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

Nursing home officials did nothing to stop a male resident at a La Salle County, Illinois nursing home from sexually abusing 10 female patients and sexually soliciting several others, according to allegations in a report from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Based on interviews with patients and nursing home employees, the report states that the male resident touched female residents’ breasts, tried to kiss them and cussed loudly in the common areas. One aide said the alleged abuser would target women with cognitive disorders.

According to the report, the alleged abuse began in December and continued until early June, when the male resident was moved to an inpatient psychiatric unit. “Due to Administrative staff’s failures to implement policies and procedures for abuse, failure to recognize abuse, and failure to effectively manage facility resources, sexual abuse occurred for 10 residents,” the report states.

The simple fact that the nursing home did nothing to protect its residents is unfathomable, not to mention a direct violation of nursing home residents’ Bill of Rights, which states that residents are to “be free from mental and physical abuse.”

To condone such acts makes the home just as guilty as the abuser, if not more guilty for sitting by and allowing the abuse to happen. Yet, no criminal charges have been filed nor fines levied against the nursing home for its role in the abuse. Authorities say those measures should be handled by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and an investigation is underway.

Sources:
News Tribune
CBS 2 Chicago

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