Re: Fw: Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

[Guest guest]

Really ARC of IL? Using the deaths of babies and children to push your agenda

for a tax increase? Really? That's a new low.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/illinois-senate-republican-fan-page/rezin-says-no-\

to-lame-duck-tax-increase/498050691307

Anyone who believes that the proposed tax increase is going to fix the reasons

why families place their children in hell holes like Alden is disillusioned.

Pam

Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

The Arc of Illinois

January 11, 2011

Leaders in The Arc:

Alden North is once again cited in the death of a 14 month-old girl in July! Why

this facility remains open and why do we continue to place children in nursing

homes is beyond me!

I continue to meet with the Governors staff about on these reform issues but we

already know there are alternatives to nursing home for children. We need to

invest in community systems and close institutions like Alden North!

We need you to continue with your calls.

Here is an 800 number from the Responsible Budget Coalition you can use to

connect with legislators in their Springfield offices: 800/664-9903.

Your message:

Pass the tax increase and do it now!

Keep your calls to the Capitol coming!!!

Tony auski

The Arc of Illinois

815-464-1832

Center cited in 14th death

By Sam Roe and S. Hopkins, Tribune reporters Tribune staff reporter

10:00 a.m. CST, January 11, 2011

State regulators have cited a troubled Chicago facility for disabled children in

yet another death, this one involving a 14-month-old girl.

Authorities concluded that staff at Alden Village North waited two days to

contact the girl's doctor when test results in July showed signs of a serious

infection. After the doctor was reached, the girl was sent to a hospital, where

she died within hours.

Regulators also cited Alden for 21 additional violations, including failing to

investigate allegations of neglect and not taking children on outings for months

at a time problems that have plagued the facility in the past.

Alden has been under fire since October, when a Tribune investigation revealed a

high number of deaths at the home and the worst safety record in Illinois for

facilities of its kind. The girl's death brings to 14 the number of children and

young adults who have died at the home since 2000 in cases that resulted in

state citations.

The Illinois Department of Public Health finished investigating the girl's death

last week, an agency spokeswoman said. About 90 people live at the North Side

facility, most of them children and young adults with severe or profound

cognitive impairment.

" We care for a very fragile patient population who suffer from very serious

medical conditions, " Alden Management Services, which oversees the facility,

said in a statement Monday. " Our residents are like family to us and we grieve

whenever one of them passes. We continually evaluate the care that we provide to

all of our patients to see if there are areas for improvement. "

State inspection records show that the 14-month-old girl, whose identity was not

disclosed, suffered from heart ailments and a seizure disorder. On the morning

of July 3, test results showed she had " heavy growth " of MRSA, or

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a kind of staph bacterium that is

resistant to some antibiotics. Yet her doctor was not notified until the evening

of July 5.

The girl arrived at a hospital with a temperature of 105.4 degrees and a pulse

of 180. She died the next day of septic shock, a drop in blood pressure brought

on by infection.

While investigating the girl's death, state inspectors learned that another

Alden Village North resident, a 14-year-old boy with profound mental

disabilities, was also sent to the hospital in July after a lengthy delay.

Records show that after the boy began breathing rapidly, Alden staff paged his

doctor six times over 19 hours before the physician responded. In citing the

facility, regulators concluded that the home should have contacted its medical

director instead of waiting for the doctor to respond.

The teenager died two months later, but records do not state whether the delayed

trip to the hospital was a factor.

Though inspection records do not name the boy, his stepfather, Noe,

contacted the Tribune and identified him as Pruitt. Both the stepfather

and the boy's mother, Shirley Noe, told the newspaper they think a lack of care

at Alden hastened 's death.

" The bottom line is I think they were inattentive to him, " Noe said.

Shirley Noe, of downstate Wood River, said she was planning to visit her son the

weekend he died. " He had the prettiest smile, " she said. " If he could laugh out

loud, he would. "

Last month, Floyd Schlossberg, president of Alden Management Services and

operator of the Alden nursing home chain, said in an interview that Alden

Village North had improved since he acquired it in 2008.

But eight of the 14 deaths resulting in citations have occurred since he took

over.

And the 21 violations found in the public health department's most recent annual

inspection of the facility are double the number typically found before

Schlossberg became its operator. From 2005 to 2007, nine violations were found

on average during annual checks. Since Schlossberg took over, the average has

been 25.

Alden Management Services said in its statement that the most recent annual

inspection " showed that we continue to improve the care that we provide at Alden

Village North. We will evaluate each finding and look for ways to improve. "

The latest annual review took place in December, though some violations involved

incidents that occurred months earlier. Inspectors frequently spot older

violations when reviewing patient records.

One citation was for not thoroughly investigating two allegations of abuse and

two allegations of neglect.

The guardian of a 14-year-old blind girl alleged in November that the child had

such poor hygiene that she had to be bathed at school. Yet the facility did not

follow up, the inspection report states.

In another case, a 19-year-old resident who breathed with the aid of a

ventilator complained to staffers in February that " he was dropped on the floor

on his back. " Again, the allegation wasn't fully investigated, inspectors wrote.

The teen died the following month, though inspection records do not state the

cause.

Inspectors also checked the files of 10 residents and found that the facility

rarely took any of them on outings. One 11-year-old boy with profound mental

disabilities had been to a park once in June and once in July but nowhere else

for the next five months.

The facility now has been cited six times in the last three years for not

providing enough activities or outings.

Bob Molitor, chief operating officer of the Alden chain, said in an interview in

December that the facility had recently stepped up activities, including trips

to the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum.

Asked to explain the most recent violation, Alden did not respond.

Other violations in the latest inspection included nurses making or about to

make mistakes while administering medicine to several children, the facility not

fixing two residents' wheelchairs and staffers allowing two residents to develop

bedsores, a painful condition that can occur when immobile patients are not

frequently repositioned.

Meanwhile, in a separate regulatory action, state monitors have been visiting

the facility several times a week since October, when Gov. Pat Quinn ordered the

additional scrutiny in response to the Tribune articles.

The two monitors a registered nurse and a licensed social worker contracted by

the state spend much of their time observing interactions between residents and

staff. According to their reports, copies of which were obtained by the Tribune,

the monitors have not observed any serious problems.

