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Worst Nursing Homes in Chicago
Skilled care in nursing facilities is designed to help elderly patients lead comfortable lives in a safe environment. However, many nursing homes nationwide fall short of professional standards, putting lives at risk every day.
Some of the lowest-rated nursing homes in the country are located in Chicago, IL. These facilities have poor ratings due to failures related to health inspections, staffing, and quality measures.
In this article, we will explore some of the issues that plague Illinois nursing homes and list the worst facilities in Chicago.
Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare Website: A Starting Point
The primary method for creating this list is the Nursing Home Compare website through Medicare.gov. With this tool, you can look up all eligible facilities in the country to see their performance ratings, past inspection reports, and history of violations. Let’s examine some of the resources you can use to evaluate nursing homes and weed out the poorly rated facilities.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Star Rating System
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a branch of the federal government, rates every eligible nursing facility in the United States. The CMS rating system is a five-star system that lists an overall score for each facility.
This overall rating is based on individual scores for health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. In the CMS scoring system, every facility listed in this article had a one-star overall rating at the time this article was written (ratings are subject to change).
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Nursing Home Information
The Illinois Department of Public Health also has facility profiles you can research. Specifically, this state government entity makes quarterly reports of nursing home violations available to the public. With this resource, you can research a specific facility to find recent violations.
Special Focus Facilities and Candidate
Some nursing homes are included in the Special Focus Facility program (SFF), which means they have a history of failing to meet professional standards. As a result, the CMS flags them for consumers.
Facilities that may be added to this list if they fail to correct their actions are considered Candidates. The SFF program is a clear indicator of an underperforming facility. Not all problematic facilities will make it onto this list, so it is still important to research a nursing home’s CMS ratings.
List of the Worst Nursing Homes in Chicago
- Bria of Forest Edge – This nursing home was cited for 83 deficiencies between 2021 and 2024, resulting in fines totaling $392,000. The most serious violations included allowing nursing home abuse, failing to remove accident hazards from the premises, and failing to provide a safe and clean environment to every resident.
- Pavilion of South Shore – Numerous complaint reports have been filed against Pavilion of South Shore. Repeated issues include the presence of accident hazards, failure to report abuse allegations, failure to prevent abuse and neglect, and failure to provide appropriate treatment to all patients.
- Elevate Care Chicago North – This nursing home has also had a long history of complaint reports, fines, and total deficiencies in recent years. Residents have suffered due to poor nutritional practices, improper infection control programs, insufficient ulcer care, insufficient respiratory care, low staffing levels, and a lack of basic living assistance.
- Atrium Health Care Center – A complaint report in 2024 resulted in a fine of $223,790. The staff failed to protect residents from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, physical punishment, and exploitation. There were also dangerous accident hazards found that put patients at risk. These are from just one report of many involving this nursing home.
- Park View Rehab Center – Between 2022 and 2024, this nursing home received three fines, each over $75,000. Some of the primary reasons for these hefty fines included the presence of accident hazards, instances of abuse and neglect, incomplete care plans, the inappropriate use of physical restraints, and poor nutritional support.
- Archer Heights Healthcare – This Special Focus Facility Candidate has a long history of serious deficiencies, with 119 violations reported between 2022 and 2024. One report cited eight deficiencies, including a failure to keep the nursing home clean, a failure to prevent abuse, resident rights violations, and improper pharmacy practices.
- Mayfield Care and Rehab – Between 2022 and 2024, 21 complaint reports were filed against this nursing rehab center, and the facility was cited for 97 deficiencies. Nursing home abuse and neglect were among the main concerns and were included in numerous reports. Quality of life violations and poor pharmacy services were also major areas of concern.
- Parkshore Estates Nursing and Rehab – A complaint report in 2022 resulted in a massive fine of $402,166 against this rehabilitation center. The two offenses listed in the report were failure to protect residents from abuse and failure to honor the residents’ right to a dignified existence.
- Aperion Care International – With 108 deficiencies in the last three years, this nursing home is as troublesome as any other on this list. Some of the most recent concerns include insufficient staffing to provide quality care, inadequate pharmaceutical services, abuse allegations, and failure to assist with basic living activities.
- Kenwood Village Nursing and Rehab Center – An inspection report from 2022 cited eleven deficiencies and a fine of $146,049. Among the violations were failure to prevent accident hazards, failure to provide well-balanced diet options, unsecured medications, and failure to provide care according to resident preferences.
