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Worst Nursing Homes in Joliet
A nursing home is supposed to be a place of comfort and care where elderly residents can live safely. Unfortunately, administrators’ lack of understanding, a focus on the bottom line, and staffing issues have turned many facilities into dangerous places for older adults. Many of the worst nursing homes in Illinois are located in Joliet and the surrounding area.
In this article, we will examine the issues with nursing homes, list some of the lowest-rated facilities in the area, and help you understand how to search for them.
Our Methodology for Identifying Joliet’s Worst Nursing Homes
The primary rating system for nursing homes in the United States comes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The CMS rating system is a five-star scoring method that includes an overall score and individual ratings for health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. A nursing home with a one-star rating is considered much below average and could have issues with abuse and neglect.
The nursing home comparison tool on the Medicare.gov website allows you to search for each nursing home in Joliet. This resource includes information about each facility, including its CMS ratings, past inspections, and history of violations. Each home listed on this page has a one or two-star overall CMS score (please note that ratings are subject to change).
List of Joliet’s Lowest-Rated Nursing Homes
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has rated this nursing home two stars overall. This rating is based on three stars for health inspections, one star for staffing, and three stars for quality measures.
The nursing home has received one federal fine of $115,684 in the last three years. During the same timeframe, fifteen complaints against Spring Creek resulted in health citations.
Some of the most significant violations and concerns discovered at this facility include insufficient nursing staff, significant medication error rates, improper range-of-motion care, accident hazards, unprofessional food practices, an insufficient infection prevention program, a failure to ensure therapeutic diets are properly prescribed, and a lack of daily living assistance.
This facility has a one-star overall rating from CMS. It also received two stars for health inspections, one star for staffing, and four stars for quality measures. Two federal fines totaling $14,715 have been issued against The Pearl of Joliet in the last three years. The most recent inspection uncovered 27 health citations, far exceeding the national average of 9.6.
These trends all indicate that the nursing home struggles to meet professional standards. The most severe violations found at this nursing home include inappropriate responses to abuse allegations, the presence of accident hazards, unprofessional food standards, insufficient pressure ulcer care, and treatment that fails to follow resident care plans.
Another nursing home in Joliet with a two-star overall score from CMS, includes three stars for health inspections, one star for staffing, and two stars for quality measures. Three federal fines have totaled $101,537 in the past three years. A staggering nineteen complaints have been issued against the facility in the last three years, leading to health citations.
Among the most severe deficiencies at this nursing home are procuring food from unapproved sources, a lack of assistance with daily living activities, a failure to accommodate each resident’s preferences, the presence of accident hazards, a failure to protect residents from all types of abuse, and a failure to prevent significant medication errors.
CMS has issued this institution a two-star overall rating. This includes three stars for health inspections, four stars for staffing, and one star for quality measures. There has only been one fine of $13,575 in the past three years, though the most recent inspection listed sixteen health citations.
Additionally, sixteen resident complaints have led to more health citations against the nursing home.
The primary issues at Ascension Villa Franciscan are a failure to inform the resident of changes, a failure to prevent accident hazards, a failure to follow each resident’s care plan, a failure to provide appropriate continence/incontinence care, food procured from unapproved sources, a failure to update resident assessments, and a failure to develop policies for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
CMS has issued one-star ratings across the board for this nursing home, except for a two-star rating for quality measures.
Four federal fines totaling $294,354 have been issued against this nursing home in the past three years, along with three Medicare payment denials. The last standard inspection listed sixteen health citations, and 23 complaints against the facility have also led to citations.
Some of the most serious violations found at Renwick Nursing and Rehab include the presence of accident hazards, a failure to honor the resident’s right to a safe and clean environment, procuring food from unapproved sources, an insufficient infection control program, an inefficient use of facility resources, a failure to provide enough food and fluids to a resident, and insufficient dialysis care.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in Joliet
Often, instances of abuse and neglect are discovered by the loved ones of residents. Here are a few signs of nursing home abuse and neglect to look for when visiting your family member:
- Physical abuse – Bruises, fractures, unexplained injuries
- Neglect – Malnutrition, dehydration, poor hygiene, bedsores
- Emotional abuse – Withdrawal, fear, agitation, behavioral changes
- Financial exploitation – Missing belongings, financial document changes, unauthorized purchases
- Sexual abuse – STDs, pain, bleeding
Steps to Take if You Suspect Abuse or Neglect in a Joliet Nursing Home
Taking action quickly is essential if you have concerns about abuse or neglect in a nursing facility.
Document your observations with notes, photos, and videos. Report your suspicions to the facility administrators by phone or search for an online portal on the nursing home’s website. Contact the long-term care ombudsman program in Illinois.
Your last resort may be a lawsuit against the at-fault institution, in which case you should search for an experienced Joliet nursing home abuse attorney.
Filing a Lawsuit for Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect in Joliet
A lawsuit can be a complex process, but it could result in much-needed compensation for legal damages.
When you hire a lawyer, this legal professional will investigate your claim and gather evidence. Liability for the harm suffered will be determined. Then, you will file your complaint in court. A discovery process will follow, as well as pre-trial motions in some circumstances.
Finally, your attorney will negotiate a settlement with the nursing home and their insurance company. In rare cases, the case could proceed to a civil trial. Some firms offer benefits like being paid on a contingency fee basis and providing free consultations.
What Are the Most Common Forms of Nursing Home Neglect in Joliet?
Some nursing home issues are found in many institutions across the nation. The most common problems that negatively affect the resident experience are infection prevention failures, not understanding care plans, inadequate staffing, medication errors, nutritional support failures, improper wound care, pressure ulcers caused by negligence, and patient abuse.
Statute of Limitations for Nursing Home Abuse Claims in Joliet
In Illinois, you have two years from the date of discovery to file a civil claim for nursing home abuse or neglect. If you wait beyond this period, you may not be eligible to seek compensation.
What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Nursing Home Neglect Case?
The purpose of a lawsuit is to hold the facility accountable and pursue compensation for legal damages. You may seek a settlement to cover economic losses, such as medical expenses, therapy bills, lost income, or future medical costs.
You can also pursue non-economic damages, like emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. In a wrongful death claim, surviving family members could seek additional compensation for funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of consortium.
Contact a Joliet Nursing Home Attorney for a Free Consultation
When you work with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, you have access to a legal team with plenty of experience. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront legal costs involved in pursuing your claim. Our team has vast experience with nursing home abuse and neglect, and we know what it takes to win this type of case.
You can request a free consultation with an experienced attorney by phone at 888-424-5757 or online through the contact form on our web page.
All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.