AARP Illinois Launches Aggressive Campaign to Demand Better Nursing Home Care Statewide

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AARP Illinois Launches Aggressive Campaign to Demand Better Nursing Home Care Statewide

Non-profit advocacy organization also to host listening sessions for nursing home residents, their loved ones and community leaders

Pledging to protect Illinois nursing home residents who are subjected to care that ranks among the worst in the nation, AARP Illinois unveiled dozens of radio ads this week aimed at bringing awareness to the problem.

In dozens of 30-second radio spots, which will air between April 1 and April 14 on popular Chicago radio stations, AARP Illinois asks listeners to call their legislators in support of Senate Bill 1510, the Nursing Home Residents’ Quality of Care Initiative.

“Sadly, the people suffering from the inadequate quality of care in many of the state’s nursing homes are sick and vulnerable – unable to fight for themselves,” said AARP Illinois State Director Bob Gallo.

“AARP Illinois is proud to champion older adults and their loved onesto ensure they receive the care they need and deserve during this already challenging time of life.”

Illinois nursing homes give anti-psychotic drugs to long stay residents without a psychiatric diagnosis at the second highest rate in the country, according to a 2018 AARP state-by-state study. These powerful psychotropic drugs have harmful side effects and can cause death.

In addition, inadequate staffing in many Illinois nursing homes leaves residents neglected, malnourished, suffering from infections and bedsores – or worse.

In 2015, 39% of nursing homes in Illinois received a low quality rating from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. Over eight in ten (84%) voters in Illinois say that action should be taken in 2019 to increase the quality of care in Illinois nursing homes, according to an AARP survey.

 

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Nursing Home Residents’ Quality of Care Initiative, SB 1510 (Sen. Collins) calls on legislators to abide and enforce the state’s minimum staffing requirements, heighten public transparency of nursing home violations, and enhance safeguards regarding a psychotropic medication and a resident’s right to informed consent. The nursing home residents’ quality of care measures currently has 23 sponsors in the Senate.

AARP Illinois’ radio ads, which will air on WBBM-AM, WSCR-AM, WLS-FM, WLIT-FM, WVAZ-FM, describe the nursing home care issues, then encourage listeners to call 1-844-226-1190, which automatically patches calls to local lawmakers.

The ads are one of several efforts the non-profit, non-partisan organization representing 1.7 million members across the state has taken to improve nursing home care this legislative session.

Over the next few months, AARP Illinois will also kick off a series of Town Hall discussions with statehouse elected officials as special guest speakers in an effort to collect the stories of nursing home residents and their families who have experienced inadequate care in community nursing homes.

 

The first Town Hall held:

Thursday, April 25, 2019

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

 

Quad Communities Development Corp., NF

4210 S Berkeley Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

To RSVP, call 1-877-926-8300, or register online at aarp.cvent.comQuadBronzeville

 

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities.