Nursing home cited after resident’s deathNursing home cited after resident’s death
BELLEVILLE – The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued eight citations against a nursing home after a 77-year-old resident with dementia and heart disease wandered away and was later found dead of hypothermia.
Aubrey Giles had wandered away from the Belleville home two other times in the months leading up to his death, but Midwest Rehabilitation and Respiratory Care hadn’t fitted him with a patient monitoring device, according to a state report.
– Wire reports BELLEVILLE – The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued eight citations against a nursing home after a 77-year-old resident with dementia and heart disease wandered away and was later found dead of hypothermia.
Aubrey Giles had wandered away from the Belleville home two other times in the months leading up to his death, but Midwest Rehabilitation and Respiratory Care hadn’t fitted him with a patient monitoring device, according to a state report.
Giles went missing Jan. 14 and was found two days later partially submerged in a creek one block south of the nursing home. A preliminary investigation by the St. Clair County coroner’s office determined hypothermia was the cause of death.
“I think the findings clearly show and indicate that there was negligence if not gross negligence,” said attorney Staci Yandle, who is representing Giles’ two daughters. No lawsuit has been filed.
The home’s director of operations wouldn’t comment on the case.
Inspectors said the nurse in charge of Giles’ care hadn’t been told that he’d tried to leave the facility before.
“[The nurse] stated [Giles’] Care Plan was never revised to address those behaviors,” the report said.
Health department spokeswoman Melaney Arnold told the Belleville News-Democrat that she didn’t know if any fines had been recommended for the home or whether any staff would be sanctioned.
The health department sent its report on Feb. 2, and the nursing home has 10 days to request a hearing to contest any fines, Arnold said. The home will also be required to develop a plan to address any problems.
Belleville police aren’t planning to seek criminal charges in the case, said Detective Mark Heffernan. Police will release their investigation report on Monday.
