Retaliation

Illinois recently passed a bill to protect vulnerable adults and the whistleblowers that protect them from neglect and abuse. The University of Connecticut’s Center on Aging recently did a study on the fear of reporting, stating that nearly 50% of vulnerable adults from assisted living and nursing homes do not report negligence within their care out of fear of retaliation.

Retaliation is often overlooked, because it is hoped that loved ones will be cared for and facilities will address issues without the resident suffering the consequences of reporting.

Retaliation in nursing homes is any act taken to hinder the care of a resident in response to a complaint. To prevent this issue, House Bill 2474 will enable residents to take legal action against a nursing facility if retaliation does occur.

Whether it is a random living transfer, lack of around the clock care, or physical harm, retaliation is an often unnoticed issue within vulnerable adult
facilities. In circumstances employees or the facility itself are reported for an issue with a resident, retaliation is a probable response that can further harm the vulnerable adult.

“They really don’t address retaliation as a category,” said Ron Nunziato, a director at HCCI who specializes in policy and regulatory affairs.

While there are issues surrounding who should be responsible for assessing the damages and dealing with the retaliation, it is a hope that once signed into law, programs will be implemented in these facilities in order to prevent future issues.