Nursing facilities fulfill a crucial need in the community by helping those who require assistance with their medical and hygiene care. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect happens much too often. Our Aurora nursing home abuse attorneys have seen a significant increase in the numbers of court cases involving nursing home abuse and neglect throughout Illinois. Many of these cases involve preventable pressure sores where the resident acquired the injury after being admitted to the facility.
If your loved one developed a bed sore at an Aurora, IL nursing home, you may be entitled to file a claim or lawsuit against the facility to recover compensation. Contact the Nursing Home Law Center LLC today for a free review of your legal rights and options.
Pressure sores, also referred to as bedsores, pressure ulcers and decubitus ulcers are skin lesions that are the result of constant pressure on one area of the body — typically bony prominences like the hips, ankles, toes, sacrum and back of the head. The constant pressure diminishes the flow of oxygen and blood, causing tissue to quickly die.
A bedsore can quickly develop on the skin of the elderly, disabled or infirm who are bedfast or bound to a wheelchair and unable to turn, reposition or move without assistance. Residents of nursing facilities and assisted-living homes are especially at risk of developing facility-acquired pressure ulcers, especially those who do not receive proper health, medical and hygiene care. Without immediate attention, a newly acquired pressure sore can degrade to a serious wound with a severe infection that results in death.
Pressure sores can substantially diminish the quality of life experienced by the nursing home resident because the serious wound often causes debilitating pain. Without proper medical attention, the pressure ulcer can degrade to an intensifying stage that requires extensive medical treatment that could involve debridement, where dead tissue is cut away, or amputation is required in severe cases. Our lawyers have successfully prosecuted bed sore cases against Aurora facilities and invite you to contact our office for a free review of your case.
The Aurora nursing home negligence attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center LLC have provided legal advocacy to many Illinois nursing home residents who have suffered preventable bedsores. Our team of dedicated lawyers continuously reviews publicly available bedsore information from national databases including www.Medicare.gov. Our Illinois elder abuse network of attorneys posts this information in an effort to assist families who need to make the most informed decision before placing a loved one in the hands of professional caregivers.
Our Will/Kane County nursing home attorneys have posted the detailed information below about Aurora area nursing facilities that currently maintain a below average rating in the national nursing home database. These facilities rate one star out of five possible stars due to safety concerns involving pressure ulcers. Our lawyers have listed their primary concerns uncovered by state surveyors and investigators performing routine surveys and unannounced inspections.
1601 North Farnsworth Avenue
Aurora, IL 60505
(630) 898-1180
A “For-Profit” 158-certified bed Medicaid/Medicare-participating facility
Overall Rating – 1 out of 5 possible stars
Primary Concerns –
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 04/14/2015, a complaint investigation was opened against the facility for its failure to “implement preventative measures to prevent worsening of facility-acquired pressure ulcers.” This deficient practice directly affected to residents at the facility who were “reviewed for pressure ulcers.”
In one incident, a resident at the facility was evaluated by a wound care specialist on 04/07/2015 and noted to have a “Stage IV ulcer of the right heel, measuring 4 x 6 x 5.5 x 0.2 cm, moderate serous exudates [a highly concentrated protein and cellular debris fluid escaping from blood vessels and deposited on tissue surfaces and in tissue causing inflammation]. Treatments were Calcium Alginate and [other medications] daily; offload wound.” The resident also was noted as having an additional “Stage IV pressure ulcer on the left lateral calf, measuring 3.9 x 1.2 cm, light exudates. The wound progress had deteriorated due to local cast pressure (due to fracture tibia fibula). Treatments [included medication] and offload – unstageable (due to necrosis [dead tissue]) pressure ulcer on the left heel measuring 1.5 x 1.6 x not measurable cm.”
The investigation was initiated in part after a state surveyor observed the resident on 04/08/2015 throughout the day at 10:35 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM, and 1:30 PM, while “sitting in her reclining wheelchair. [The resident’s] upper knees were semi flexed and were pointed toward her right side. There was a pillow placed behind the [resident’s] calves [and the resident’s] feet/heels were not offloaded and were actually pressed against the footrest thus causing more pressure to the heels. There was also not enough space for [the resident] to be turned and repositioned to sides to relieve from pressure while seated in [the resident’s] reclining chair.”
An interview conducted with the facility’s CNA (certified nursing assistant) indicated that the resident “was not turned and positioned to sides while seated in the reclining wheelchair.” The CNA also indicated that the resident requires “total assistance from staff for turning and repositioning, bed mobility and transfers.”
The state surveyor reviewed the resident’s minimum data sheet (MDS) on 11/10/2015 that showed that the resident “requires total assistance for bed mobility and transfer. [The resident’s] current care plan showed that there was no specific/individualized intervention regarding turning and repositioning to prevent further deterioration of [the resident’s] pressure ulcers.”
Our Aurora nursing home neglect attorneys recognize that any failure to follow procedures and protocols to prevent the development of pressure ulcers might be considered negligence and mistreatment of the resident. In addition, the deficient practice violates both federal and state nursing home regulations and does not follow the established policies adopted by The Grove of Fox Valley.
2100 South Finley Road
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 495-4000
A “For-Profit” 215-certified bed Medicaid/Medicare-participating facility
Overall Rating – 1 out of 5 possible stars
Primary Concerns –
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 06/19/2015, a complaint investigation against the facility was opened for its failure to “take steps to prevent urine from leaking from an indwelling urinary catheter into an infected sacral pressure sore.” This deficient practice affected one resident at the facility who was “reviewed for pressure sores.”
The complaint investigation was initially investigated after review of a resident’s wound assessment who “has multiple wounds / pressure sores all over his lower extremities including a stage IV pressure sore in the sacral area. [The resident] has an indwelling catheter used because of [the resident’s medical condition].”
