Nursing Home Spotlight: Westshire Nursing and Rehab Center, Cicero, Illinois

Westshire Nursing and Rehab Center (“Westshire”), a massive 485-bed facility located at 5825 West Cermak Road in Cicero, Illinois, was recently cited by the IDPH and fined $35,000.  Westshire was last cited by the IDPH in November 2007 for endangering residents by inadequately supervising a resident accused of sexual assault on another resident.

The IDPH conducted the most recent investigation in January 2009 and released the results as part of its first quarterly report of 2009. The investigation revealed that Westshire failed to adequately monitor, treat, and prevent pressure sores in multiple residents, often resulting in painful deterioration of the residents’ condition.

The investigation also documented several residents whose nutritional needs were not being fully monitored or met, sometimes resulting in a resident’s significant weight loss.  The report also expressed concern that the facility lacked basic hygiene supplies to enable staff to wash their hands effectively.  The IDPH ordered implementation of preventive measures for pressure sores, updated physician evaluations of certain residents’ conditions, and enhanced monitoring strategies for pressure sores and nutritional needs.  Westshire has requested a hearing.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which operates a “five-star” rating system for nursing homes, gave Westshire a below-average overall rating of “two-stars.”  Significantly, Westshire earned just one-star in the area of health inspections due to the immediate jeopardy to residents’ health and safety from bed sores and actual harm to residents from a failure to give each resident appropriate care and services.

If you are concerned about the treatment of a resident at Westshire Nursing and Rehab Center, call us at (800) 926-7565 for a confidential consultation.