SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Scott County Nursing Center has been fined $20,000 (Statement of Violation) by the Illinois Department of Public Health for failure to protect residents from mental abuse. The 65-bed intermediate care facility is located at Rural Route 2 in Winchester.

Responding to complaints, Department surveyors learned staff mistreated residents and not all of the incidents were reported to the administration. When incidents were reported, the facility did not thoroughly investigate the allegations, take corrective action in a timely manner or protect residents from further abuse.

Incidents of alleged abuse by staff included:

• Squirting a blind resident in the face and making her think it was nasal secretions.
• Rolling blankets to make it appear someone was in the bed of a resident, who was diagnosed with anxiety and became upset when others were in her room.
• Crawling on the floor and barking at a resident who had a fear of dogs.
• Purposely making a resident wait for her medication, even though it was known the resident believed taking her medication at the same time daily would help her medical condition.
• Attempting to convince a resident that catsup was blood.

In addition, a staff nurse failed to intervene in an altercation between residents until after one resident had bit the other. She later admitted making the comment that the resident "deserved it."

Another staff nurse said he reported incidents of abuse to members of the Scott County Board, the governing body of the facility, when he believed reporting the incidents to the director of nursing and the administrator had not brought a resolution.

The board, however, did not take immediate action and the director of nursing circulated a petition to have him fired.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to review its policies regarding abuse allegations and notification, including how to recognize situations that could be interpreted as abusive or neglectful, the appropriate reporting and investigation process and the appropriate corrective action when an alleged violation is verified.

Scott County Nursing Center has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been set.