Several area nursing homes and assisted living facilities have reported deaths linked to COVID-19, according to data recently released by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
At least 16 people have died of COVID-19 at 16 identified facilities in Park Ridge, Niles, Skokie, Des Plaines, Glenview and Lincolnwood, the IDPH reported Sunday.
Facilities in Norridge and Morton Grove also have cases of COVID-19.
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Local facilities with the highest number of COVID-19 cases reported by the IDPH included Glenview Terrace in Glenview, Sunrise Assisted Living in Park Ridge, Summit of Uptown in Park Ridge and Niles Nursing and Rehabilitation in Niles.
According to the state, nursing home infection data will be released once a week, but because of how reports filter from local to state health officials, what is released may not be the most up to date.
According to the information released April 19, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported confirmed COVID-19 cases and the number of deaths from the virus at the following area locations:
Alden North Shore, Skokie: 11 confirmed cases, 1 death.
Avanti Wellness and Rehabilitation, Niles: 5 confirmed cases, 0 deaths.
Bella Terra, Morton Grove: 1 confirmed case, 0 deaths
Brookdale, Des Plaines: 2 confirmed cases, 0 deaths.
Generations at Oakton, Des Plaines: 4 confirmed cases; 1 death.
Generations at Regency, Niles: 4 confirmed cases, 0 deaths.
Glenview Terrace, Glenview: 24 confirmed cases, 7 deaths.
Landmark of Des Plaines: 7 confirmed cases, 1 death.
Lieberman Center for Health, Skokie: 3 confirmed cases, 0 deaths.
Lincolnwood Place, Lincolnwood: 4 confirmed cases, 1 death.
Niles Nursing and Rehabilitation: 8 confirmed cases, 1 death.
Norridge Gardens, Norridge: 2 confirmed cases, 0 deaths.
Summit of Uptown, Park Ridge: 8 confirmed cases, 1 death.
Sunrise Assisted Living of Park Ridge: 15 confirmed cases, 2 deaths.
The Sheridan of Park Ridge: 7 confirmed cases, 1 death.
Vi at the Glen: 5 confirmed cases, 0 deaths.
Across the state, at least 286 people living in nursing and assisted living facilities had died of COVID-19 as of April 19, the state said.
Data for the entire state can be found on the IDPH website.
It is unclear how many residents and staff members of each facility have been tested for COVID-19.
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, head of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said the state will now be sending more test supplies to nursing facilities to catch infections earlier and curb the spread, including “aggressive testing of staff.”
Her agency said it will prioritize testing residents and staff in homes without any known cases to more quickly isolate those found with the virus. For homes already with known cases, the agency will test staff to see who can continue to care for residents, while treating symptomatic residents as if they have the virus, even if not tested yet.
Lieberman Center in Skokie has ‘under 20’ cases
Dan Fagin, president and CEO of CJE Senior Life, said the state reported three positive cases of COVID-19 at the group’s Lieberman Center in Skokie, a skilled nursing home. However, Fagin said the number has since grown but remains fewer than 20.
Adding to the uncertainty of just how widespread the virus is, however, is a lack of available testing to see which residents do or do not have the virus.
“We have not conducted much testing at all,” Fagin said.
Instead, staff have been told to adhere to state guidance that “anybody with signs or symptoms should be treated like they have the virus,” Fagin said.
The first case of COVID-19 was reported at the Lieberman Center at the beginning of April, Fagin said.
As such, “we are doing everything that everyone else in our industry is being asked to do,” he said.
The center is closed to visitors, including private caregivers. All staff are screened twice daily for symptoms, Fagin said. All group activities and community meals have been canceled.
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The center operates a COVID-19 isolation unit, and limited staff cares for patients in that area using N95 masks, goggles and face shields, among other personal protective equipment.
Employees are restricted from traveling between the center’s buildings, Fagin said.
News came as surprise to resident’s son
Ken Loredo said he didn’t learn about the two dozen COVID-19 cases at Glenview Terrace, where his mother lives, until the Illinois Department of Public Health released the data over the weekend.
“We hadn’t heard anything at all,” Loredo said. “I was pretty shocked.”
Loredo said he talks to his mother daily. She had not said anything about coronavirus infections at the facility, he said, but told him about residents being moved around and others who died. “But she didn’t say why.”
About two weeks ago, Loredo’s mother was moved out of her room because her roommate had a fever, he said, along with a neighboring resident. With the Sunday release of the data, Loredo is wondering if those residents were infected with the coronavirus.
“If that person that was in her room passed away from that, and my mother was in that room with her, I would have at least expected them, if possible, to let us know: Your mother was in a room with somebody that was positive so we’re going to be keeping an eye on her for a couple of weeks just to make sure,” Loredo said. “But nothing.”
Loredo said he’s still digesting the news, but he hopes the facility will give residents and affected families more information about cases among staff and residents.
