Report finds Illinois’ nursing homes rank 42nd in the country

 Posted on October 28, 2013 in Articles

Caring for loved ones is not always a possibility as they age, particularly as their medical needs increase. Despite being unable to care for them personally, most people will set out to find the best possible care available. Unfortunately, as demonstrated in a recent study, the care provided by nursing homes across the country is not always up to the standards most people would expect.

Researchers from Families for Better Care compiled data from nursing homes in all 50 states and ranked each state based on their findings. To determine their rankings, the researchers focused on a number of areas, including:

• Staffing levels.
• Inspection reports.
• Complaints.
• Deficiencies.

While some states received passing scores, the researchers concluded that the nursing homes in eleven states deserved failing grades - among those with the worst scores in the U.S. were the nursing homes in Illinois. In addition to receiving an "F," Illinois' nursing homes were ranked 42nd in the country.

Why did Illinois' nursing homes receive a failing score?

Many factors led to the nursing homes in Illinois receiving a poor score, as they received a good score in only one category - verified complaints.

Illinois' nursing homes received poor scores in each of the other categories considered by the researchers. For instance, only 34.5 percent of the nursing homes in the state received above average health inspection reports.

In addition, the nursing homes in Illinois received bad scores when it came to maintaining adequate staffing levels. Residents in long-term care facilities in the state receive an average of only 2.14 hours of direct care from a staff member each day - the worst of any state in the country. Less than one-half of the nursing homes in Illinois have above average direct care staffing levels, according to the report.

In addition, long-term care facilities are not properly staffed with medical professionals. Only 55 percent of Illinois' nursing homes have above average RN staffing levels. Consequently, residents receive an average of less than one hour of care from an RN each day.

Poor staffing levels can be particularly dangerous for residents in long-term care facilities. When there are not enough caregivers, residents are more likely to suffer from neglect, which can lead to dangerous injuries including bedsores. In addition, if residents are not properly supervised, there is a higher chance that they will be able to wander off the property, possibly resulting in serious injuries.

Illinois' nursing homes also scored poorly when it came to deficiencies in the facility. In fact, over 96 percent of the long-term care facilities in the state were cited for deficiencies. In addition, over one-quarter of the nursing homes were cited for severe deficiencies.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home in Illinois and you suspect he or she has not received appropriate care, you should take action on his or her behalf. Seeking the advice of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney will ensure your loved one's rights are protected.