Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Phil Kadner, a reporter for the Southtown Star in Illinios, recently told of a heartbreaking visit to his office by an elderly gentleman whose wife recently died while under care in a nursing home. Crying, the man told Kadner he was afraid to complain about what he saw as neglectful treatment, fearing the nursing home staff would retaliate by treating her worse.

The man recounted deficiencies including a room with no telephone or oxygen supply hook-up (requiring portable tanks to be wheeled in when needed), an ill-fitting oxygen mask, and problems with medications, among other things.

Worried about “retaliation,” as he put it, he didn’t even keep records and didn’t lodge any formal complaints with the nursing home facility or the Illinois Department of Aging, relying instead on simply hoping things would improve. And now he lives with regret, feeling responsible for his wife’s death.

Coincidentally, the same day as the elderly man’s visit, Kadner says he received notice that the Illinois legislature just passed a nursing home residents “Right to Know Bill,” which he says is “intended to provide consumers with useful information when choosing a nursing home.” If signed by the governor, the bill will become law Jan. 1, 2009.

The bill will provide for a questionnaire to be completed regarding nursing home facilities, answering questions about facility amenities and services, nursing staffing, pharmacy issues and more. The results would be available on a state government web site so those considering a nursing home facility can have access to more information.

Read the full article at SouthtownStar.com.

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