The Illinois Senate recently passed the Nursing Home Residents’ Quality of Care Initiative (SB 1510, SA #1), which calls for a stricter enforcement of the State’s minimum staffing requirements, heightened public transparency of nursing home violations, and enhanced safeguards regarding psychotropic medications and a resident’s right to informed consent.
In a report delivered by the AARP to the Illinois Senate, Illinois nursing homes have the worst rate in the nation of patient-to-staff care hours per day, and the second-worst rate in the nation for administering anti-psychotic drugs to residents without a history of psychiatric illnesses. Additionally, in 2015, 39% of Illinois nursing homes received a low quality rating from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.
With the passing of this initiative, nursing homes will receive fines for failing to meet current state requirements of 3.8 hours of care per day for skilled-care residents and 2.5 hours per day for intermediate-care residents.
If you believe that your loved one may be a victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced elder law attorneys at (312)878-0155.