But they have noted an unusual number of Alden corporate officials at the

facility, with one monitor writing: " I wonder how the facility operates when

staff from corporate are not present. "

In fact, on the day monitoring began, Molitor greeted the monitor at the

facility. According to the monitor's report, Molitor said there was no " legal

reason " for monitoring because the home was in compliance with the rules.

Nonetheless, he said, the facility would cooperate. " He also mentioned, " the

monitor wrote, " that he 'knows the governor.' "

In an interview with the Tribune, Molitor said he recalled greeting the monitor

but not making those comments. He said he did not know the governor.

sroe@...

jahopkins@...

Please click here to be removed from our list. If you still receive emails from

us in the future, please ensure it was not forwarded from another party or sent

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The Arc of Illinois

20901 S. LaGrange Rd. #209

fort, IL 60423

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam,  I was traveling yesterday so had to wait till today to respond to your

email.  I have to come to the defense of the Arc here in that Tony is correct

and not exagerating for self interest purposes.  Studies show that if you give

families in home support for fragile, at risk infants and young children,

families are more likely to keep their child at home and the child's  survival

rate increases tremendously.  The problem is IL does not offer adequate in home

supports for this population.  While a low incidence population, if you have a

medically fragile child, the care and medical bills can overwhelm and

bankrupt a

family  in no time. 

As a former social worker, it used to break my heart to have to place a young

child in a pediatric nursing home.  It always struck me as penny wise and pound

foolish that the state would pay nearly $100,000 per year for a pediatric

nursing home but not pay $20 - $60,000 to keep the infant/young child at home. 

Until IL starts putting more money into the community, you will continue to read

headlines about deaths of children in Alden and other like facilities. 

Terrie Varnet

________________________________

From: " pam_harris@... " <pam_harris@...>

IPADDUnite

Sent: Tue, January 11, 2011 1:50:02 PM

Subject: Re: Fw: Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

 

Really ARC of IL? Using the deaths of babies and children to push your agenda

for a tax increase? Really? That's a new low.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/illinois-senate-republican-fan-page/rezin-says-no-\

to-lame-duck-tax-increase/498050691307

Anyone who believes that the proposed tax increase is going to fix the reasons

why families place their children in hell holes like Alden is disillusioned.

Pam

Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

The Arc of Illinois

January 11, 2011

Leaders in The Arc:

Alden North is once again cited in the death of a 14 month-old girl in July! Why

this facility remains open and why do we continue to place children in nursing

homes is beyond me!

I continue to meet with the Governors staff about on these reform issues but we

already know there are alternatives to nursing home for children. We need to

invest in community systems and close institutions like Alden North!

We need you to continue with your calls.

Here is an 800 number from the Responsible Budget Coalition you can use to

connect with legislators in their Springfield offices: 800/664-9903.

Your message:

Pass the tax increase and do it now!

Keep your calls to the Capitol coming!!!

Tony auski

The Arc of Illinois

815-464-1832

Center cited in 14th death

By Sam Roe and S. Hopkins, Tribune reporters Tribune staff reporter

10:00 a.m. CST, January 11, 2011

State regulators have cited a troubled Chicago facility for disabled children in

yet another death, this one involving a 14-month-old girl.

Authorities concluded that staff at Alden Village North waited two days to

contact the girl's doctor when test results in July showed signs of a serious

infection. After the doctor was reached, the girl was sent to a hospital, where

she died within hours.

Regulators also cited Alden for 21 additional violations, including failing to

investigate allegations of neglect and not taking children on outings for months

at a time problems that have plagued the facility in the past.

Alden has been under fire since October, when a Tribune investigation revealed a

high number of deaths at the home and the worst safety record in Illinois for

facilities of its kind. The girl's death brings to 14 the number of children and

young adults who have died at the home since 2000 in cases that resulted in

state citations.

The Illinois Department of Public Health finished investigating the girl's death

last week, an agency spokeswoman said. About 90 people live at the North Side

facility, most of them children and young adults with severe or profound

cognitive impairment.

" We care for a very fragile patient population who suffer from very serious

medical conditions, " Alden Management Services, which oversees the facility,

said in a statement Monday. " Our residents are like family to us and we grieve

whenever one of them passes. We continually evaluate the care that we provide to

all of our patients to see if there are areas for improvement. "

State inspection records show that the 14-month-old girl, whose identity was not

disclosed, suffered from heart ailments and a seizure disorder. On the morning

of July 3, test results showed she had " heavy growth " of MRSA, or

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a kind of staph bacterium that is

resistant to some antibiotics. Yet her doctor was not notified until the evening

of July 5.

The girl arrived at a hospital with a temperature of 105.4 degrees and a pulse

of 180. She died the next day of septic shock, a drop in blood pressure brought

on by infection.

While investigating the girl's death, state inspectors learned that another

Alden Village North resident, a 14-year-old boy with profound mental

disabilities, was also sent to the hospital in July after a lengthy delay.

Records show that after the boy began breathing rapidly, Alden staff paged his

doctor six times over 19 hours before the physician responded. In citing the

facility, regulators concluded that the home should have contacted its medical

director instead of waiting for the doctor to respond.

The teenager died two months later, but records do not state whether the delayed

trip to the hospital was a factor.

Though inspection records do not name the boy, his stepfather, Noe,

contacted the Tribune and identified him as Pruitt. Both the stepfather

and the boy's mother, Shirley Noe, told the newspaper they think a lack of care

at Alden hastened 's death.

" The bottom line is I think they were inattentive to him, " Noe said.

Shirley Noe, of downstate Wood River, said she was planning to visit her son the

weekend he died. " He had the prettiest smile, " she said. " If he could laugh out

loud, he would. "

Last month, Floyd Schlossberg, president of Alden Management Services and

operator of the Alden nursing home chain, said in an interview that Alden

Village North had improved since he acquired it in 2008.

But eight of the 14 deaths resulting in citations have occurred since he took

over.

And the 21 violations found in the public health department's most recent annual

inspection of the facility are double the number typically found before

Schlossberg became its operator. From 2005 to 2007, nine violations were found

on average during annual checks. Since Schlossberg took over, the average has

been 25.

Alden Management Services said in its statement that the most recent annual

inspection " showed that we continue to improve the care that we provide at Alden

Village North. We will evaluate each finding and look for ways to improve. "

The latest annual review took place in December, though some violations involved

incidents that occurred months earlier. Inspectors frequently spot older

violations when reviewing patient records.

One citation was for not thoroughly investigating two allegations of abuse and

two allegations of neglect.

