Filing a Nursing Home Complaint in Illinois
Nursing homes in Illinois must follow state and federal regulations designed to protect residents and ensure that they receive appropriate care. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), through its Bureau of Long-Term Care, licenses and regulates nursing homes in Illinois and conducts inspections to determine whether facilities are complying with applicable requirements.
How Nursing Homes Are Inspected
Nursing home inspections are commonly referred to as surveys. IDPH conducts several types of surveys and investigations, including regular licensing and certification surveys, complaint investigations, and follow-up surveys.
A complaint investigation may begin after a resident, family member, caregiver, staff member, or another individual reports concerns about the care being provided at a nursing home. IDPH also reviews incidents that nursing homes themselves are required to report.
During an investigation, surveyors may review medical records and facility documents, observe conditions inside the nursing home, and interview residents, family members, staff, and others who may have relevant information.
If IDPH determines that a nursing home failed to comply with applicable requirements, the facility may be cited for deficiencies and required to correct the problems that were identified. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the violation, additional enforcement actions or penalties may also be possible.
Why Filing a Complaint Can Matter
If you believe a nursing home resident has been harmed or placed at risk because of poor care, neglect, abuse, unsafe conditions, medication errors, or another serious problem, filing a complaint with IDPH can be an important step.
A complaint can bring the issue to the attention of the agency responsible for regulating Illinois nursing homes. An investigation may identify problems that need to be corrected, potentially protecting not only your family member but other residents at the facility.
An IDPH investigation can also create records concerning the circumstances surrounding the complaint. Those records may become important if the resident or family later pursues a nursing home abuse or neglect case.
How to File an Illinois Nursing Home Complaint
IDPH now provides several ways to submit a complaint, including online, by telephone, email, mail, and fax.
When submitting a complaint, it is helpful to provide as much specific information as possible, including:
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The resident's name and the nursing home's name and location
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What happened or what care you believe was not provided
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When the incident or problem occurred
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The names of staff members or witnesses involved, if known
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How the resident was harmed or placed at risk
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Any steps already taken to raise the issue with the nursing home
Complaints may also be submitted anonymously, although providing contact information allows IDPH to contact you for additional information and provide certain updates about the complaint.
Why We Created Illinois Nursing Home Complaints
Nursing home abuse and neglect cases are a significant part of the work we do at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C.
Over the years, families who contacted our office frequently told us they had serious concerns about the care their loved one received but did not know where to begin or how to report what happened.
That was the reason we created Illinois Nursing Home Complaints.
The complaint process has changed over time, and IDPH now offers its own online complaint system as well as other methods for submitting complaints. This website remains available as a resource to help Illinois families understand the complaint process, the role of IDPH, and the steps they can take when they believe a nursing home resident has received improper care.
If you believe that neglect or abuse in an Illinois nursing home caused a serious injury or death, filing an IDPH complaint may be only one of the options available to your family. You may also want to speak with an attorney experienced in Illinois nursing home abuse and neglect cases about your legal rights.