Worst Nursing Homes in Chicago

With so many reports of nursing home abuse and neglect in the news, it can be overwhelming to choose the right facility for your loved one. This guide can help you and your family learn more about nursing home ratings and avoid facilities that have been reported for neglect, abuse, or failed health inspections.

We will review how Illinois nursing home facilities are rated, including how you can access these essential ratings. You and your family can also use the nursing home compare tool to choose the right nursing facility for your loved one.

How Nursing Center Homes Are Rated

Nursing homes in the United States are regulated federally and at the state level. Chicago’s nursing homes are rated based on government inspections and resident surveys, but various other factors also go into nursing home ratings. 

Learning how the federal government and the Illinois Department of Public Health create these ratings can be helpful as you begin your nursing home search.

Government Inspections

Government inspections are conducted through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These federal government inspections review nursing homes, ensuring they meet federal safety and quality requirements. 

Failing to meet the minimum expectations can earn a community care center a low rating, which could lead to a loss of Medicaid funding.

The Illinois Department of Public Health regulates nursing homes at the state level. The organization publishes quarterly reports that list nursing home facilities with violations. [1] The Nursing Home Care Act of Illinois encompasses a series of regulations promoting high-quality care for all of the state’s nursing home residents.

Resident Surveys

CMS also considers resident surveys when determining a nursing home rating. These surveys come from other nursing facility residents and their families. They typically cover factors like the resident’s overall experience, access to health care, and provider performance. It also includes questions about the center’s safety. Specific program questions may be included.

Other Factors

Other factors can impact a nursing home’s ratings, including health inspection reports and staff or building citations. Health inspection citations cover health-related issues that fail to meet federal quality measures.

A nursing home may be cited for failing to hire enough staff, mismanaging medications, improper handling of food, or failing to protect residents from abuse and neglect. Many of the lowest-rated nursing homes have multiple citations. Paying attention to lawsuits against a specific nursing home can help families choose the right community care center. 

List of the Worst Nursing Homes in Chicago

CMS uses a Five-Star rating system, with a one-star rating indicating the worst nursing homes and five stars indicating the best. A three-star nursing home or rehab center is considered an average rating.

Government Ratings

Here are some of the worst nursing homes based on CMS ratings:

• Warren Barr South Loop
• Kensington Place Nursing & Rehab
• Ryze on the Avenue
• Lakeview Rehab & Nursing Center
• Center Home Hispanic Elderly
• California Terrace
• Community Care Nursing Center
• The Pavilion of Logan Square
• Little Village Nursing & Rehab Center
• Kenwood Village Nursing and Rehab Center [2] 

It’s important to note that many of these listed nursing homes have not only failed health inspections and received negative resident surveys but have also been cited for abuse. Nursing home abuse includes physical or emotional harm to a resident. Negligent actions can also be considered abuse, especially if the resident is left with severe injuries. 

Health Inspection Citations

Many of Illinois’ worst nursing homes have received health inspection citations, including the following facilities:

• Alden Lincoln Rehab Center: Numerous citations related to failing to provide sufficient food and liquids, infection prevention, and control programs. There have also been citations for suspected nursing home abuse, neglect, or theft at this care center.
• Lakefront Nursing and Rehab Center: Various citations related to failure to protect residents from physical or mental abuse and maintaining an environment free of hazards.
• Aperion Care Chicago Heights/ Lakeshore: Multiple citations, including accident hazards and allergy or food intolerance accommodations. The nursing care center also received violations for failing to follow a resident’s care plan.
• Buckingham Pavilion: Citations include maintaining an environment free of hazards and COVID-19 violations. The care center was cited numerous times for faulty equipment, including call systems in resident bathrooms and bedrooms.

Other nursing homes in Chicago, Illinois, that have received health inspection citations include Ryze on the Avenue, Ambassador Nursing and Rehab Center, Irving Park Living and Rehab Center, and Wentworth Rehab and HCC. [3]

Factors Contributing to Nursing Home Abuse

Many factors can contribute to Chicago nursing home abuse and neglect, with the following being the most common.

