Aperion Care Highwood

Aperion Care HIghwood is a 104-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation center in Highwood, IL. This facility offers post-hospital care and rehabilitation with physical, occupational, and speech therapies available 7 days a week, with personalized care plans “ensuring you have a comfortable healing experience while you recover and prepare to return home.” Additional amenities include a library, activities and programs, daily newspaper delivery, and salon.

Aperion Care Highwood is rated “much below average” overall by medicare.gov. This is the lowest rating a nursing home can achieve without being flagged for special observation. This facility has had 13 complaints resulting in a citation in the past three years. Some of the violations have included unnecessary restraints, unexplained and unreported bruises on residents, poor care of pressure ulcers, catheters, and hygiene:

08/28/2018 Failure to timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities . Multiple residents had unreported injuries of unknown origin. One resident had a large, baseball sized bruise on her right chest area noted by the surveyor. The CNAs stated they noticed the bruise the week before bus assumed the nurse had already been aware of it.

The resident stated she reported the bruise to CNAs but couldn’t remember names or faces. She also could not recall how she got the bruise. Another resident had multiple bruises on her right arm and wrist with no records of injury. When inquired, the CNA that cared for her stated the resident has had them for some time. The resident’s daughter noted that they looked like fingerprints.

09/18/2017 Failure to give residents proper treatment to prevent new bed (pressure) sores or heal existing bed sores. A resident with multiple, necrotic pressure wounds was observed laying in the same position from 10am to 2pm. It is important for the proper healing of pressure sores for the person to be moved regularly – at least every two hours – to relieve pressure.

12/07/2017 Failure to provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. A resident was noted with wet pants, food spillage, and a strong urine odor after an activity by an aide. The aide alerted a passing CNA who told her to “leave him there, I will change him.” 20 minutes passed, and the CNA had not returned. Two other residents were observed in the living room, both with wet, urine-soaked pants. Another resident chimed in that she sits in her urine all the time, it takes 2 ½, 3 hours for someone to change you.

09/18/2018 Failure to keep each resident free from physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment. A resident was observed with a pommel cushion (intended to prevent sliding out of a chair, has a knob-like protrusion between the legs) and a lap cushion preventing her from getting out of her chair independently. There is no alteration to her care plan, no record of physician recommendation or consent from family for physical restraints.