The guardian of a 14-year-old blind girl alleged in November that the child had

such poor hygiene that she had to be bathed at school. Yet the facility did not

follow up, the inspection report states.

In another case, a 19-year-old resident who breathed with the aid of a

ventilator complained to staffers in February that " he was dropped on the floor

on his back. " Again, the allegation wasn't fully investigated, inspectors wrote.

The teen died the following month, though inspection records do not state the

cause.

Inspectors also checked the files of 10 residents and found that the facility

rarely took any of them on outings. One 11-year-old boy with profound mental

disabilities had been to a park once in June and once in July but nowhere else

for the next five months.

The facility now has been cited six times in the last three years for not

providing enough activities or outings.

Bob Molitor, chief operating officer of the Alden chain, said in an interview in

December that the facility had recently stepped up activities, including trips

to the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum.

Asked to explain the most recent violation, Alden did not respond.

Other violations in the latest inspection included nurses making or about to

make mistakes while administering medicine to several children, the facility not

fixing two residents' wheelchairs and staffers allowing two residents to develop

bedsores, a painful condition that can occur when immobile patients are not

frequently repositioned.

Meanwhile, in a separate regulatory action, state monitors have been visiting

the facility several times a week since October, when Gov. Pat Quinn ordered the

additional scrutiny in response to the Tribune articles.

The two monitors a registered nurse and a licensed social worker contracted by

the state spend much of their time observing interactions between residents and

staff. According to their reports, copies of which were obtained by the Tribune,

the monitors have not observed any serious problems.

But they have noted an unusual number of Alden corporate officials at the

facility, with one monitor writing: " I wonder how the facility operates when

staff from corporate are not present. "

In fact, on the day monitoring began, Molitor greeted the monitor at the

facility. According to the monitor's report, Molitor said there was no " legal

reason " for monitoring because the home was in compliance with the rules.

Nonetheless, he said, the facility would cooperate. " He also mentioned, " the

monitor wrote, " that he 'knows the governor.' "

In an interview with the Tribune, Molitor said he recalled greeting the monitor

but not making those comments. He said he did not know the governor.

sroe@...

jahopkins@...

Please click here to be removed from our list. If you still receive emails from

us in the future, please ensure it was not forwarded from another party or sent

to an email address that is different than the one asked to be removed. DO NOT

REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Or write us at:

The Arc of Illinois

20901 S. LaGrange Rd. #209

fort, IL 60423

[Guest guest]

Hi all:

I agree with Pam that a tax increase will not solve the problems at Alden. I

don't believe Tony thinks that either. Tony's point is that we need to close

Alden and the sooner the better. All of the Arc's messages in the past couple

of weeks have contained the contact info for calling in to the Capitol to

support a tax increase...One thing has nothing to do with the other...just

happens to be on one memo...

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

[Guest guest]

Hi Terrie -

I appreciate your taking time to respond. I know the money is a component.

However, it is the attitude, the perception and mindsets that must be changed

first. Then the support follows. Service providers are NOT effective in creating

this change. Our sons and daughters, their family and friends can effectively

change this climate in IL.

IL is an institutional state. I really don't think the ARC's recent aggressive

campaign for a tax increase is going to change that. Many families feel the

societal stigma or equally as oppressive, the religious frame that says a

fragile child is a burden for past transgressions. Even with the financial

burden lifted, too many families will continue to " place " their sons and

daughters in institutional care.

I believe the ARC of IL has become the spokesperson for our state's disability

organizations at the detriment of the families. In my opinion, once the ARC

became a provider, it lost it's effectiveness as an advocate for our sons and

daughters.

The ARC of IL, under the guidance of Tony P. is a strong advocate for disability

organizations in IL. However, in my opinion, states that rank well on Braddock (

a great tool) have strong disability advocacy that is driven by our sons and

daughters, their families and friends and NOT the service providers.

Pam

Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

The Arc of Illinois

January 11, 2011

Leaders in The Arc:

Alden North is once again cited in the death of a 14 month-old girl in July! Why

this facility remains open and why do we continue to place children in nursing

homes is beyond me!

I continue to meet with the Governors staff about on these reform issues but we

already know there are alternatives to nursing home for children. We need to

invest in community systems and close institutions like Alden North!

We need you to continue with your calls.

Here is an 800 number from the Responsible Budget Coalition you can use to

connect with legislators in their Springfield offices: 800/664-9903.

Your message:

Pass the tax increase and do it now!

Keep your calls to the Capitol coming!!!

Tony auski

The Arc of Illinois

815-464-1832

Center cited in 14th death

By Sam Roe and S. Hopkins, Tribune reporters Tribune staff reporter

10:00 a.m. CST, January 11, 2011

State regulators have cited a troubled Chicago facility for disabled children in

yet another death, this one involving a 14-month-old girl.

Authorities concluded that staff at Alden Village North waited two days to

contact the girl's doctor when test results in July showed signs of a serious

infection. After the doctor was reached, the girl was sent to a hospital, where

she died within hours.

Regulators also cited Alden for 21 additional violations, including failing to

investigate allegations of neglect and not taking children on outings for months

at a time problems that have plagued the facility in the past.

Alden has been under fire since October, when a Tribune investigation revealed a

high number of deaths at the home and the worst safety record in Illinois for

facilities of its kind. The girl's death brings to 14 the number of children and

young adults who have died at the home since 2000 in cases that resulted in

state citations.

The Illinois Department of Public Health finished investigating the girl's death

last week, an agency spokeswoman said. About 90 people live at the North Side

facility, most of them children and young adults with severe or profound

cognitive impairment.

" We care for a very fragile patient population who suffer from very serious

medical conditions, " Alden Management Services, which oversees the facility,

said in a statement Monday. " Our residents are like family to us and we grieve

whenever one of them passes. We continually evaluate the care that we provide to

all of our patients to see if there are areas for improvement. "

State inspection records show that the 14-month-old girl, whose identity was not

disclosed, suffered from heart ailments and a seizure disorder. On the morning

of July 3, test results showed she had " heavy growth " of MRSA, or

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a kind of staph bacterium that is

resistant to some antibiotics. Yet her doctor was not notified until the evening

of July 5.

The girl arrived at a hospital with a temperature of 105.4 degrees and a pulse

of 180. She died the next day of septic shock, a drop in blood pressure brought

on by infection.

