SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has given notice that it intends to revoke the license of Chateau Center for substantial failure to protect residents from abuse. The 150-bed skilled care facility is located at 7050 Madison St. in Willowbrook.

The owners of Chateau Center have requested a hearing to contest the Department's action. As a result, the Department's move to revoke the facility's license will be delayed until a hearing has been held. A hearing date has not been scheduled.

The Department's action stems from a series of problems reported at Chateau Center last year that resulted in the facility being disciplined twice and fined $15,000. (Statement of Violation) (Statement of Violation)

Responding to complaints, Department investigators learned staff witnessed 10 incidents involving two male residents coercing female Alzheimer's and dementia residents to participate in inappropriate sexual behaviors.

Investigators determined staff failed to intervene, to monitor and supervise the male residents involved, to thoroughly investigate and to notify the Department of all the sexual abuse allegations.

Surveyors were unable to determine why the male residents were housed in the Alzheimer's and dementia unit and allowed to remain after the sexual abuse incidents. A review of their case files indicated the two men were capable of independent movement and were not at risk for wandering. Staff refused to say why the men had not been moved.

The Department also disciplined the facility for not taking immediate action, as required by its policy, to remove two employees from resident care after allegations were made that they had abused a resident. While moving the resident from bed to a wheelchair, the employees were observed grabbing his neck, pulling on his legs and, as he began to fall forward, shoving him back in the chair, causing chest bruises.

Following this incident, a review of the facility's staff schedules revealed the two employees continued to provide direct care to residents and, four days after the incident, one of the employees allegedly hit another resident on the arm three times. Both employees later resigned.