Nursing Home Evictions Soar in Illinois

Nursing Home Eviction Trends

The number of nursing home evictions has doubled during the last five years in which data is available. The concern about this ongoing problem is statewide and not exclusive to only one particular chain of nursing homes, according to NPR. When a nursing home resident is wrongfully discharged, he or she may become homeless if there is not another facility lined up to take in the resident. Many of the nursing home residents who were involuntarily discharged during the last five years have wound up homeless, on loved ones’ doorsteps or at hospitals.

Existing Rules

Because of the high number of involuntary discharges, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has updated the regulations regarding when a resident can be discharged. Suitable reasons for an involuntary resident discharge include:

• The facility cannot meet the needs of the resident
• The resident has recovered and is no longer in need of the facility’s services
• The resident’s continued presence poses a safety risk to others in the facility
• The resident has not paid
• The facility is closing

Unfortunately, many family members are unaware of the new guidelines and may not realize when their loved one’s rights have been violated. A nursing home attorney can examine the nursing home resident’s documents and medical records to determine whether the discharge meets one of the above permitted involuntary discharge bases or if action can be taken to prevent the eviction.

Suggested Proposals

In addition to the new guidelines, Illinois lawmakers are supporting legislation that will prevent nursing homes from tactics associated with involuntary discharge. Some nursing homes may prefer a certain type of resident, often someone who may not be perceived as difficult by staff. The new proposals seek to prohibit facilities from trying to get rid of residents who are perceived as more challenging. Additionally, the new law would order the nursing home to have a resident readmitted if he or she was found to have been wrongfully discharged and the nursing home could be charged a fine up to $250 a day when it is not in compliance.