Quinn Forms Task Force To Make Illinois Nursing Homes Safer

By Camela Furry in News on Oct 2, 2009 3:20PM

Governor Quinn is putting together a "high-level" task force in response to a three-part Tribune investigation which showed how Illinois more than any other state relies on nursing homes as a place to house mentally ill patients or convicted felons with mental illness or physical disability. The Tribune story exposed cases where elderly or disabled nursing home residents were allegedly assaulted or raped by mentally ill criminals living in the same facility.

The "Nursing Home Safety Task Force" will be headed by Quinn's senior adviser on health policy Michael Gelder who hopes to schedule a meeting for the first of next week. Gelder said the task force will include top officials from various state agencies like the departments of public health, aging, and corrections to name a few, and will consult nursing home operators and elder advocacy groups. He told the Tribune, "Our society creates mentally ill people. We have people with mental illness, with violent tendencies. We have to find the best way to accommodate folks because they are our brothers, our neighbors and close relatives."

The Tribune has posted a database where you can find the number of convicted felons and sex offenders at Illinois nursing homes, reports of alleged crimes at Chicago homes, and which homes were fined by state regulators for deficiencies in care.