Understaffing

Understaffing reduces a nursing home’s quality measures, making it difficult for staff to keep residents safe. Staffing levels influence residents’ quality of care and the facility’s safety.

For example, Medicare and Medicaid Services and CMS currently require all nursing home residents to receive a minimum of 3.48 hours of daily nursing care. Illinois nursing homes designated as special focus facilities may need even more than that. When a care center doesn’t hire or schedule enough staff, residents don’t receive the minimum standard of care.

Inadequate Training

Nursing facilities that don’t properly train their staff are more likely to receive lower ratings due to poor care and more resident injuries. A special focus facility may also require specially trained staff to handle specific medical conditions. 

Inadequate training in a nursing home or care center can lead to broken bones, a traumatic head injury, or loss of mobility. It can also lead to medication or dietary errors.

Financial Pressures

Financial pressures can affect a nursing care center’s quality standards. Facilities on a tight budget may cut staff or pay them less than industry standards. They may also put off essential building maintenance or repairs, which can put residents at risk of injury.

Corporate Ownership

Corporate-owned skilled nursing facilities can sometimes overvalue profit and put residents at risk. Medicare and Medicaid Services reports that the type of ownership significantly impacts resident care. Numerous studies have found that for-profit nursing homes tend to have lower staffing levels, higher public regulatory deficiencies, and more injuries. 

Reviewing the ownership structure of a nursing home or rehabilitation center can help provide insight into your decision.

Protecting Nursing Home Residents

The Nursing Home Law Center is committed to protecting Illinois nursing home residents. Here are a few tips you and your family can use while searching for the best nursing home for your loved one.

Research and Inspection

Due diligence and inspections are crucial to choosing the right nursing home. Do your research and review ratings using the Medicaid Services CMS tool. After narrowing down your nursing home choices, schedule an in-person visit. Visiting the nursing center allows you to view where your loved one will live and the day-to-day operations they will experience. 

Pay close attention to staffing levels, food quality, and the overall well-being of the nursing home facility’s residents. Visit the facility on different days and times to learn how resident care may change based on shifts. Be sure also to visit all centers or departments your loved one may interact with, including a special focus facility or on-site health care center.

Consider your family member’s special needs when choosing a nursing home. There are many Illinois nursing homes to choose from, and your loved one must get the specialized care they need and deserve.

Ask Questions

Be sure to ask many questions when comparing nursing homes. Meet with the nursing home’s administrators to discuss health care, dietary, and daily care policies. Make a list of questions to ask the center’s staff. Note how willing the staff are to answer your questions, as you’ll rely on this relationship if you choose this care center.

Trust Your Instincts

Choosing the right nursing home is a big decision requiring sufficient research and evaluation. However, it’s also essential to trust your instincts. Family members know their loved one’s health care and rehab center needs better than anyone. Rely on your instincts to choose a community care center that will likely offer your loved one the care they deserve.

Contact a Chicago Nursing Home Lawyer

The Nursing Home Law Center is committed to helping residents and their families stay safe. You can make an informed decision about your loved one’s care by providing you with the research tools you need.

Even with the best research and evaluation, nursing home facilities can still be abusive or negligent. Staff or ownership changes, a single bad employee, or a faulty product can lead to resident injury. While this should never happen, our team is here to support you and your family if it does.

If your loved one was the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, you must reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible. You and your family have a limited time to pursue legal action against the negligent nursing home. While a lawsuit won’t reverse the damages your loved one had to endure, it can provide them with the resources they need to recover.

A lawsuit also highlights a care center problem that needs to be addressed to protect other home residents. Reporting abuse, neglect, or violations is necessary to improve the overall standard of care Chicago residents can expect.

The NHLC also covers wrongful death cases in nursing homes. If a nursing care center’s negligence led to the wrongful death of your loved one, our team is here to help seek justice. Contact our wrongful death team today for a free consultation.

Contact a Chicago Nursing Home Lawyer

Contact the Nursing Home Law Center at (800) 926-7565 for a free consultation. You can also use our online form, and a lawyer from our office will contact you.

References: [1] Illinois Department of Public Health, [2] Medicare, [3] CMS Data