- California Terrace – In 2024, this facility in Chicago, IL, was fined $244,400. Residents were not protected from abuse, abuse allegations were not reported appropriately, residents’ needs were not always accommodated, and the nursing home was not kept clear of accident hazards.
- Lakeview Rehab and Nursing Center – Since 2021, this facility has been fined $310,000 for numerous violations. Nursing home residents have faced insufficient ulcer care, low staffing levels, a lack of assistance with basic living activities, accident hazards, abuse and neglect, and poor care planning.
- Kensington Place Nursing and Rehab – There has been a long list of complaint reports against this health care center in the last few years. A lack of private bedrooms, some instances of abuse, unsecured medications, incomplete care plans, procuring food from unapproved sources, insufficient staffing, and accident hazards have all placed nursing facility residents in harm’s way.
- Warren Barr South Loop – Staff at Warren Barr South Loop have failed to provide appropriate care in many respects. Ulcer care, feeding tube application, nutritional support, infection prevention, protection from abuse, complete care plans, basic living assistance, and respiratory care have all been cited for being deficient in the last three years.
Common Problems Found in Poorly Rated Chicago Nursing Homes
Many of the worst nursing homes on this list suffer from similar issues. Nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable groups in our population, so there is often a lack of accountability and action when their rights are violated. Here are some of the most common issues found in Chicago nursing facilities:
- Inadequate staffing and improper training
- Poor infection prevention and control practices
- Frequent medication errors and mismanagement
- Failure to provide adequate nutrition and hydration
- Failure to prevent pressure ulcers and poor hygiene
- Poor cleaning practices
- Failure to prevent abuse and neglect
- Improper monitoring of patients
Legal Options for Residents of Poorly Performing Nursing Homes in Chicago
Whether a nursing home has a one-star rating or a five-star rating, every facility is capable of putting residents in danger. If you are a resident in a living facility, or you have a loved one who is, there are several legal options for taking action if you suspect abuse or neglect.
Reporting Concerns to the Nursing Home Administration
The first step is to report your concerns directly to the facility in question. If possible, document your concerns with notes, photos, and videos, then bring this information to the facility administrators.
Ideally, this is the first line of defense, and the staff will correct the issue or address the at-fault parties to correct their mistakes.
Filing a Complaint with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
If the first step is ineffective, consider filing an official complaint with the IDPH. This state agency is responsible for inspecting and regulating nursing homes, so they take complaints very seriously.
You can file a complaint about a nursing care facility online or by contacting the department directly to speak with a representative who will take your complaint.
Filing a Lawsuit for Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse
One of the most drastic steps you can take to hold a facility accountable is to file a lawsuit. A lawsuit is an attempt to seek compensation for legal damages suffered if the victim has been harmed physically or emotionally. Victims of abuse or neglect and their families can hold facilities accountable with these lawsuits, forcing change at the highest levels.
If this is the course you choose, it is essential to find an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer to guide you through the legal process and increase your chances of winning.
Transferring the Resident to a Higher-Quality Facility
If a resident is facing immediate risk at an underperforming facility, you could always transfer them to a higher-quality establishment. Through CMS, research other homes in Chicago, IL, that have four or five-star overall ratings. Cross-reference those ratings with online reviews.
If you can, move your loved one to a better facility; they will likely have access to better care and a safer environment.
Compensation in Chicago Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Cases
Victims of nursing home abuse and neglect can pursue multiple types of legal damages for compensation. Some economic damages include lost income, medical expenses, therapy bills, and future medical costs. Non-economic damages include emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Why You Need an Experienced Chicago Nursing Home Neglect Attorney
An experienced Chicago nursing home abuse attorney can make all the difference in your lawsuit. The right lawyer can accurately assess your damages, collect compelling evidence, and maximize compensation for the settlement. If the insurance company is stubborn, your attorney will know how to negotiate for fair compensation.
Additionally, if the case proceeds to a civil trial, this legal professional will prepare and represent you.
Contact Our Chicago Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers for a Free Consultation
The Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers team is committed to supporting victims of nursing home abuse and neglect who are pursuing compensation for legal damages. Our law firm has the experience needed to build a compelling case and increase your chances of success. We know what it takes to hold these facilities accountable and obtain maximum compensation for your suffering.
Call us today at 888-424-5757 or complete our online form to request your free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Chicago.
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.