For years the nursing home industry in this country has been the perfect breeding ground for everything from theft, physical abuse and neglect.  Each state has its own regulations and specific guidelines for ensuring the proper care of those who reside in these facilities.  Often, residents suffer from Alzheimer’s, dementia and other health problems that prevent them from protecting themselves.  Even when they can report an assault, it’s often their word against those whom they’ve accused.

This is what happened in Chicago earlier this year.  The nursing facility, unfortunately, was more interested in covering its own bases than protecting a 69 year old woman who was raped by a 21 year old man with severe mental problems.  The administrators of Maplewood Care insist the sex was consensual, despite the fact she suffers from dementia.  Further, the man has been described as aggressive, violent and sexually frustrated.  He’s also a convicted felon.

A nurse heard the woman crying and when she went into her room to check on her, she found the man in her bathroom on the phone with 911.  What made this situation even worse is the nursing home’s attempt to make the employees lie about what really happened.  The nursing home has been fined nearly $45,000 and the woman’s family is now suing for damages.  The family’s lawyer has said the man who’s been accused has a long history of violent and aggressive crimes, yet was still allowed to roam the halls freely, thereby putting every other patient at risk.  He was diagnosed years ago with several mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder.

He was arrested that same night and charged with rape, along with ten other felonies.

For years, there have been demands for major overhauls in the nursing home industry.  Unfortunately, these demands fall on deaf ears.  The laws in nearly every state simply aren’t sufficient.  Nurses and aides are spread too thin to properly look after those in their care.  Just as with other businesses, it’s all about the bottom line.  These management companies focus on nothing but the profits with little consideration towards the patients and their needs.

There’s no doubt properly caring for the elderly is challenging and those who choose geriatrics as their specialties possess a level of patience many of us can’t begin to understand.  Still, patience and skill can only go so far when one’s trying to care for many patients whose needs are constant and immediate.

In the meantime, the nursing home facility and its lawyers are refusing to comment due to it being an ongoing investigation.