While investigating the girl's death, state inspectors learned that another

Alden Village North resident, a 14-year-old boy with profound mental

disabilities, was also sent to the hospital in July after a lengthy delay.

Records show that after the boy began breathing rapidly, Alden staff paged his

doctor six times over 19 hours before the physician responded. In citing the

facility, regulators concluded that the home should have contacted its medical

director instead of waiting for the doctor to respond.

The teenager died two months later, but records do not state whether the delayed

trip to the hospital was a factor.

Though inspection records do not name the boy, his stepfather, Noe,

contacted the Tribune and identified him as Pruitt. Both the stepfather

and the boy's mother, Shirley Noe, told the newspaper they think a lack of care

at Alden hastened 's death.

" The bottom line is I think they were inattentive to him, " Noe said.

Shirley Noe, of downstate Wood River, said she was planning to visit her son the

weekend he died. " He had the prettiest smile, " she said. " If he could laugh out

loud, he would. "

Last month, Floyd Schlossberg, president of Alden Management Services and

operator of the Alden nursing home chain, said in an interview that Alden

Village North had improved since he acquired it in 2008.

But eight of the 14 deaths resulting in citations have occurred since he took

over.

And the 21 violations found in the public health department's most recent annual

inspection of the facility are double the number typically found before

Schlossberg became its operator. From 2005 to 2007, nine violations were found

on average during annual checks. Since Schlossberg took over, the average has

been 25.

Alden Management Services said in its statement that the most recent annual

inspection " showed that we continue to improve the care that we provide at Alden

Village North. We will evaluate each finding and look for ways to improve. "

The latest annual review took place in December, though some violations involved

incidents that occurred months earlier. Inspectors frequently spot older

violations when reviewing patient records.

One citation was for not thoroughly investigating two allegations of abuse and

two allegations of neglect.

The guardian of a 14-year-old blind girl alleged in November that the child had

such poor hygiene that she had to be bathed at school. Yet the facility did not

follow up, the inspection report states.

In another case, a 19-year-old resident who breathed with the aid of a

ventilator complained to staffers in February that " he was dropped on the floor

on his back. " Again, the allegation wasn't fully investigated, inspectors wrote.

The teen died the following month, though inspection records do not state the

cause.

Inspectors also checked the files of 10 residents and found that the facility

rarely took any of them on outings. One 11-year-old boy with profound mental

disabilities had been to a park once in June and once in July but nowhere else

for the next five months.

The facility now has been cited six times in the last three years for not

providing enough activities or outings.

Bob Molitor, chief operating officer of the Alden chain, said in an interview in

December that the facility had recently stepped up activities, including trips

to the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum.

Asked to explain the most recent violation, Alden did not respond.

Other violations in the latest inspection included nurses making or about to

make mistakes while administering medicine to several children, the facility not

fixing two residents' wheelchairs and staffers allowing two residents to develop

bedsores, a painful condition that can occur when immobile patients are not

frequently repositioned.

Meanwhile, in a separate regulatory action, state monitors have been visiting

the facility several times a week since October, when Gov. Pat Quinn ordered the

additional scrutiny in response to the Tribune articles.

The two monitors a registered nurse and a licensed social worker contracted by

the state spend much of their time observing interactions between residents and

staff. According to their reports, copies of which were obtained by the Tribune,

the monitors have not observed any serious problems.

But they have noted an unusual number of Alden corporate officials at the

facility, with one monitor writing: " I wonder how the facility operates when

staff from corporate are not present. "

In fact, on the day monitoring began, Molitor greeted the monitor at the

facility. According to the monitor's report, Molitor said there was no " legal

reason " for monitoring because the home was in compliance with the rules.

Nonetheless, he said, the facility would cooperate. " He also mentioned, " the

monitor wrote, " that he 'knows the governor.' "

In an interview with the Tribune, Molitor said he recalled greeting the monitor

but not making those comments. He said he did not know the governor.

sroe@...

jahopkins@...

Please click here to be removed from our list. If you still receive emails from

us in the future, please ensure it was not forwarded from another party or sent

to an email address that is different than the one asked to be removed. DO NOT

REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Or write us at:

The Arc of Illinois

20901 S. LaGrange Rd. #209

fort, IL 60423

[Guest guest]

The only thing the tax increase is going to accomplish is give those who are

fiscally irresponsible with our money, the money to give back to pet projects

put on hold and state employees who took cuts.

As long as this state has the mentality of paying large sums per individual to

house disabled individuals in union run institutions and not pay smaller amounts

per individual to keep them home or in CILAs, then these horrible deaths will

occur.

Education is the key, not more money for the 'uneducated'.

>

> Hi all:

> I agree with Pam that a tax increase will not solve the problems at Alden. I

don't believe Tony thinks that either. Tony's point is that we need to close

Alden and the sooner the better. All of the Arc's messages in the past couple

of weeks have contained the contact info for calling in to the Capitol to

support a tax increase...One thing has nothing to do with the other...just

happens to be on one memo...

> Ellen

> Ellen Garber Bronfeld

> egskb@...

>

>

[Guest guest]

From: cmfinato <cmfinato@...>

Subject: Re: Fw: Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

IPADDUnite

Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:13 PM

 

The only thing the tax increase is going to accomplish is give those who are

fiscally irresponsible with our money, the money to give back to pet projects

put on hold and state employees who took cuts.

As long as this state has the mentality of paying large sums per individual to

house disabled individuals in union run institutions and not pay smaller amounts

per individual to keep them home or in CILAs, then these horrible deaths will

occur.

Education is the key, not more money for the 'uneducated'.

I totally agree with you.

[Guest guest]

WOW, I am literally in shock with some of what I have read on the " lack of need "

for the income tax increase, and the apparent lack of understanding, maybe just

a lack of appreciation of what the Arc of Illinois has accomplished over many

decades for us families of children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Some have suggested that I not respond, for fear that as an attorney in

practice, I might offend some parents/clients. But the attacks on the Arc

cannot be allowed to continue without attempting to set the record straight.

I have been an advocate now for nearly 28 years, often in Springfield lobbying

for my fellow families. Before I say anything further, let me be clear, let me

disclose, that in addition to being the parent of a 30 year old son with Autism,

I am Vice President of the Arc of Illinois. I have also served on the Board of

Clearbrook for nearly 20 years, serve on the Board of Pact (PAS Agent for DuPage

County), serve as Vice Chair of the Foundation for NWSRA, among other Boards of

Not for Profits serving the DD population. I am past chair of the Division of

Developmental Disabilities Statewide Advisory Council, am Co-Chair of the

State's Autism Task Force, serve on the 7 person DHS OIG over site Board, and

was the founding Chair of the Foundation for the Special Education District of

Lake County.

The Arc does represent families. It is in fact the " main " voice of families in

Springfield (asThe Arc of the U.S. is in D.C.). I will be glad to provide Ellen

with a history of legislation that has significantly benefited families, not

agencies, that was the direct result of the Arc of Illinois, going back decades.

The involvement of the Arc in developing and negotiating the DD budget, in

getting funding for Medicaid waiver programs, is, simply stated, significant.

As to the income tax increase, Terrie Varnet was 100% correct. More than one

national study has documented the direct correlation between the funding of DD

services and the State's income tax rate. As every major newspaper editorial

has stated, there is no way the State of Illinois can cut its way out of this

mess that has been allowed to happen over decades, borrowing again and again,

and then borrowing again to pay off the debt, under both parties. Other than

the few states with no income tax, we have one of the lowest tax rates in the

country, EVEN with the increase.

Thank you Ellen Bronfeld for the years you, yourself, served on the Arc of

Illinois Board of Directors. Thank you Sherri Schneider for serving on the Arc

of Illinois Board of Directors. Thank you Charlotte Cronin, for as most know,

the Family Support Network IS a subsidiary of the Arc. I suggest those not

familiar with all that the Arc of Illinois is, and does, visit

www.thearcofil.org<http://www.thearcofil.org>.

Finally, thank you Tony!

______________

Rubin*

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___________________________________

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From: IPADDUnite [mailto:IPADDUnite ] On Behalf

Of cmfinato

Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 12:13 PM

IPADDUnite

Subject: Re: Fw: Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

The only thing the tax increase is going to accomplish is give those who are

fiscally irresponsible with our money, the money to give back to pet projects

put on hold and state employees who took cuts.

As long as this state has the mentality of paying large sums per individual to

house disabled individuals in union run institutions and not pay smaller amounts

per individual to keep them home or in CILAs, then these horrible deaths will

occur.

Education is the key, not more money for the 'uneducated'.

>

> Hi all:

> I agree with Pam that a tax increase will not solve the problems at Alden. I

don't believe Tony thinks that either. Tony's point is that we need to close

Alden and the sooner the better. All of the Arc's messages in the past couple of

weeks have contained the contact info for calling in to the Capitol to support a

tax increase...One thing has nothing to do with the other...just happens to be

on one memo...

> Ellen

> Ellen Garber Bronfeld

> egskb@...

>

>

[Guest guest]

I love Terrie's posts. They always are so sensible and thoughtful.

I also want to defend Tony and The Arc. I have known Tony for a few years and

have gone to enough Arc conferences and events to feel that he and his staff

are, without doubt, strong and absolutely dedicated advocates for all people

with disabilities.

Whether you hate it or accept it, let's hope that this tax increase will bring

Illinois back from the brink of financial collapse so that all advocates can

work together to move Illinois towards supporting our loved ones with

disabilities to have a quality life.

And personally, I want to thank Tony and his staff for their absolute dedication

and hard work.

Christensen

clchristensen100@...

Re: Fw: Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

Really ARC of IL? Using the deaths of babies and children to push your agenda

for a tax increase? Really? That's a new low.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/illinois-senate-republican-fan-page/rezin-says-no-\

to-lame-duck-tax-increase/498050691307

Anyone who believes that the proposed tax increase is going to fix the reasons

why families place their children in hell holes like Alden is disillusioned.

Pam

Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

The Arc of Illinois

January 11, 2011

Leaders in The Arc:

Alden North is once again cited in the death of a 14 month-old girl in July! Why

this facility remains open and why do we continue to place children in nursing

homes is beyond me!

I continue to meet with the Governors staff about on these reform issues but we

already know there are alternatives to nursing home for children. We need to

invest in community systems and close institutions like Alden North!

We need you to continue with your calls.

Here is an 800 number from the Responsible Budget Coalition you can use to

connect with legislators in their Springfield offices: 800/664-9903.

Your message:

Pass the tax increase and do it now!

Keep your calls to the Capitol coming!!!

Tony auski

The Arc of Illinois

815-464-1832

Center cited in 14th death

By Sam Roe and S. Hopkins, Tribune reporters Tribune staff reporter

10:00 a.m. CST, January 11, 2011

State regulators have cited a troubled Chicago facility for disabled children in

yet another death, this one involving a 14-month-old girl.

Authorities concluded that staff at Alden Village North waited two days to

contact the girl's doctor when test results in July showed signs of a serious

infection. After the doctor was reached, the girl was sent to a hospital, where

she died within hours.

Regulators also cited Alden for 21 additional violations, including failing to

investigate allegations of neglect and not taking children on outings for months

at a time problems that have plagued the facility in the past.

Alden has been under fire since October, when a Tribune investigation revealed a

high number of deaths at the home and the worst safety record in Illinois for

facilities of its kind. The girl's death brings to 14 the number of children and

young adults who have died at the home since 2000 in cases that resulted in

state citations.

The Illinois Department of Public Health finished investigating the girl's death

last week, an agency spokeswoman said. About 90 people live at the North Side

facility, most of them children and young adults with severe or profound

cognitive impairment.

" We care for a very fragile patient population who suffer from very serious

medical conditions, " Alden Management Services, which oversees the facility,

said in a statement Monday. " Our residents are like family to us and we grieve

whenever one of them passes. We continually evaluate the care that we provide to

all of our patients to see if there are areas for improvement. "

State inspection records show that the 14-month-old girl, whose identity was not

disclosed, suffered from heart ailments and a seizure disorder. On the morning

of July 3, test results showed she had " heavy growth " of MRSA, or

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a kind of staph bacterium that is

resistant to some antibiotics. Yet her doctor was not notified until the evening

of July 5.

The girl arrived at a hospital with a temperature of 105.4 degrees and a pulse

of 180. She died the next day of septic shock, a drop in blood pressure brought

on by infection.

While investigating the girl's death, state inspectors learned that another

Alden Village North resident, a 14-year-old boy with profound mental

disabilities, was also sent to the hospital in July after a lengthy delay.

