When a loved one is staying in a nursing home, it is realistic to expect that he or she will be treated well. We have every right to believe that their needs are being met and they are being cared for with dignity. In reality, however, there are some devastating situations in which nursing home neglect is present.

Common forms of neglect in an Illinois nursing home range from food deprivation to inadequate or incorrect medication to emotional abuse. This type of behavior is unacceptable. If neglect or abuse is suspected, it is important to report it.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is responsible for citing nursing homes for violations. Recently, the department issued eight citations against a nursing home in Belleview for neglecting to monitor a patient with dementia.

The 77-year-old patient had reportedly wandered away from the facility on two previous occasions. He was located both times, and should have been fitted with a device intended to monitor his location at that time. However, the facility failed to do this. The man recently wandered away for a third time and was found after he had died of hypothermia.

The nurse in charge of the man claims she was unaware that he had wandered away before and needed to be monitored. If this is true, the patient's Care Plan was not updated appropriately.

According to the victim's two daughters, the facility and staff exhibited gross negligence in the care of their father. No lawsuit has been filed formerly yet, but eight citations have been issued against the nursing home.

Sadly, incidences of neglect in nursing homes continue to happen. In terms of patients with dementia, a nursing home has a responsibility to properly supervise them and work to prevent a person from wandering out of restlessness. When a facility neglects to do this, the culpable parties should be held responsible.

Source: Chicago Tribune, "Ill. public health agency issues 8 citations against nursing home after resident's death," Feb. 11, 2012