March 18, 1999

SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Carlinville Estates $10,000 for failing to protect residents from repeated incidents of physical, verbal, sexual and psychological abuse by a resident. The 16-bed intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled is located at 1221 S. Plum St. in Carlinville.

Responding to complaints, Department surveyors documented that a 48-year-old male resident had been involved in nearly three dozen incidents of abuse to other residents over a 2 ½ month period. Included were allegations of inappropriate touching, hitting a resident with a hanger, throwing a resident off a couch so he could sit down, biting, spraying a cleaning solvent at clients and staff, choking, punching, kicking, teasing and spitting.

Surveyors found that the facility took no action to intervene and stop the behavior and to protect residents from harm.

As part of a mandatory plan of correction, the Department ordered the facility to establish procedures to immediately determine the most suitable therapy and placement for a perpetrator of abuse in order to ensure the safety of other residents and employees. In addition, staff must be trained in the skills and techniques needed to intervene during or after an incident. (Statement of Violation)

Carlinville Estates has requested a hearing on the Department's actions. No hearing date has been set.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments