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Attorney for Abuse & Neglect at Heritage Health Jacksonville

The average life expectancy for Americans has hit an all-time high and that means more and more of the US population are included in the senior citizen demographic. But while these seniors are living longer, many still need assistance with daily living activities and will do so for longer periods than previous generations. More and more Americans are entering assisted living, and those numbers are not expected to go down any time soon.

With this rise in assisted living residents has come an increase in reports of nursing home abuse. It is conservatively estimated that 1 in 3 nursing home residents will suffer some form of abuse, with the understanding that that number may actually be higher since many incidents are never reported.

This frequency may give aging adults and their families cause for concern as they explore options for late life care. Luckily, most assisted living facilities do an excellent job providing the specialized medical care and assistance with daily living activities that nursing homes are known for.

However, Levin & Perconti have found that to get the best experience in assisted living, it takes some vetting on the part of prospective residents and families to find the nursing homes that have the best history of high-quality care and services.

The attorneys at Levin & Perconti are nationally recognized leaders in nursing home abuse and neglect law.

Over the years of working with nursing home abuse victims and their families, we’ve learned that nursing homes with the poorest Medicare ratings and health inspection reports are the most likely to endanger residents with preventable mishaps, oversights, and abuse.

Today we make it our goal to educate individuals and families about how to research nursing homes so you can pick a highly rated facility that is recognized by Medicare for providing excellent care and prioritizing resident safety and well-being.

We do this by providing information from medicare.gov about specific Illinois nursing homes, such as Heritage Health Jacksonville, as well as tips on how to compare local nursing homes so you can be confident in the one you pick when the time comes.

About Heritage Health Jacksonville

873 Grove Street
Jacksonville, IL 62650
(217) 479-3400

Heritage Health Jacksonville is a large Medicare-certified facility with 175 beds. The location offers long- and short-term residents skilled nursing, hospice care, respite care, day care, dementia care, and a variety of “Restore” therapy services on site.

Medicare gives Heritage Health Jacksonville a mere Average rating, with Average ratings across the board for such categories as quality measures, staffing, and health inspections.

While these ratings alone can offer a quick look at what quality of facility Heritage Health Jacksonville is, Levin & Perconti encourages families and individuals to also read any nursing home’s most recent health inspection report as found on medicare.gov. This will give you additional insight into the level of care found at a facility. A sample of the deficiencies found at Heritage Health Jacksonville are listed below.

8/23/2018 Failure to honor the resident’s right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility. The facility was found to have failed to address and act upon a family grievance wherein a resident’s family member reported that the resident was consistently served his lunch late. The facility’s grievance log for the previous three months did not list this grievance.

8/23/2018 Failure to honor each resident’s preferences, choices, values and beliefs. Staff failed to provide assistance for a resident who was struggling to feed herself. The resident was seated at the feed assist table and was observed as leaning to the right while attempting to eat. Staff failed to offer to reposition her at any time during the meal.

8/23/2018 Failure to provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections. Staff failed to perform complete incontinent care or catheter care for two residents. A staff member failed to use a new washcloth or change gloves when switching sides while washing an incontinent resident. Additionally, no soap was used during this washing. A second resident stated that their catheter site was only cleaned twice a week, not every shift per facility policy.

Picking the Best Nursing Home

When you select a highly rated nursing home, you reduce much of the risk of suffering nursing home abuse. Facilities who provide proven quality care as demonstrated by Medicare reports and ratings are more likely to have properly vetted employees, good management, and the right priorities for resident health and safety.

To find an excellent nursing home, start by learning about what facilities are located in your area. You can ask family and acquaintances, doctors, or social workers for recommendations of good nursing homes. You may also be able to get information on area nursing homes from your local senior and community activity center or another community program that aids senior citizens.

Once you know what your options are, thoroughly research each facility so you are able to weigh their pros and cons. Use the ratings and health inspection reports from medicare.gov and reviews on other websites. You can also call your local long-term care ombudsman, state health department, or state licensing agency to ask if they have further information on the facilities you’re interested in.

Beware of exaggerated advertising on company websites for nursing homes. These sites are useful for comparing services and amenities and gathering basic information like where facilities are located and how to contact them, but they will always be biased when it comes to the quality of care they provide. Don’t be fooled by good marketing, and always rely more heavily on more neutral resources for your research.

Once you’ve narrowed down your list of facilities to your top picks, it’s best to request tours of each so you can see them in person. On your visits, pay attention to how clean the facility is, how friendly the staff are, and how the environment feels in general. Don’t be shy about asking questions. Ask about their ratio of staff to residents, how much time is spent caring for each resident daily, what are staff members’ qualifications, and what procedures do they have in place for filing grievances. And if you have more questions later, be sure to call or visit again.

With this research you should feel prepared to make a confident decision as to which nursing home suits your needs best and provides an atmosphere you’re comfortable with. However, keep in mind that even the best facilities can have isolated cases of abuse or neglect from time to time, so don’t believe you can let your guard down completely.

When you or a family member moves into assisted living, make plans to stay in contact and have frequent visits. It is known that residents who are isolated from loved ones are at higher risk for abuse. Attentive family and friends are also better equipped to help frail residents report abuse. Both residents and loved ones benefit from learning the signs of nursing home abuse so they are better prepared to report it if necessary. Here are some of the most common signs:

  • Untreated severe bedsores
  • Unexplained injuries like bruises, burns, or scars
  • Evidence of poor circulation like sunken cheeks or eyes
  • Weight loss or malnourishment not due directly to an illness
  • Frequent trips to the emergency room or doctor
  • Wrong type or the wrong amount of medication administered
  • Poor hygiene or unwashed clothes or hair
  • Instances of wandering or elopement
  • Frequently misplaced or lost personal items
  • A lack of basic necessities, including utilities, water, and food
  • A dirty room or bathroom
  • Frequent trouble sleeping
  • Unusual violent or withdrawn behavior
  • Sudden depression or confusion
  • Signs of trauma like rocking back and forth

If you or a loved one ever suspects or experiences abuse at a nursing home, immediately take action to follow the facility’s procedures for filing a complaint and report it to a staff supervisor or the facility administrator. It is their job to investigate and fix any deficiencies in resident care. However, sometimes circumstances that allow for abuse originates with management, so if the administer fails to take appropriate action to rectify the situation, it’s best to seek outside help from a doctor, a state agency, or your local long-term care ombudsman.

Unfortunately, nursing home abuse can cause serious harm, injury, and even death to vulnerable residents. If this happens to you or a loved one, you may need further help from the law.

Levin & Perconti Can Help

If you or a loved one have suffered malpractice, personal injury, or death at an Illinois nursing home like Heritage Health Jacksonville or another facility, you have rights under Illinois law. Let the experienced attorneys at Levin & Perconti help you navigate the legal system and bring that nursing home to justice. Our attorneys have won millions of dollars for nursing home abuse victims, and we can win for you too. If you’re ready to learn more and get started, click or call Levin & Perconti at 888-424-5757 any time for a free consultation and the help you need.

Disclaimer: The above health inspection findings are taken from public records kept and published by Medicare and the state of Illinois and are not complete. Levin & Perconti cannot confirm that this page’s content includes the latest information available. Any corrections or additions made to these public records after publication of this page will not be found here. For the most up-to-date information, visit illinois.gov or medicare.gov. This page is a legal advertisement and informational resource for visitors and is not endorsed by the named facility or any government agency. Levin & Perconti does not have any affiliation with the named facility.

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