SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has taken disciplinary action against two Chicago long-term care facilities:

• Alden Morrow Rehab and Health Care Center, a 192-bed skilled care facility located at 5001 S. Michigan Ave.; and
• Center Home for Hispanic Elderly, a 156-bed skilled and intermediate care facility located 1401 N. California Ave.

Alden Morrow was fined $5,000 (Statement of Violation) for an incident in which a resident disappeared from her unit and was found unharmed six hours later in a locked mechanical/boiler room. The room was filled with equipment and supplies, including a corrosive chemical. Staff determined the resident left the unit by riding an elevator, which did not have an audible alarm to alert staff. Prior to the incident, the resident had made several attempts to get on the elevator and leave the unit.

Center Home was fined $5,000 (Statement of Violation) for failing to provide adequate supervision to a resident with a history of wandering. The resident, who wore an electronic monitoring device, was found by a family member about four blocks from the facility at a busy intersection during rush hour traffic.

No alarm sounded when the resident slipped out of the facility. Department investigators were told by an employee that the 10 electronic monitoring devices used by the facility were in working condition when she left for the weekend, but not as loud as usual and difficult to hear. The employee was given a written reprimand by the facility for not ensuring the devices were in proper working order and clearly audible.

Both facilities have requested hearings on the Department's actions. No hearing dates have been scheduled.