BRIA of River Oaks Nursing Home

BRIA of River Oaks in Calumet City, IL, is a large for-profit nursing home that provides care to seniors who need help with daily living. This huge facility has had numerous violations and citations, raising red flags about its long-term care.

If your loved one has been injured at this facility, it’s essential to report suspected abuse to safeguard their rights and health. Contact us now for a consultation, and let us help you take the necessary steps to ensure they receive the justice they deserve.

Quick Overview

• Facility Name: BRIA of River Oaks
• Address: 14500 S. Manistee Avenue, Calumet City, Illinois, 60633
• CMS Overall Rating: 1 out of 5 stars – Much Below Average
• CMS Health Inspection Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
• CMS Staffing Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
• CMS Quality Measures Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
• Federal Fines in Last 3 Years: 6 fines totaling $232,257
• Payment Denials by Medicare in the Last 3 Years: 1 denial
• Consumer Alert: Yes, flagged for abuse citation
• Total Bed Capacity: 309 beds
• Ownership Type: For Profit

Nursing Home Overview

BRIA of River Oaks offers 24-hour nursing care, rehabilitation programs, and help with daily living activities. While the facility tries to meet its residents’ needs, it has struggled to provide appropriate care according to medical orders, resident preferences, and goals, leading to a history of violations and scrutiny from regulatory agencies. 

It’s important to note that BRIA of River Oaks operates independently and is not part of a continuing care retirement community, meaning it solely provides its own range of services.

Bria of River Oaks CMS Rating and Performance

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rates nursing homes across the US using a 5-star rating system. Ratings are based on overall performance and specific areas like health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Facilities with five stars are above average, and 1 star is below average.

BRIA of River Oaks has a 1-star overall rating from the CMS and is much below average. [1] The facility has a consumer alert for an abuse citation. River Oaks, Bria got 2 out of 5 stars for health inspections, 1 out of 5 stars for staffing, and 5 out of 5 stars for quality measures. The facility has had six federal fines and one Medicare payment denial in the last three years.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has surveyed the facility multiple times. According to recent surveys, this nursing home was cited for infection control, staffing, failure to follow care plans, and other deficiencies. IDPH records show the facility has more deficiencies than the state average, contributing to its low ratings. [2]

Services Provided

The nursing home offers basic services like medical treatment, personal care, and rehabilitation to improve residents’ living conditions, including dietary services to meet their nutritional needs. They procure and serve food from satisfactory sources, adhering to professional standards in storing, preparing, distributing, and serving food to residents. Despite these services, the quality of care at BRIA of River Oaks has been questioned due to multiple violations.

Recent surveys found deficiencies in wound care and medication management. The facility was cited for not ensuring residents with pressure ulcers got proper treatment, and some residents got worse. Medications were not administered timely, and residents were at risk of severe health issues.

Nursing Home Abuse: Violations and Citations

Understanding the violations and citations a nursing home has received can provide crucial insight into the quality of care and the potential risks for residents.

Specific Violations

BRIA of River Oaks has had serious violations that affected the residents. Some of these are:

Failure to Prevent Abuse and Neglect: The facility was cited for not protecting residents from abuse and neglect, physical punishment, and sexual abuse. These accident hazards include residents not getting medical care, abuse not being reported to the authorities, and violating regulations. IDPH found multiple times residents were left unsupervised and got injured.

Inadequate Supervision: Patients receiving treatment were not supervised, leading to injured and compromised residents. One instance was a resident who wandered out of the nursing home area, showing a lack of security and supervision.

Pest Control Issues: BRIA of River Oaks was cited for not having a proper pest control program, with residents living in unsanitary and unsafe conditions. Recent research found rodents, insects, and other pests in the facility, raising concerns about hygiene and infection spread.

Medication Errors: The facility was cited for medication errors, such as not administering medications as ordered, which puts residents at risk. IDPH found the facility didn’t have procedures to ensure medications were given on time and in the correct dosage.

Failure to Meet Health and Safety Standards: The facility has failed to meet state and federal health and safety standards and received multiple citations and penalties. These issues include not following proper infection control protocols, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which put residents and staff at risk.

Impact on Residents

The violations at BRIA of River Oaks severely impact the health and safety of its residents. Considering the resident’s preferences in care standards is crucial to meet each individual’s unique needs and circumstances. Inadequate supervision, understaffing, and other issues have repeatedly put residents at risk. 

Health and Safety: Adequate Supervision

The facility’s failure to follow care standards resulted in preventable injuries, worsening of health conditions, and a decline in quality of life for many residents. Lack of supervision and timely medical care put residents at risk and resulted in serious health outcomes, including neglect-related injuries. 

This is demonstrated in the case of one patient who was deemed susceptible to abuse. However, the patient was left alone. A CNA saw the patient being sexually abused yet failed to report it immediately, and the resident was not adequately supervised following the incident. Instead, an anonymous person called the police to report the incident. [3]

Understaffing Fosters Neglect

The facility’s chronic understaffing has led to significant delays in providing care, such as mobility assistance and timely administration of medications. Nursing homes without proper staff-to-patient ratios are likelier to forget to follow treatment plans or neglect patients. 

One report shows a patient who had an infected wound, and the nurses did not treat the original wound as necessary prior to the infection. A review of treatment charts showed the wound was not treated for several days, or the dressing was not changed as it should have been to prevent infections.[4]

Emotional and Psychological Impact

The poor care at BRIA of River Oaks also affected its residents emotionally and psychologically. Many felt neglected, anxious, and isolated, and the unsanitary and unsafe conditions of the facility worsened it. For example, the case of two men getting into a physical altercation. One resident had to stay at the hospital due to his brain bleeding afterward. [5]

Another resident refused to bathe because his shower was so dirty. A man was observed wearing pants with yellow stains and stated he had difficulty getting help to bathe or get clean clothes. Staff ignored injuries, failed to supervise high-risk patients, which led to falls, and didn’t provide proper care to a resident with a pressure ulcer. [5]

Residents were unsafe, injured, and humiliated when forced to wear soiled clothing due to a lack of care. These emotional stresses can affect the residents’ health in the long term and complicate their overall care needs. [5]

Family members can advocate for the care of nursing home residents to ensure their well-being and rights are protected. 

Legal Remedy

Residents of BRIA of River Oaks have the right to live in a safe and supportive environment. This right includes protection from abuse and neglect, timely and appropriate medical care, and appropriate treatment according to medical orders and resident preferences. 

When an establishment like BRIA of River Oaks fails to uphold these rights, residents and their families can take legal action, such as filing negligence lawsuits or abuse claims. These legal actions hold the facility accountable and secure compensation for the harm suffered.

Given the complexities of nursing home abuse and neglect cases, families must consult with experienced nursing home abuse lawyers. Our legal experts at Nursing Home Law Center can guide you through the process, help gather evidence, and protect your loved one’s rights.

If you believe your loved one has been harmed at BRIA of River Oaks, get in touch today for a free consultation with one of our skilled nursing home abuse lawyers.

References: [1] Medicare, [2] Illinois Department of Public Health, [3] Medicare Report, [4] Medicare Report, [5] Medicare Report