Recommendations Call for Basic Reform of Long-Term Care
CHICAGO, IL – February 19, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — The final report of the Nursing Home Safety Task Force was presented to Governor Pat Quinn today. The report details recommendations to ensure the safety of nursing home residents and build a better system of treatment for people in need of care for physical or mental illnesses, disorders or disabilities. Governor Quinn formed the Task Force in October of 2009 in response to reports of violence and unsafe, inadequate care for vulnerable nursing home residents. To read the full report, please click on the link below:
“I want to thank the Nursing Home Safety Task Force members for their thorough and thoughtful work. Their recommendations point the way to a system of long-term care that respects the needs and rights of all residents,” said Governor Quinn. “I look forward to evaluating their proposals, and working with legislators, advocates and state agencies to make these reforms a reality.”
Chaired by Senior Health Policy Advisor Michael Gelder, the Task Force examined a wide array of laws, policies and practices that contributed to substandard care and harm to vulnerable nursing home residents. With extensive input from many contributors through seven public meetings and an interactive website, the Task Force developed a comprehensive set of recommendations to fundamentally reform Illinois’ system of long-term care.
Among the Nursing Home Safety Task Force recommendations:
- Reform the admissions and assessment of people in need of care to ensure they are referred to the residential setting most appropriate to their individual needs.
- Raise and enforce higher standards of treatment in all residential settings.
- Expand residential options and services in home and community-based settings to allow each individual to achieve his or her highest level of independent functioning and ensure that only those people who require 24-hour care are placed in nursing homes.
The Nursing Home Safety Task Force included senior leadership from eight state agencies, and heard testimony from a wide range of nursing home residents, owners, advocates and service providers.
For more information, please visit nursinghomesafety.illinois.gov
