Senior Neglect and Abuse Within the Long-Term Care Environment
With Host Rosemary Roberts
Illinois Long-term Care
4-Part Audio Series -- 2007 Off to a Shameful Start
As the need for quality care grows with an expanding aging population, the state of nursing homes in Illinois continues to decline. Families must continue to be pro-active and take steps to prevent abuse and neglect within long-term care facilies.
Our four-part audio series on the state of Illinois nursing homes covers:
House Bill 3445 - Nursing Home Liability Insurance
It's virtually unthinkable that the state of Illinois would license any type of nursing home, long-term care or assisted living facility without requiring basic liability insurance. Yet, that's exactly what occurs today.
Regardless the case of accidental injury, or injury by neglect and abuse – even death, patients and their families are left to bear the painful consequences with little or no compensation or recourse.
HB 3445, one of the most important pieces of Illinois legislation in years, will force ALL nursing homes and assisted living facilities to show proof of liability insurance in the amount of $1 Million (minimum) as a condition of new or renewing licensing.
To learn more about HB 3445, listen to a candid discussion with attorney Jeff Schlapp and Margaret Neiderer. Learn more by obtaining a free pamplet regarding HB 3445. Call (toll free) 866-370-5441 or visit Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates.
Featuring Special Guests
Margaret Niederer, Director of Special
Projects, Illinois Retired Teachers Association, and the ICARE Ombudsman Program
Horwitz Attorney, Jeffrey Schlapp
About Our Guests
Margaret Niederer has been an advocate for change within the long-term care environment for eleven years as the former Regional Ombudsman for the ICARE (Illinois Community Advocates for Residents Empowerment) Program. She also established TLC in LTC of Illinois (Tender Loving Care in Long Term Care Facilities); a coalition of family members and friends of long-term care residents.
A retired teacher at the secondary level and manager of the Illinois State Board of Education, Department of Special Education (30 years), Margaret is currently the director of special projects for the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation.
Through the support of the Public Action Foundation (the research and education arm of Citizen Action /Illinois) and the Retirement Research Foundation, Margaret helps train members of the newly established Illinois Long-Term Care Council; a program established to address the effectiveness of the ombudsman program and to ensure quality care in facilities As a result of Margaret's commitment and efforts, over $900,000 in grant funds have also been obtained to improve the ICARE program through recruitment and training of volunteers, and to establish effective practices to better handle complaints and carry out the full range of ombudsman responsibilities to protect the rights and safety of residents.
Margaret appreciates your comments regarding this special outreach program and can be reached at mniederer@icare.ws or by calling: (217) 523-8488. For more information regarding the ICARE Ombudsman Program, visit: http://www.icare.ws
Recommended Reading: Margaret strongly encourages anyone with a loved one suffering from dementia and cared for at any level of supervised living (including assisted care, supportive care, intermediate and skilled nursing, or long-term care environment) read: Individualized Dementia Care: Creative, Compassionate Approaches (Springer Publishing Company, 1995) by author, Joanne Rader.
Jeffrey Schlapp is an attorney with Horwitz, Horwitz and Associates, LTD;
Formerly the Vice President of a corporately-owned nursing home chain , Jeff became an attorney to accomplish what he could not from inside the corporate structure; improve the lives and care of nursing home residents by holding corporations accountable and forcing change through the court system.
Jeff comes to the Horwitz firm experienced in the inner workings of corporate nursing homes. With in-depth knowledge of federal regulations, he can look at a nursing home cost report and see exactly how the facility is shorting its residents for profit.
Jeff appreciates your comments regarding this special outreach program and can be reached by calling: (866) 352-0463 or by email at office@horwitzlaw.com. For more information regarding senior neglect and abuse, visit: http://www.horwitzlaw.com
Join Citizen Action/Illinois and Speak Out for Reform!
A random sampling of surveys (inspections) reviewed by The Patient's Voice on licensed, long-term care facilities in the state of Illinois during 2004 revealed that 50% of the facilities received citations equal to or more than the previous two years. In most cases, the areas cited directly affected quality of care, unnecessary injuries, poor/inadequate wound care leading to infection and unsafe food preparation.
Each year, thousands of our most frail and needy are placed in harms way by a system of care that fosters neglect and abuse. Only through a collective and aggressive voice by all citizens of Illinois can our aging receive the care and respect they deserve. Please contact your legislators today and demand their support for the implementation of Pioneer Practices proven quality of care for all residents of long-term care. For contact information, visit the General Assembly's web site at: http://www.ilga.gov/ .
Previous Show with Margaret Neiderer and Attorney Michael Carter
(sponsored by Citizen Action/Illinois & Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, Ltd.)
About Citizen Action/Illinois
Citizen Action/Illinois is the state's largest public interest organization and a progressive political coalition committed to creating social change both in Illinois and across the nation.
Issues & Actions
Campaign Finance Reform * Civil Justice * Education * Healthcare * Long-Term Care * Payday Loan Reform * Prescription Drugs * Social Security * Transit
For more information, visit: http://www.citizenaction-il.org
A "Girl On Point" Production, Rosemary Roberts can be reached at: rosemary@girlonpoint.com