Records show that after the boy began breathing rapidly, Alden staff paged his

doctor six times over 19 hours before the physician responded. In citing the

facility, regulators concluded that the home should have contacted its medical

director instead of waiting for the doctor to respond.

The teenager died two months later, but records do not state whether the delayed

trip to the hospital was a factor.

Though inspection records do not name the boy, his stepfather, Noe,

contacted the Tribune and identified him as Pruitt. Both the stepfather

and the boy's mother, Shirley Noe, told the newspaper they think a lack of care

at Alden hastened 's death.

" The bottom line is I think they were inattentive to him, " Noe said.

Shirley Noe, of downstate Wood River, said she was planning to visit her son the

weekend he died. " He had the prettiest smile, " she said. " If he could laugh out

loud, he would. "

Last month, Floyd Schlossberg, president of Alden Management Services and

operator of the Alden nursing home chain, said in an interview that Alden

Village North had improved since he acquired it in 2008.

But eight of the 14 deaths resulting in citations have occurred since he took

over.

And the 21 violations found in the public health department's most recent annual

inspection of the facility are double the number typically found before

Schlossberg became its operator. From 2005 to 2007, nine violations were found

on average during annual checks. Since Schlossberg took over, the average has

been 25.

Alden Management Services said in its statement that the most recent annual

inspection " showed that we continue to improve the care that we provide at Alden

Village North. We will evaluate each finding and look for ways to improve. "

The latest annual review took place in December, though some violations involved

incidents that occurred months earlier. Inspectors frequently spot older

violations when reviewing patient records.

One citation was for not thoroughly investigating two allegations of abuse and

two allegations of neglect.

The guardian of a 14-year-old blind girl alleged in November that the child had

such poor hygiene that she had to be bathed at school. Yet the facility did not

follow up, the inspection report states.

In another case, a 19-year-old resident who breathed with the aid of a

ventilator complained to staffers in February that " he was dropped on the floor

on his back. " Again, the allegation wasn't fully investigated, inspectors wrote.

The teen died the following month, though inspection records do not state the

cause.

Inspectors also checked the files of 10 residents and found that the facility

rarely took any of them on outings. One 11-year-old boy with profound mental

disabilities had been to a park once in June and once in July but nowhere else

for the next five months.

The facility now has been cited six times in the last three years for not

providing enough activities or outings.

Bob Molitor, chief operating officer of the Alden chain, said in an interview in

December that the facility had recently stepped up activities, including trips

to the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum.

Asked to explain the most recent violation, Alden did not respond.

Other violations in the latest inspection included nurses making or about to

make mistakes while administering medicine to several children, the facility not

fixing two residents' wheelchairs and staffers allowing two residents to develop

bedsores, a painful condition that can occur when immobile patients are not

frequently repositioned.

Meanwhile, in a separate regulatory action, state monitors have been visiting

the facility several times a week since October, when Gov. Pat Quinn ordered the

additional scrutiny in response to the Tribune articles.

The two monitors a registered nurse and a licensed social worker contracted by

the state spend much of their time observing interactions between residents and

staff. According to their reports, copies of which were obtained by the Tribune,

the monitors have not observed any serious problems.

But they have noted an unusual number of Alden corporate officials at the

facility, with one monitor writing: " I wonder how the facility operates when

staff from corporate are not present. "

In fact, on the day monitoring began, Molitor greeted the monitor at the

facility. According to the monitor's report, Molitor said there was no " legal

reason " for monitoring because the home was in compliance with the rules.

Nonetheless, he said, the facility would cooperate. " He also mentioned, " the

monitor wrote, " that he 'knows the governor.' "

In an interview with the Tribune, Molitor said he recalled greeting the monitor

but not making those comments. He said he did not know the governor.

sroe@...

jahopkins@...

Please click here to be removed from our list. If you still receive emails from

us in the future, please ensure it was not forwarded from another party or sent

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REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Or write us at:

The Arc of Illinois

20901 S. LaGrange Rd. #209

fort, IL 60423

[Guest guest]

Dear and others,

Thank you for your contribution to the discussion.

The point is the income tax increase is not going to improve the supports and

services for our sons and daughters. The revenue raised will bailout lawmakers

who have for too many years, over spent.

Why is it that IL families are asking why there continues to be limited and poor

support and services for our sons and daughters? It is our responsibility to

address our disability advocate leaders and tell them we are unhappy.

If families are questioning the effectiveness of the ARC of IL to advocate and

create positive change, shouldn’t the organization be looking internally in

self-reflection as opposed to taking a defense stance? Or worse, deeming those

who publically share their perspective as having an “apparent lack of

understanding� Or a lack of appreciation?

The Arc represents service providers. Of course, they are represent families. It

just seems sometimes, they represent only the families who agree with their

agenda. Is it their message? Why do I (and others) feel that the Arc of IL is

not listening to us, dismissing our perspectives? I am a conservative Republican

who lives in IL and loves and cares for an adult with a significant intellectual

and developmental disability.

And if the Arc of IL is the “main†voice of families in Springfield, well I

am going to be so bold as to suggest we either need additional voices or those

who determine the Arc’s voice should regroup.

IL is not progressing. Something has to happen to change the status quo.

We cannot rest on the laurels of the past. Negotiating DD budgets and securing

funding for waivers, while a part of the Arc’s activities, has proven to be

insufficient in creating positive change in IL.

There are many IL citizens who agree that passing a massive tax increase in the

middle of the night with only one political party’s approval is a clear

indication that something is wrong.

I have decided that to remain silent is to defend the status quo. I don’t

speak up like this to get attention or offend others. I am doing it because what

we have done in the past isn’t working. If initiating and contributing to

discussions like this can churn emotions and extinguish apathy – then maybe we

have a chance to improve the situation in IL. If publically questioning the Arc

of IL and Tony P.’s agenda, results and reception to families like mine cannot

be tolerated on this list, I accept that and will find another avenue to express

myself.

Respectfully,

Pam Re: Fw: Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

The only thing the tax increase is going to accomplish is give those who are

fiscally irresponsible with our money, the money to give back to pet projects

put on hold and state employees who took cuts.

As long as this state has the mentality of paying large sums per individual to

house disabled individuals in union run institutions and not pay smaller amounts

per individual to keep them home or in CILAs, then these horrible deaths will

occur.

Education is the key, not more money for the 'uneducated'.

