Elder Law

Illinois Officials Move to Prevent Operation of Unlicensed Nursing Home

By Levin & Perconti

The Courier-News published a story yesterday on the latest legal steps in an ongoing battle to ensure that Illinois nursing home residents receive the best care possible. The state of Illinois requires all nursing homes to be licensed to ensure that the facility meets the many requirements put in place to hold the quality of care at these centers at an appropriate level.

However, often in a quest for profits companies attempt to skirt the legal requirements. For example, one such facility was recently closed by officials from the Illinois Attorney General?s Office last year?the Bowes Retirement Center in Kane County. The nursing home was shut down a month ago after a long string of problems at the facility like unsanitary conditions and elder neglect and abuse.

The final straw for the facility came when officials discovered that Bowes was operating without a license as a nursing home but instead claimed to be a ?retirement center? that did not need a license. In truth, many of the residents needed assistance bathing, and eating, and other actions common in senior nursing facilities. It became clear that the owners of the facility were attempting to avoid the nursing home law and its mandates.

After closing the facility, state officials are now working to ensure that the owners Bowes are not able to repeat their elder abuse and neglect. State officials are waiting judgment on their motion for an injunction against the former owners preventing them for operating another unlicensed nursing home.

Ensuring proper care at all Chicago nursing homes is the goal of our nursing home attorneys at Levin & Perconti. For more than two decades our lawyers have learned of countless cases of abuse, neglect, and mismanagement at Chicago-area nursing homes. Far too many of vulnerable elderly seniors have already suffered at the hands of those who care more about making money than providing proper elder service. If you or someone you know has fallen victim to inadequate nursing home care, please get in touch with a nursing home lawyers today.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on November 07, 2010 (boomark / email).