Read more about the article Inspectors find negligence, abuse in central Illinois nursing homesDarrell Hoemann
A review of Illinois Department of Public Health documents found that one of the residents at Champaign Urbana Nursing and Rehab left the facility alone and traveled nearly 40 miles away.

Inspectors find negligence, abuse in central Illinois nursing homes

State officials have conducted hundreds of complaint-based nursing home inspections across central Illinois since 2011. In the seven Medicare-certified nursing homes in Champaign County alone, inspectors from the Illinois Department of Public Health conducted at least 114 complaint-based inspections.

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Read more about the article Inspections find peril in central Illinois nursing homesDarrell Hoemann
The knitting group at Clark-Lindsey Retirement Village, Urbana, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014.

Inspections find peril in central Illinois nursing homes

After months of interviews and reviewing Medicare data, Illinois Department of Public Health reports, court records and other documents, CU-CitizenAccess.org found that central Illinois…

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Read more about the article Husband’s treatment prompts wrongful death lawsuitNews-Gazette contributed photo.
Gerald Warmbier, 71, died Aug. 14, 2013 at Carle Foundation Hospital. His wife, Judy, filed a lawsuit against Heartland of Champaign this year.

Husband’s treatment prompts wrongful death lawsuit

After being admitted to the nursing home Heartland of Champaign to recover from a hospital stay for chest pain last year, Gerald Warmbier’s health…

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Read more about the article Tips for finding a good nursing homeDarrell Hoemann
Clark-Lindsey Retirement Village residents gather for a “kitchen band” activity session on Nov. 7, 2014.

Tips for finding a good nursing home

In one central Illinois nursing home, staff allowed a man labeled as an “elopement risk” to leave and wander 38 miles away. In another facility, two employees were caught whispering that one of the employees was having an affair with a female resident’s husband until the resident started crying.

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Read more about the article Central Illinois nursing homes plagued by violationsDarrell Hoemann
A resident participates in a knitting group at Clark-Lindsey Retirement Village on Nov. 7, 2014. Clark-Lindsey in Urbana is one of two federally rated five-star facilities in Champaign County.

Central Illinois nursing homes plagued by violations

Gerald Warmbier began a medical journey last year that took him to the nursing home Heartland of Champaign. But instead of helping him recover after medical treatment at Carle Foundation Hospital, the nursing home delivered such poor care that it led to his death, according to a lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Champaign County by his wife.

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Read more about the article Understaffing hard on nursing homes, residents alikeDarrell Hoemann
A sign advertising open positions is leaned against the wall in front of the Heartland of Champaign nursing home, Dec. 11, 2014.

Understaffing hard on nursing homes, residents alike

For many, nursing homes seem like the best option for aging family members because facilities offer the promise of 24-hour care. It is a promise, though, that many Champaign County and central Illinois nursing homes are finding hard to keep because of understaffing, particularly when it comes to registered nurses.

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Bed Check: Safety violations cloud Central Illinois nursing homes

An elderly man with Alzheimer's disease leaves a local nursing home without staff noticing and is found wandering into traffic on Mattis Avenue in Champaign.
 A patient in an Urbana nursing home is left unattended on a bed pan for hours until the bed pan creates a deep pressure sore in its shape.


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Read more about the article Finding a good nursing home: A primerDarrell Hoemann
The courtyard at the County Rehabilitation and Care Center in Gifford on Monday, Nov. 28, 2011.

Finding a good nursing home: A primer

Finding a nursing home or long-term care facility can be challenging. Read advice from advocates and nursing home administrators on what you should look for, recommended websites for comparison and questionnaires to use when looking for a nursing home.

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Nursing home care different today from yesterday

Nursing home care is much different today than it was a decade ago. “Assisted living, supportive living (and) home health options have certainly made a big change within the last 10 years,” said Ben Craft, social services director at Colonial Manor in Danville.

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Read more about the article State officials overhaul nursing home careDarrell Hoemann
Ardith Orr recites the Pledge of Allegiance after devotions at the County Rehabilition and Care Center in Gifford on Monday, Nov. 28, 2011.

State officials overhaul nursing home care

In July 2010, Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law two bills that introduced broad reforms for the state’s nursing homes. The laws strengthened the screening process to keep residents with histories of violent crimes separate from vulnerable, elderly residents; instituted tougher quality and staffing requirements; upped fines for violations; increased the number of state inspectors by nearly 50 percent; and added new requirements for quicker reporting of fraud, neglect and abuse, among other changes.

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