>

> Hi all:

> I agree with Pam that a tax increase will not solve the problems at Alden. I

don't believe Tony thinks that either. Tony's point is that we need to close

Alden and the sooner the better. All of the Arc's messages in the past couple of

weeks have contained the contact info for calling in to the Capitol to support a

tax increase...One thing has nothing to do with the other...just happens to be

on one memo...

> Ellen

> Ellen Garber Bronfeld

> egskb@...

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Pam,  You should never feel reluctant to share how you feel.  I view this

list serve as a wonderful way to exchange information and views.  Listening to

each others divergent views on things always makes one think about our own

perceptions. 

I agree with you about the unnecessarily high institutional beds in IL but even

if we closed every institution in IL and placed those folks in the community, we

would still not be able to meet the needs of families who need substantial in

home supports.  IL has one of the lowest income tax rates in the country. This

low rate simply doesn't generate sufficient income level to serve the needs of

disabled, elderly and poor people in IL.  Yes, advocacy groups in other states

have brought about changes but without increased revenues, even if the state

stopped favoring institutional vs community placements, we'd be short of funds

to meet the needs.  The needs are simply greater than the current tax rate

revenue system can pay for.

In an earlier email I  mentioned the crisis that was created in MA when we

dropped from 5.8% to 5.5%.  Services dropped and waiting lists increased

quickly.  .5% doesn't seem like alot but it was enough to chill the growth of

services.  MA has fared better than most states because it has a strong

social

conscience and a commitment to community based supports.  However nothing can

make up for the loss of .5% and families are suffering in MA as a result. 

Considering the IL income tax is nearly half of what it is in MA, it is

no surprise that IL is last in the country to meeting the needs of its

residents. 

Terrie Varnet

 

________________________________

From: " pam_harris@... " <pam_harris@...>

IPADDUnite

Sent: Wed, January 12, 2011 2:32:38 PM

Subject: Re: Re: Fw: Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

Dear and others,

Thank you for your contribution to the discussion.

The point is the income tax increase is not going to improve the supports and

services for our sons and daughters. The revenue raised will bailout lawmakers

who have for too many years, over spent.

Why is it that IL families are asking why there continues to be limited and poor

support and services for our sons and daughters? It is our responsibility to

address our disability advocate leaders and tell them we are unhappy.

If families are questioning the effectiveness of the ARC of IL to advocate and

create positive change, shouldn’t the organization be looking internally in

self-reflection as opposed to taking a defense stance? Or worse, deeming those

who publically share their perspective as having an “apparent lack of

understanding� Or a lack of appreciation?

The Arc represents service providers. Of course, they are represent families. It

just seems sometimes, they represent only the families who agree with their

agenda. Is it their message? Why do I (and others) feel that the Arc of IL is

not listening to us, dismissing our perspectives? I am a conservative Republican

who lives in IL and loves and cares for an adult with a significant intellectual

and developmental disability.

And if the Arc of IL is the “main†voice of families in Springfield, well I

am

going to be so bold as to suggest we either need additional voices or those who

determine the Arc’s voice should regroup.

IL is not progressing. Something has to happen to change the status quo.

We cannot rest on the laurels of the past. Negotiating DD budgets and securing

funding for waivers, while a part of the Arc’s activities, has proven to be

insufficient in creating positive change in IL.

There are many IL citizens who agree that passing a massive tax increase in the

middle of the night with only one political party’s approval is a clear

indication that something is wrong.

I have decided that to remain silent is to defend the status quo. I don’t

speak

up like this to get attention or offend others. I am doing it because what we

have done in the past isn’t working. If initiating and contributing to

discussions like this can churn emotions and extinguish apathy – then maybe we

have a chance to improve the situation in IL. If publically questioning the Arc

of IL and Tony P.’s agenda, results and reception to families like mine cannot

be tolerated on this list, I accept that and will find another avenue to express

myself.

Respectfully,

Pam Re: Fw: Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

The only thing the tax increase is going to accomplish is give those who are

fiscally irresponsible with our money, the money to give back to pet projects

put on hold and state employees who took cuts.

As long as this state has the mentality of paying large sums per individual to

house disabled individuals in union run institutions and not pay smaller amounts

per individual to keep them home or in CILAs, then these horrible deaths will

occur.

Education is the key, not more money for the 'uneducated'.

>

> Hi all:

> I agree with Pam that a tax increase will not solve the problems at Alden. I

>don't believe Tony thinks that either. Tony's point is that we need to close

>Alden and the sooner the better. All of the Arc's messages in the past couple

of

>weeks have contained the contact info for calling in to the Capitol to support

a

>tax increase...One thing has nothing to do with the other...just happens to be

>on one memo...

>

> Ellen

> Ellen Garber Bronfeld

> egskb@...

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am new to this discussion and admittedly a couple of days behind in reading my

mail.  My opinion is that there is little or no connect with the tax

increase and whether or not it will benefit the disability community.  The two

are mutually exclusive, IMO.  Whether or not life improves for our loved ones

has nothing to do with this tax increase.  This tax increase is about digging

Illinois out of a whole, improving its bond rating and getting some bills

paid.  It is not going to change the mentality in this state toward individuals

with disabilities. 

From: pam_harris@... <pam_harris@...>

Subject: Re: Fw: Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

IPADDUnite

Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 4:45 PM

 

Hi Terrie -

I appreciate your taking time to respond. I know the money is a component.

However, it is the attitude, the perception and mindsets that must be changed

first. Then the support follows. Service providers are NOT effective in creating

this change. Our sons and daughters, their family and friends can effectively

change this climate in IL.

IL is an institutional state. I really don't think the ARC's recent aggressive

campaign for a tax increase is going to change that. Many families feel the

societal stigma or equally as oppressive, the religious frame that says a

fragile child is a burden for past transgressions. Even with the financial

burden lifted, too many families will continue to " place " their sons and

daughters in institutional care.

I believe the ARC of IL has become the spokesperson for our state's disability

organizations at the detriment of the families. In my opinion, once the ARC

became a provider, it lost it's effectiveness as an advocate for our sons and

daughters.

The ARC of IL, under the guidance of Tony P. is a strong advocate for disability

organizations in IL. However, in my opinion, states that rank well on Braddock (

a great tool) have strong disability advocacy that is driven by our sons and

daughters, their families and friends and NOT the service providers.

