Federal regulations call for a thorough investigation anytime accusations of abuse are leveled against a nursing home staff member. However, it’s up to individual states to ensure that these investigations have been properly managed.
For nursing home administrators, these investigations are a significant upheaval because the staff member under investigation is supposed to be immediately removed from all contact with residents until the investigation is concluded. Since many nursing homes operate on a skeleton crew under the best of circumstances, it benefits the nursing home to conclude the investigation as quickly as possible.
In addition, as a Chicago nursing home lawyer, it has been my experience that anytime an incident in a nursing home involves a resident that shows (or has ever shown) any signs of dementia, the first response from nursing home administration is to assume that the resident is confused or mistaken.
No nursing home wants to have a serial abuser on staff. But the desire to conclude any investigation quickly combined with a strong tendency to disbelieve testimony from nursing home residents often creates a situation where that happens.
A certified nurse’s aide employed at the Broomfield Skilled Nursing facility in Broomfield, CO was arrested after a second nursing home resident came forward with accusations of abuse.
The entire investigation after the first allegation of abuse took less than a month before the nursing home determined that the allegation was “unfounded” and they returned the abuser to work. The abused nursing home resident had a history of “confusion” according to the affidavit.
After just a few weeks on the job, a second accusation surfaced, and the police became involved. The nursing home has had no comment since then.
If you have a loved one in an Illinois nursing home, and you feel they may have been the victim of nursing home abuse, contact the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle for a free and confidential evaluation of your case. At my law offices we have the experience and expertise to manage all aspects of your nursing home abuse lawsuit, and we would welcome the opportunity to speak to you.
Chicago Nursing Home Lawyer Blog 