Experienced Attorneys Protecting the Rights of the Neglected and Abused
The Nursing Home Law Center is committed to providing the legal resources necessary to hold negligent facilities accountable.
Petersen Health Care Violations & Complaints
Petersen Health Care is a skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care provider serving Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri residents. It offers food and nutrition services, medical care, social needs, and dementia and behavioral programs. At some of its locations, it also offers specialized care services, including occupational therapy and physical therapy.
Petersen Health Care was initially managed and led by CEO Mark B. Petersen in Peoria, Illinois., and had over 90 properties, thanks to various Petersen acquisitions. However, in early 2024, Petersen Health Care announced that it would sell all but five of its locations. This came after the company filed for bankruptcy in March 2024.
The stalking horse bid during the auction process belonged to Cascade Capital Partners, an investment firm managed by Legacy Healthcare (a chain of assisted living facilities in Illinois, Iowa, and South Dakota). A staking horse bid is a bid placed on the company’s assets by someone chosen by the bankrupt company. Cascade’s bid infuriated some, who claimed it wasn’t a fair auction.
Objections to the sale slowed the process and removed some properties from the initial sale. This left five individual properties being purchased by two separate banking institutions. Hickory Point Bank was another winner during this mass sale.
As of September 2024, Petersen Health Care lists just ten independent living facilities in its portfolio. Cascade Capital Partners is an investment group that launched in 2016. Its co-founders and managing directors are Chaim Rajchenbach and Menachem “Nachy” Shabat.
The recent financial challenges and acquisition of Petersen Health Care have led to wavering institution ratings and a general concern about the quality of care. Many believe the company’s original difficult financial position compared with the extensive sales process has led to a shift in focus. Either way, low CMS ratings at many skilled care facilities do show a lower standard of care.
CMS Ratings of Petersen Health Care
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) inspects nursing homes annually. The inspection primarily focuses on individual ratings for health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Then, an average rating is calculated based on these reports.
A five-star rating is the best nursing homes can earn and typically means the administrators and staff go above and beyond. A four-star rating means the health care center has minor areas of improvement. A three-star rating means the facility’s daily operations meet an average standard of resident care.
Two- and one-star ratings mean the nursing facility has many areas for improvement and consistently fails to meet average standards of care. A one-star-rated facility may also have numerous claims or citations of abuse or neglect.
Petersen Health Care locations have a wide range of ratings, which is common among larger nursing home organizations. Cornerstone Rehab and Health Care Center in Peoria Heights, Illinois, received the lowest one-star rating on the scale. Toulon Rehab and Health Care Center in Toulon, Illinois, also received a one-star rating.
Sometimes, CMS cites nursing homes for abuse along with the rating. The Royal Oaks Care Center in Kewanee, Illinois, received a one-star rating and an abuse citation. Havana Health Care Center in Havana, Illinois, also received a one-star rating with an abuse citation.
Families can use these public ratings to learn more about specific nursing homes or long-term care centers. The ratings are updated regularly and can be found on the CMS website.
Complaints and Legal Actions Against Petersen Health Care
The Petersen Health Care company has been named in various lawsuits. Here are some of the most noteworthy actions to review:
Rorah vs. Petersen Health Care
Violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Illinois Minimum Wage Law (IMWL). This lawsuit occurred in the Chicago area and involved an employee who sued due to unpaid wages.
Martin vs. Petersen Health Care
Negligence and wrongful death after a family member died of COVID-19. The lawsuit claims that the center allowed staff to work with COVID-19. COVID-19 was a critical issue, and Martin stated her mother died due to nursing home negligence.
Ryalnder vs. Petersen Health Care
Wrongful death after the plaintiff’s mother suffered numerous falls while under the care of a Petersen Health Care nursing home. The court had to order Peterson Health Care to comply with discovery requests because they failed to produce documents requested by the plaintiff.
Lenders vs. Petersen Health Care
Petersen Health Care has been the subject of numerous creditor lawsuits. At the time of the nursing home’s federal bankruptcy filing, the company owed more than $295 million to unsecured creditors. Petersen Health underwent various objections in federal bankruptcy court, ultimately slowing down the time to sale.
The two biggest lenders in this lawsuit are X-Caliber and Capital Funding. Both cases were processed in the U.S. District Court before the sale.
Inspection and Deficiency Reports at Petersen Health Care
Families can learn a lot about potential nursing homes through CMS ratings. Here are a few of the most recent ratings to review of Petersen Health Care locations:
Cornerstone Rehab and Health Care Center [6/8/2024]
- Violation: Various deficiencies, including resident rights, quality of life and care, and pharmacy service.
