical health concerns.
Nursing homes in Illinois are regulated by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The department is responsible for overseeing these facilities to ensure that they are safe for Illinois residents. As part of their duties, the department frequently — once every six to 15 months — inspects each nursing home facility within the state. These inspections can be the result of complaints about the facility or just conducted as a normal part of the department’s business.
A variety of data is evaluated during these inspections to ensure that these facilities are safe for Illinois residents. This includes the reports of issues with residents and staff, and police reports investigating the facility and the access to care provided to each resident. Many aspects of the facility are evaluated during inspections, including housekeeping and cleanliness.
If issues are found with a particular facility, then the department can impose penalties on the facilities. These penalties frequently include civil monetary fines up to $10,000. In some cases, a facility’s Medicare or Medicaid certification can be revoked.
While these procedures help to keep Illinois residents safe, they cannot prevent every incident. When people are injured or killed in a nursing home legal action may be required. Nursing home deaths are often avoidable and are the result of negligence. In these cases, compensation for Illinois elder abuse may be available to victims and their families.