Pam

Arc and Alden North Cited in Another Death

The Arc of Illinois

January 11, 2011

Leaders in The Arc:

Alden North is once again cited in the death of a 14 month-old girl in July! Why

this facility remains open and why do we continue to place children in nursing

homes is beyond me!

I continue to meet with the Governors staff about on these reform issues but we

already know there are alternatives to nursing home for children. We need to

invest in community systems and close institutions like Alden North!

We need you to continue with your calls.

Here is an 800 number from the Responsible Budget Coalition you can use to

connect with legislators in their Springfield offices: 800/664-9903.

Your message:

Pass the tax increase and do it now!

Keep your calls to the Capitol coming!!!

Tony auski

The Arc of Illinois

815-464-1832

Center cited in 14th death

By Sam Roe and S. Hopkins, Tribune reporters Tribune staff reporter

10:00 a.m. CST, January 11, 2011

State regulators have cited a troubled Chicago facility for disabled children in

yet another death, this one involving a 14-month-old girl.

Authorities concluded that staff at Alden Village North waited two days to

contact the girl's doctor when test results in July showed signs of a serious

infection. After the doctor was reached, the girl was sent to a hospital, where

she died within hours.

Regulators also cited Alden for 21 additional violations, including failing to

investigate allegations of neglect and not taking children on outings for months

at a time problems that have plagued the facility in the past.

Alden has been under fire since October, when a Tribune investigation revealed a

high number of deaths at the home and the worst safety record in Illinois for

facilities of its kind. The girl's death brings to 14 the number of children and

young adults who have died at the home since 2000 in cases that resulted in

state citations.

The Illinois Department of Public Health finished investigating the girl's death

last week, an agency spokeswoman said. About 90 people live at the North Side

facility, most of them children and young adults with severe or profound

cognitive impairment.

" We care for a very fragile patient population who suffer from very serious

medical conditions, " Alden Management Services, which oversees the facility,

said in a statement Monday. " Our residents are like family to us and we grieve

whenever one of them passes. We continually evaluate the care that we provide to

all of our patients to see if there are areas for improvement. "

State inspection records show that the 14-month-old girl, whose identity was not

disclosed, suffered from heart ailments and a seizure disorder. On the morning

of July 3, test results showed she had " heavy growth " of MRSA, or

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a kind of staph bacterium that is

resistant to some antibiotics. Yet her doctor was not notified until the evening

of July 5.

The girl arrived at a hospital with a temperature of 105.4 degrees and a pulse

of 180. She died the next day of septic shock, a drop in blood pressure brought

on by infection.

While investigating the girl's death, state inspectors learned that another

Alden Village North resident, a 14-year-old boy with profound mental

disabilities, was also sent to the hospital in July after a lengthy delay.

Records show that after the boy began breathing rapidly, Alden staff paged his

doctor six times over 19 hours before the physician responded. In citing the

facility, regulators concluded that the home should have contacted its medical

director instead of waiting for the doctor to respond.

The teenager died two months later, but records do not state whether the delayed

trip to the hospital was a factor.

Though inspection records do not name the boy, his stepfather, Noe,

contacted the Tribune and identified him as Pruitt. Both the stepfather

and the boy's mother, Shirley Noe, told the newspaper they think a lack of care

at Alden hastened 's death.

" The bottom line is I think they were inattentive to him, " Noe said.

Shirley Noe, of downstate Wood River, said she was planning to visit her son the

weekend he died. " He had the prettiest smile, " she said. " If he could laugh out

loud, he would. "

Last month, Floyd Schlossberg, president of Alden Management Services and

operator of the Alden nursing home chain, said in an interview that Alden

Village North had improved since he acquired it in 2008.

But eight of the 14 deaths resulting in citations have occurred since he took

over.

And the 21 violations found in the public health department's most recent annual

inspection of the facility are double the number typically found before

Schlossberg became its operator. From 2005 to 2007, nine violations were found

on average during annual checks. Since Schlossberg took over, the average has

been 25.

Alden Management Services said in its statement that the most recent annual

inspection " showed that we continue to improve the care that we provide at Alden

Village North. We will evaluate each finding and look for ways to improve. "

The latest annual review took place in December, though some violations involved

incidents that occurred months earlier. Inspectors frequently spot older

violations when reviewing patient records.

One citation was for not thoroughly investigating two allegations of abuse and

two allegations of neglect.

The guardian of a 14-year-old blind girl alleged in November that the child had

such poor hygiene that she had to be bathed at school. Yet the facility did not

follow up, the inspection report states.

In another case, a 19-year-old resident who breathed with the aid of a

ventilator complained to staffers in February that " he was dropped on the floor

on his back. " Again, the allegation wasn't fully investigated, inspectors wrote.

The teen died the following month, though inspection records do not state the

cause.

Inspectors also checked the files of 10 residents and found that the facility

rarely took any of them on outings. One 11-year-old boy with profound mental

disabilities had been to a park once in June and once in July but nowhere else

for the next five months.

The facility now has been cited six times in the last three years for not

providing enough activities or outings.

Bob Molitor, chief operating officer of the Alden chain, said in an interview in

December that the facility had recently stepped up activities, including trips

to the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum.

Asked to explain the most recent violation, Alden did not respond.

Other violations in the latest inspection included nurses making or about to

make mistakes while administering medicine to several children, the facility not

fixing two residents' wheelchairs and staffers allowing two residents to develop

bedsores, a painful condition that can occur when immobile patients are not

frequently repositioned.

Meanwhile, in a separate regulatory action, state monitors have been visiting

the facility several times a week since October, when Gov. Pat Quinn ordered the

additional scrutiny in response to the Tribune articles.

The two monitors a registered nurse and a licensed social worker contracted by

the state spend much of their time observing interactions between residents and

staff. According to their reports, copies of which were obtained by the Tribune,

the monitors have not observed any serious problems.

But they have noted an unusual number of Alden corporate officials at the

facility, with one monitor writing: " I wonder how the facility operates when

staff from corporate are not present. "

In fact, on the day monitoring began, Molitor greeted the monitor at the

facility. According to the monitor's report, Molitor said there was no " legal

reason " for monitoring because the home was in compliance with the rules.

Nonetheless, he said, the facility would cooperate. " He also mentioned, " the

monitor wrote, " that he 'knows the governor.' "

In an interview with the Tribune, Molitor said he recalled greeting the monitor

but not making those comments. He said he did not know the governor.

sroe@...

jahopkins@...

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