- Example: Failure to honor the resident’s rights to a dignified existence and self-determination. Failure to provide appropriate treatment and care to patients according to their preferences and goals. Failure to provide pharmaceutical services to residents using a licensed pharmacist. Failure to provide or get specialized rehabilitative services for residents.
Toulon Rehab & Health Care Center [5/2/2024]
- Violation: Various deficiencies related to resident assessment, care planning, quality of life, and care.
- Examples: Failure to develop care plans for residents within seven days, failure to ensure the nursing home is free from accident hazards, failure to provide or obtain specialized rehabilitative services for residents, and failure to safeguard residents’ information.
Royal Oaks Care Center [5/8/2024]
- Violation: Various citations related to quality of life, care, and resident rights deficiencies.
- Example: Failure to protect residents from physical, mental, or sexual abuse. Failure to protect residents from physical punishment or neglect. Failure to provide or get specialized rehabilitative services as required. Failure to develop or implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, or theft.
Havana Health Care Center [2/5/2024]
- Violation: Various citations related to resident rights, quality of life, and care deficiencies.
- Example: Failure to provide residents and their caregivers with copies of records, failure to provide activities to meet all residents’ needs, failure to provide appropriate treatment and care based on the resident’s preferences and goals, and failure to ensure all residents receive necessary behavioral health care and services.
Free Case Evaluation
Despite restructuring following federal bankruptcy court filings, Petersen Health Care continues to fail to meet patient care standards. Various independent living facilities within the company’s ownership have received poor ratings for resident care, and some have even been cited for nursing home abuse or neglect.
The Nursing Home Law Center offers a free case evaluation to those affected by negligence at Petersen Health Care. Contact our law firm today to discuss the details of your case.
Why Contact a Nursing Home Attorney
A nursing home lawyer can be valuable to your abuse or neglect case. The Nursing Home Law Center offers comprehensive legal representation to those affected by Petersen Health Care’s negligence.
A lawyer experienced in nursing home abuse and neglect can help your family navigate the steps that follow such an accusation. Working together, you can expect our team to begin investigating and gathering evidence related to your claim. We’ll also handle all negotiations on your behalf while protecting your loved one’s best interests.
A nursing home attorney can also help residents explore any settlement offers they may receive. Funds from a nursing home abuse lawsuit won’t reverse the damage that’s already been done. However, it can give the family the resources to heal and move on from the difficult situation.
If you don’t receive a settlement offer that appropriately covers your damages, you can trust the Nursing Home Law Center to represent your care in trial.
Contact us today to discuss your legal options.
Important Steps Following Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
If your loved one was the victim of poor quality care at Petersen Health Care, be sure to take the following steps:
- Ensure Safety: Ensuring the safety of patients in nursing homes is a priority. Remove your loved one from the dangerous situation and get them the medical care they need following abuse or neglect.
- Report the Abuse: Be sure to report the abuse immediately. Notify the local police, and contact your state’s Department of Health Services. You should also notify the nursing home.
- Gather Time-Sensitive Evidence: Gather time-sensitive information if you take legal action against negligent nursing homes. This may include photographs, videos, witness statements, or medical records.
- Contact the Nursing Home Law Center: Contact the Nursing Home Law Center to help guide you through your state’s legal process.
Act Quickly To Protect Your Legal Rights
Nursing home residents need to act quickly following abuse or neglect. U.S. states have time limits on how long abused or neglected victims have to file a claim, also known as the statute of limitations.
How long you have to file a nursing home abuse or neglect case depends on the details of your case. A free case evaluation can be beneficial in learning more about these time limits.
No Fees Unless We Win Your Case
The team at the Nursing Home Law Center understands the difficult situation abuse or neglect can put a family in. Our law firm is dedicated to holding negligent caregivers and employees accountable while protecting the best interests of the victims and their families.
We work on a contingency fee, which means you never owe us anything unless we win your case. This allows abuse or neglect victims to seek legal justice without risk.
Contact the Nursing Home Law Center Today
Petersen Health Care recently underwent various ownership changes. Amid these changes, it has also been subject to low CMS ratings, with some deficiency reports related to abuse or neglect.
No family should have to go through a loved one being abused or neglected while under the care of Petersen Health Care or any other long-term care facility. The Nursing Home Law Center is here to help through expert legal representation and compassionate guidance.
Contact the Nursing Home Law Center at (800) 926-7565 for a free consultation. You can also complete our online form and have a nursing home abuse lawyer contact you about your legal case.