August 3, 2000

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Joliet Terrace $10,000 (Statement of Violations) for failure to take the necessary precautions to prevent a resident from leaving the facility unnoticed. The 120-bed intermediate care facility is located at 2230 McDonough in Joliet.

Responding to a complaint, Department surveyors learned an 81-year-old resident had left the facility and was not found until more than 18 hours later in a vacant building about a half mile away. The woman, who had a history of wandering and required constant supervision, was dressed in two hospital gowns and was not wearing shoes. A local hospital called the facility to report the missing resident had been located and was being treated for dehydration, cuts and abrasions.

At the time of the elopement, the employee assigned to the resident's unit went home sick leaving this unit and another staffed by only one staff member. During the next shift's rounds, staff noticed the resident was not in her room and a search of the facility failed to locate her. Although the resident wore a bracelet that is designed to activate a door alarm if she exited the building, staff indicated no alarm had sounded.

The night before this incident, the resident had left the facility, but her bracelet activated the exit door alarm and she was located behind the facility.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility administration to review all resident care plans for proper nursing care and to provide necessary supervision to prevent those residents who have a history of confusion or wandering from eloping.