Free Consultation · Call 24/7

Lawyer for Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Claims at Heritage Health Pana

Nursing home abuse is a growing problem in the US. You may have seen stories in the news about violent nursing home staff inflicting all manner of abuse on defenseless residents. While the media may report on the most severe cases of nursing home abuse, at least half of the reports of mistreatment and harm to residents actually cite neglect.

Neglect is defined as failing to perform caregiving duties for someone who cannot care for him- or herself. This may include, but is not limited to, failing to prevent or treat medical conditions or injuries, not providing basic necessities of life, not providing adequate assistance with personal hygiene, or behaving in a disrespectful or dismissive way.

Neglect can occur on purpose or accidentally, but either way it is dangerous to vulnerable seniors who do not have the means to care for themselves. After all, that’s why they’re in assisted living! When paid caregivers like nursing home staff neglect residents, they put them at risk of serious illness, injury, and even death.

Worst of all, neglect is often difficult to spot. It can be hard to tell if an elderly person’s sudden decline is due to the existing health conditions and frailty that necessitated nursing home care or if caregivers are failing in their duties. Many neglect victims do not recognize what is happening to them or are not able to report what they’re experiencing because they are too impaired or fear retaliation.

For these reasons it is important for families to do their due diligence in finding the best rated nursing homes where they can reasonably assume vulnerable loved ones will receive professional, thorough care. Levin & Perconti wants to help you do this by sharing ratings and health inspection reports from medicare.org for Illinois nursing homes like Heritage Health Pana so you know which facilities are trustworthy and which ones are questionable. We also include tips on how to protect your relative once they’ve entered assisted living.

About Heritage Health Pana

1000 E. Sixth Street
Pana, IL 62557
(217) 562-2174

Heritage Health Pana is a large facility with 128 beds that offers long- and short-term skilled nursing, hospice care, respite care, a variety of therapies, and dialysis services.

Heritage Health Pana was given a good Above Average overall rating by Medicare. This rating comprises of three other ratings in individual categories: a Below Average quality measures rating, an Average staffing rating, and an Above Average health inspection rating.

In addition to these ratings, Medicare also provides public access to recent health inspection reports to give you a more detailed look at any deficiencies found in the care provided to residents at nursing homes. Below is a sample of the deficiencies found at Heritage Health Pana.

1/19/2018 Failure to honor the resident’s right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances. The facility failed to make prompt efforts to resolve a resident’s grievance. The resident complained that the facility’s laundry service ruined his rosary that he had carried with him since childhood and was very precious to him. He requested the item be replaced by the facility, but staff failed to document or honor his request. The concern was not fixed until the health inspection surveyor notified the resident’s family.

1/19/2018 Failure to care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. The facility failed to provide appropriate assistance with feeding for two residents. One resident has documented interventions to assist with eating but was observed being left to eat alone and could not finish his meal without assistance. A second resident was left in bed with a food tray beside her despite documentation that she requires assistance with sitting up and eating. Additionally, the facility failed to assist a resident with activities of daily living. The resident complained of not being shaved enough.

1/19/2018 Failure to provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident’s health. Staff failed to offer sufficient fluids to maintain hydration for two residents. One resident was observed attempting to drink from his empty glasses for 20 minutes before a staff member offered to get him more fluids. Before the fluids arrived, the resident was removed from the dining room. A second resident was observed as having cracked lips and a strong urine smell pervaded her room during incontinence care. No fluids were at hand or offered to the resident during this observation. Her care plan documents her as at risk for fluid volume deficit due to cognitive impairment and being on a diuretic.

Protecting Nursing Home Residents from Abuse

From our years of experience practicing nursing home abuse, Levin & Perconti advises using the ratings and health inspection reports on medicare.org to help you know what nursing homes in your community are safe and which should be avoided. You can also ask acquaintances, medical professionals, and local government agencies for recommendations or additional details about nursing homes in your area to help inform your research and comparisons.

It is also a good idea to tour prospective nursing homes before making a final decision. You can learn a lot about how a facility operates when you see it in person, and tours are an excellent opportunity to ask about things like staff qualifications, staff to resident ratios, and procedures for reporting abuse.

Once you’ve picked the best nursing home possible and your relative has moved in, remember your work isn’t done. Nursing home residents who are isolated from friends and family are more likely to be victimized, so visit frequently. Visits allow you to monitor your loved one’s care and help them report any grievances or complaints. Frail residents especially need outside help, as they may be unaware of or unable to complain in the event of abuse.

You can protect a loved one in assisted living by being aware of what abuse looks like. Learn and look for signs of nursing home abuse and neglect when you visit them.Some of these signs may include

  • 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

Taking Action

If you ever have reason to believe your loved one is suffering from abuse or neglect at Heritage Health Pana or another nursing home, take immediate action and follow the facility’s procedures for filing a complaint. Bring your concerns to a staff supervisor or the facility administrator. They should have the training and authority to correct the situation and prevent further incidence.

However, if they do not take your report seriously or fail in their duties to protect your loved one from further harm, you may need to seek outside help such as from a doctor, state agency, or your local long-term care ombudsman. Additionally, if your loved one has suffered personal harm, injury, or death, you may need help from the law.

In such an event, Levin & Perconti hopes you’ll let us help.

Sometimes nursing home abuse victims or their loved ones don’t feel heard or are uncertain if they even have a case. Levin & Perconti works with our clients every step of the way to review your rights and legal options so you can make the best decision for you going forward. We have won millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients, and we are confident we can help you win the outcome you desire. If you have questions or are unsure how to get started, just click or call Levin & Perconti at 888-424-5757 any time for a free consultation.

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 www.il.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.

Testimonials