WASHINGTON – A shocking wave of abuse and neglect has hit the nation’s nursing homes, leaving vulnerable seniors to suffer in pain and indignity. Now, the US Attorney’s office in Illinois is leading the charge to bring those responsible to justice.
Nearly 30 nursing facilities in nine states have been targeted in a nationwide crackdown on nursing home abuse, announced US Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr. and Attorney General William P. Barr. Lausch, whose office is part of the Northern District of Illinois, vowed to ‘defend our vulnerable seniors from those who abuse or neglect them.’
The initiative, dubbed the National Nursing Home Initiative, will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide ‘grossly substandard care’ to their residents. The US Attorney’s office and state and local prosecutors will work together to root out the worst offenders and bring them to account for their crimes.
‘Millions of seniors count on nursing homes to provide them with quality care, and to treat them with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable,’ said Attorney General William P. Barr. ‘Yet, all too often, we have found nursing home owners or operators who put profits over patients, leading to instances of gross abuse and neglect.’
The US Attorney’s office will be looking for nursing homes that consistently fail to provide adequate nursing staff, adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control, provide enough food to residents, and use physical or chemical restraints to restrain or sedate residents. These care failures can lead to residents suffering in pain, being exposed to indignities, developing pressure sores, and living in filthy and dangerous conditions.
The National Nursing Home Initiative reflects the US Attorney’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, coordinated by the Elder Justice Initiative in conjunction with US Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The Elder Justice Initiative and the US Attorneys’ Offices are essential to the investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
The US Attorney’s office will be working closely with state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. The initiative will also provide training, resources, and information to support these efforts.
Learn more about the Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/.
Related Federal Cases
- National Women’s Soccer League Settled for $5M Over Player Abuse, N… · New Mexico
- Robert John Mueller, Methamphetamine Distribution, Dyersville IA, 2023 · Illinois
- John G. Haslett, Methamphetamine Operation, IL, 2023 · Illinois
- Joe Biden Criticized for Wildfire Response, Maui HI, 2024 · Illinois
- Rico Tomas Garcia, Hand Sanitizer Scam, CO, 2023 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News