Wound care was rendered to the resident by the wound care nurse on 06/17/2015 at 9:55 AM as the resident “was repositioned on his right side, it was noted his indwelling urinary catheter was leaking directly into a sacral dressing. [The resident’s] sacral pressure sore measures 8 cm long by 8.1 cm with an undermining of 6 cm.”
The state surveyor noted that the “sacral dressing was wet and soiled with urine. [The Wound Care Nurse] stated staff are aware of the leaking catheter and it was changed the week before.” However, a re-observation the following day at 11:40 AM by the state investigator found that “during grooming / hygiene care, [the resident’s] indwelling catheter was still leaking and urine was directly flowing toward the sacral wound dressing.”
902 East Arnold Street
Sandwich, IL 60548
(815) 786-8409
A “For-Profit” 63-certified bed Medicaid/Medicare-participating facility
Overall Rating – 1 out of 5 possible stars
Primary Concerns –
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 12/05/2014, a notation was made during an annual licensure and certification survey by a state investigator concerning the facility’s failure to “prevent an unstageable pressure sore, failed to assess and document resident’s wounds, failed to develop a specific care plan to address skin breakdown and failed to ensure wound treatments were implemented.” The failures by the facility contributed to the resident “developing an unstageable pressure ulcer to the left buttock.”
The state surveyor performed a 04/29/2014 review of the resident’s MDS (Minimum Data Assessment Set) that indicated that the resident is “incontinent of bowel and bladder and requires extensive assistance with bathing, hygiene and transfers.” However, the resident’s 06/30/2014 care plan “does not document specific factors for possible skin breakdown” even though the resident’s 06/30/2014 Braden Scale shows a score of 17 which places the resident at “moderate risk for developing pressure ulcer.”
In addition, the facility did not provide proper documentation of the resident’s “wound on the left buttocks” and there were “no wound assessments of the left buttocks (description, measurements) were found.” However, the 11/13/2014 Nursing Note for the resident indicates the type of medication dressing used on the resident’s left buttock. While there is a notation of the resident’s pressure ulcer measuring 2.5 centimeters and “no other wound description is documented” a review of the resident’s care plan indicates “there is no care plan identifying the presence and treatment interventions of [the resident’s] left buttock pressure ulcer.” The facility’s wound tracking sheet for the resident “was not initiated until 11/24/2014. The left buttock wound measured 1.8 x 1.0 cm with the wound status documented as deteriorating.”
A 12/04/2014 10:55 AM interview with the facility’s Director of Nursing revealed that “when the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) find anything unusual on the resident’s skin they are to report it to width and depth if any the condition of the wound bed and the drainage. The nurse should inform the doctor right away and document all orders.”
Our Aurora/Sandwich nursing home neglect attorneys recognize the actions of the facility and staff might be considered negligence or mistreatment because specific protocols, procedures and policies were not followed to ensure any existing bedsore did not degrade to a serious condition. This includes the facility’s November 2012 policy titled: Pressure Sore Prevention Guidelines that reads in part:
“Care Plan Entry – Skin risk and appropriate interventions are to be placed on the care plan. If despite interventions, a pressure ulcer develops, the care plan must reflect updated interventions or healing of ulcers and additional interventions for further prevention of pressure ulcers.”
Pressure sores commonly occur to individuals who suffer from dementia, paralysis, poor circulation, lack of nutrition or old age. Hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living centers have the legal obligation to identify every resident at risk for developing a pressure sore and are required to develop and implement an individualized care plan to be used as an effective tool for preventing bedsores from developing or degrading.
At the beginning stages (Stage I and Stage II) most bedsores can heal quickly using proven conservative treatments. However, if the pressure sore is allowed to degrade to a severe or advanced stage, the resident will likely have to undergo surgical, enzymatic or mechanical debridement where the infected, dead or damaged tissue is removed. Because debridement surgery is a highly complicated procedure, the resident often undergoes many weeks or months of challenging recovery through the healing process.
If you have a loved one residing in a nursing facility, assisted living home, rehabilitation center or hospital, it is important to check the condition of their skin, their general care and their weight on every visit. If you notice any sign of a pressure sore be aware that it may be an indicator of neglect.
You can serve as your loved one’s advocate by alerting the attending doctor and nursing staff and filing a complaint with the Nursing Home Administrator or Director of Nursing immediately. However, you likely need to be persistent in your efforts and carefully document every issue or problem you address with authorities. Many families and friends choose to hire skilled Illinois nursing home abuse attorneys to serve as a legal advocate because they can use state and federal laws to stop the neglect now.
If you have your suspicions that your loved one’s bedsore is the result of negligence of the medical staff or nursing facility, the Aurora nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center LLC can help to stop the mistreatment now. Our Illinois team of dedicated seasoned attorneys provides legal representation in victim cases involving negligence, abuse and mistreatment occurring in nursing homes throughout the Aurora area.
We encourage you and your family to contact our Aurora elder abuse law office today by calling (800) 926-7565 to schedule your appointment for a full case review. All information you share with our network of attorneys remains confidential. We accept all bedsore neglect cases on contingency, meaning no upfront fees are required. Our legal fees are paid only after we negotiate an acceptable out of court settlement or win your case at the end of the successful lawsuit trial.
For additional information on Illinois pressure sore case values, visit our page here. To see some of our results, look here.
Should you have questions about Illinois law related to pressure sores, view our page here.
For information on bed sores and nursing home negligence in other Illinois cities, please review the pages below:
Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld
Licensed in Illinois
Chicago Lawyer Nursing Home Law Center LLC Home