Note: These numbers have been updated as of May 12, 2020.
With elderly residents and close living quarters, nursing homes are extremely vulnerable to coronavirus. As the coronavirus crisis continues to develop in Illinois, numbers are emerging showing that nursing homes account for about 50% of the state’s COVID-19 deaths. That number is not surprising when you consider that 410 nursing homes in the state have been affected by the virus. Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, recognized that nursing homes would be vulnerable back in a March 12 statement, during which she prioritized restricting visits to nursing homes as a method of limiting the spread of coronavirus.
Despite Illinois banning the majority of visitors at nursing homes, the latest infection reports are still showing coronavirus on the rise in senior facilities. Daily news reports and infection data highlight the widespread problem of COVID-19 infections in Illinois nursing homes. Recently released data from the Illinois Department of Public Health shows that over 14,882 cases of coronavirus and 2400 deaths are linked to nursing homes in the state and the numbers continue to grow. Hardest hit has been Cook County, which has reported 1350 nursing home-related deaths and multiple nursing homes with serious outbreaks. At least four other Illinois counties–including Will, DuPage, Lake, and Kane– have reported 500 or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 in long-term assisted care facilities.
In DuPage County, a number of nursing homes are battling the virus. There is a huge outbreak at a Carol Stream nursing home, Covenant Living at Windsor Park, which has reported 118 cases and 21 deaths. A Willowbrook nursing home, Chateau Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, accounts for 12 deaths and 58 cases of COVID-19. And in Naperville, Alden Estates is struggling with an outbreak, with 87 confirmed cases and 21 deaths. Several other facilities in DuPage County have reported significant outbreaks: Manorcare in Hinsdale, with 164 cases and 27 deaths, Bria of Westmont with 124 cases and 14 deaths, Oak Brook Care with 86 cases and 16 deaths, Harvester Place in Burr Ridge with 37 cases and 13 deaths, Artis Senior Living of Elmhurst with 42 cases and 19 deaths, Lexington of Bloomingdale with 61 cases and 14 deaths, Forestview Rehabilitation & Nursing Center with 94 cases and 7 deaths, and Providence Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center with 69 cases and 13 deaths. Many more COVID-19 cases are attributed to outbreaks at other long-term care facilities in DuPage.
In Cook County, a large number of facilities are fighting huge outbreaks. An astonishing 262 residents and staff at City View Mutlicare Center in Cicero have tested positive for COVID-19 and 12 have died. Thirty residents of the Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion have passed awayfrom complications from coronavirus, with 210 confirmed cases in that facility. Similarly, the Villas at Windsor Park have 143 confirmed cases and 33 deaths. Multiple other Cook County facilities have reported 20 or more coronavirus-related deaths: Elevate Care / Glencrest Healthcare with 167 COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths, Peterson Park Healthcare Center with 179 cases and 28 deaths, Niles Nursing and Rehab with a reported 135 cases and 24 deaths, Harmony Healthcare and Rehab with 102 cases and 21 deaths, and Glenview Terrace with 91 cases and 25 deaths. Other facilities facing similar outbreaks include: Symphony of Lincoln Park with 160 cases and 19 deaths, Ludeman Developmental Center with 313 cases and 10 deaths, Bria Forest Edge with 132 confirmed cases and 2 deaths, Mayfield Care Center with 146 cases and 14 deaths, Symphony at Midway with 211 cases and 16 deaths, Symphony of South Shore with 155 cases and 19 deaths, Uptown Health Center with 118 cases and 16 deaths, Astoria Place of Chicago with 101 cases and 17 deaths, Fairmont Care with 119 cases and 19 deaths, and Symphony Morgan Park with 188 cases and 15 deaths. And a recent NBC 5 investigation named multiple Cook County nursing homes with 10 or more COVID-19 deaths, including:
Lake County has likewise been affected. One facility in Lake Bluff, Claridge Healthcare, has reported 60 confirmed cases and 14 deaths, while a facility in Wauconda, Wauconda Care, has 62 confirmed cases and 15 COVID-19 deaths. Multiple other Lake County facilities are battling serious outbreaks: Belmont Village Senior Living in Buffalo Grove with 59 cases and 16 deaths, Warren Barr North Shore with 69 cases and 11 deaths, Avantara Long Grove with 91 cases and 7 deaths, Elevate Care Waukegan, with 74 cases and 8 deaths, Lexington at Lake Zurich with 41 case and 12 deaths, Elevate Care Riverwoods with 55 cases and 10 deaths, and The Grove at the Lake with 52 cases and 8 deaths. Smaller outbreaks have affected multiple other nursing homes in Lake County.
In Will County, an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Symphony Joliet nursing home has left 24 residents and one staff member dead. In total, 130 cases have been linked to that facility, and the mayor of Joilet has asked the IDPH to conduct an investigation. Three other Will County facilities are struggling to contain outbreaks: Meadowbrook Manor in Bolingbrook with 188 confirmed cases and 38 deaths, Presence Villa Franciscan with 64 cases and 12 deaths, and Sunny Hill Nursing Home in Joliet with 45 cases and 15 deaths.
In Kane County, several nursing homes are reporting major outbreaks: Bria of Geneva has reported 114 cases of COVID-19 and 24 deaths, Symphony of Orchard Valley has 114 cases and 14 deaths, Asbury Gardens has 64 reported cases and 12 deaths, and Tower Hill Healthcare Center has reported 117 cases and 14 deaths. In McHenry County, 70 people have tested positive and 10 have died at Alden Terrace, Crossroads Care Center has 68 cases and 9 deaths, while 41 cases and 9 deaths have been reported at Sheltered Village.
For a complete and up-to-date list of Illinois nursing homes with COVID-19 cases and deaths, go to the IDPH site.
Since Illinois nursing homes house over 80,000 residents, it’s clear that controlling coronavirus infections within facilities would not only benefit the patients and staff, but the state as a whole. But, despite the obvious vulnerability of nursing homes, facilities are still reporting shortages of personal protective equipment. Additionally, federal inspections show that Illinois facilities have been among the worst at following rules to contain infections. This is not encouraging to families with loved ones in Illinois’ nursing homes.
In this time of crisis and uncertainty, the most vulnerable members of our community should be among the most protected. If your loved one has acquired a serious infection, including COVID-19, due to inadequate staff or infection prevention measures at his or her nursing home, our Naperville based law firm can help. Call the experienced nursing home attorneys here at The Collins Law Firm for a FREE nursing home negligence consultation at (630) 527-1595 or fill out our contact form.
For information on how our nursing home neglect and abuse attorneys can help you, click here.
Dayna Smith and Meg Collins contributed to this blog.
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