IDPH, lawmakers discuss nursing home COVID-19 deaths

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — Forty-six percent of COVID-19 deaths in Illinois were at long-term care facilities, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

Illinois lawmakers had a hearing on Wednesday with IDPH to see exactly what went wrong.

During the hearing, lawmakers dove into why so many people died of COVID-19 at nursing homes.

One facility that was highlighted was LaSalle Veterans' home where 36 residents died of COVID-19.

The Illinois Department of Human Services said there were many factors from lack of planning to relaxed quarantine policies.

State Rep. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago, wasn't happy with the report and says the deaths really hit home because she worked in long-term care facilities for years.

She believes the number of COVID-19 deaths came from a lack of staffing.

Rep. Lakesia Collins said they also discussed many complaints from family members who weren't able to get in contact with their loved ones or even notified right away when they died.

"Short staffing continues to come up in every last one of these complaints," Rep. Collins said. "Something is happening because of short staffing so the need to reform nursing homes. Giving them more and more money isn't to address the root causes."

While observing LaSalle Veterans' Home, IDPH said there wasn't enough education or training for staff on COVID-19. They also noticed they were not following proper protocol like wearing a mask or social distancing.

Rep. Collins said the time for reform in nursing homes is now and they will have another hearing next Wednesday to discuss more of what went wrong.