LaSalle County-owned nursing home allegedly failed to prevent sexual abuse
Journal Star news services
Jul 03, 2009
The LaSalle County Nursing Home failed to prevent a male resident from sexually abusing 10 female residents and propositioning others, some who couldn't speak or suffered from dementia, according to allegations in a report this week from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The 61-page report details interviews with patients, nurses and other employees who described abuse that included the male resident touching female residents' breasts, trying to kiss them and cursing about sex in nursing home common areas.
"When I would leave for a short time he would wait until I was gone for moments and put his hands on, or target the dementia women," one activities aide testified in the report. "Sometimes he would pull back when I'd return or tell me to get out."
One female resident said, "He tried to touch me — he was a complete stranger — he was going to put his hands on me and I gave him a whack. I felt crummy. Like a piece of dirt on the sidewalk."
The report did not identify any employees or alleged victims by name.
A receptionist who answered the phone at the nursing home Friday said no administrators were available to comment and the director was out on medical leave.
LaSalle County chairman Jerry Hicks said the county was investigating the allegations in the report and nursing home employees were cooperating.
"We can't sit back on our haunches on this and do nothing," Hicks said. "We need to find where the breakdown occurred."
The alleged abuse began in December and lasted until June 5, when the male resident was moved to an inpatient psychiatric unit, according the report.
"Due to Administrative staff's failures to implement policies and procedures for abuse, failure to recognize abuse, and failure to effectively manage facility resources, sexual abuse occurred for 10 residents," the report said.
No criminal charges have been filed and any fines against the nursing home would come from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, authorities said. Telephone and e-mail messages were left with the agency Friday.
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