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* WBEZ takes this chart and fleshes it out with stories about some of the 13 people who died at the Quincy Veterans Home from Legionnaires Disease and the outrage of those who are left behind…
* One of the stories…
When the state first made the dire situation at Quincy public in 2015, the story quickly got picked up.
Springfield resident Steve French was in his car when he got a phone call from his brother in Waukegan, who had heard a news report that the illness was spreading at the veterans’ home. Just a month earlier, their parents had become residents there.
Dolores French, a native Chicagoan and lifelong Cubs fan who was 79, had only one health malady: deafness. Otherwise, she was in good health and was allowed to move into the veterans’ home with her husband of 57 years, Richard French Sr., because he was a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean War.
She was assigned to an independent living unit at the facility, Steve French said, while her husband was placed in another residential building at Quincy because he needed care for his worsening Parkinson’s disease. Typically, French said, his mother would walk to her husband’s room and spend eight hours a day with him.
When the phone call about Legionnaires’ at Quincy arrived, Steve French said he immediately wanted to check on his parents’ well-being and tried calling his mother, who had a device that translates phone calls into text. He got no response. He tried the desk in her building and also got nothing. The next call went to the facility’s administrative offices.
“I said, ‘This is Steve French. I heard the news. I’m just checking on my dad and mom,’” he recalled. “And she just said that they’re OK, that if something happens, we’ll get a call.”
That was Friday, Aug. 28, 2015.
But it wasn’t until the next morning, as French was contemplating making the drive to Quincy from Springfield to check on her, that he was notified by the home that his mother’s neighbors had reported her missing, and staff wanted permission to enter her room, he said.
Within 10 minutes, as the Frenches sat in their basement, another call came from Quincy to report his mother had been found on the floor in her apartment, dead.
As the news began to sink in, yet another call arrived, this time from the Adams County Coroner’s Office. French’s wife, Deann, took the phone.
“He said, ‘We found Mrs. French, and this is going to be difficult for me to tell you, but she has been dead for a significant amount of time,’” Deann French remembered. “So I’m processing that, and I said, ‘Do we know what happened to her? What happened?’ At this point, I’m not thinking Legionnaires’. I just wasn’t. And he said, ‘No, she was found on the floor in front of her recliner, pretty badly decomposed.’”
Within another hour or two, the coroner called back with confirmation that he suspected Legionnaires’, and that state law required an autopsy because an outbreak had been declared at the home. Bewildered, Steve French said he asked that his father not be informed so that he could go tell him face to face the next day.
* Conclusion…
“You know what he should do?” Deann French said of Gov. Rauner. “He should go back over there and he should drink some of the water. Or maybe he should take a shower. Or maybe he should eat off of one of those plates coming out of that kitchen. Maybe that would make an impact on him.”
Bottom line, Steve French said, someone has to answer for what happened — and is continuing to happen — at the Quincy veterans’ home.
“People are dying. Something’s killing them. Granted, it’s a water-treatment problem. But it’s killing people,” he said. “Shouldn’t somebody be held accountable?”
Take some time during a break, or your lunch hour or tonight and go read the whole thing.
…Adding… Pritzker campaign…
“Illinois veterans, who bravely served this country overseas are dying in our veterans’ homes and Bruce Rauner is failing to fight for them,” said JB Pritzker. “This is unconscionable negligence that has already taken the lives of 13 of our nation’s heroes. Our veterans should be living in dignity and instead they are losing their lives because of Bruce Rauner’s incompetence and inability to effectively lead our state. My thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their loved ones to this tragedy. You deserved better and our state deserves a real leader.”
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:20 am
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Apparently the Guv is too busy polishin’ all his medals on his biker vest and tweetin’ pictures of him welcoming back Honor Flights.
Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:26 am
If these vets were on active duty and treated that duty as sloppily and irresponsibly as we treat vets, this nation may not have survived 1812.
Comment by My New Handle Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:30 am
Is this Rauner’s end-of-term ARI scandal?
I mean, if Rauner were running against Rauner he would be appalled — appalled — that this was happening under his watch. At a veteran’s home to boot.
Heck, Rauner would call for an immediate investigation.
And, of course, he’d point to the other Rauner and indicate — firmly — that this represents a failure of leadership at all levels.
Barickman would immediately pull together a fact-finding committee.
But none of this is happening. And, of course, Rauner is silent.
Comment by Macbeth Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:31 am
“Why hasn’t this problem been solved?”
Bruce Rauner has always had a tough time with nursing home deaths.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:33 am
Don’t forget that Rauner has done zip to make a Chicago Veterans Home a reality, too:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/brown-home-for-those-we-must-always-remember-pretty-much-forgotten/amp/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/brown-illinois-veterans-home-delays-construction-flaws-budget-impasse/
Comment by Reality Check Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:33 am
Maybe the governor could tell all these families how he’s not in charge.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:35 am
Bruce’s response will be “Because Madigan”. Anyone want to make a wager?
Comment by Big Joe Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:35 am
Two very important takes…
1) This is an ongoing, serious, dangerous problem that has taken lives of Vererans we in this state had in the charge of this state. It’s beyond tragic, it’s true neglect, and all steps necessary to best resolve these ongoing issues should be completed, with haste.
2) Governor Rauner is responsible, as ANY governor would be when happenings like this occur, above as tragic as they are too. There’s no “not in charge” belief here. These tragedies happened, and continued one after another while Rauner has been governor. The power and charge here lies with a governor.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:36 am
Rauner didn’t fund our VA homes for 2.5 years. It’s a miracle we don’t have more deaths.
Comment by ROgue Roni Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:37 am
===Rauner didn’t fund our VA homes for 2.5 years===
“Funds to clean up or to even run the VA home(s)?”
Rauner. Vetoed. That.
Bruce Rauner failed.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:40 am
Bravo to Tony Arnold and Dave McKinney for covering this story with depth, precision and heart.
Rauner is accountable. No matter what his excuse — his administration has failed here.
This scandal, on his watch, should infuriate the Illinoisans who have overlooked his other failures.
Comment by Sugar Corn Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:44 am
at least the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative never killed anyone
/s
Is there no end to the malevolence and incompetence of the Rauner administration?
Comment by pawn Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:46 am
The buck stops at Rauner’s desk, where he appears to ignore it. There is no excuse for this.
Comment by Aldyth Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:46 am
Weren’t there some outbreaks under Quinn, too, or am I just remembering the 2015 ones and thinking they were earlier?
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:49 am
Is this just another “baloney rumor” Bruce?
Who is in charge of Veterans Affairs and CMS? Madigan?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:53 am
Horrible, but not surprised. As then-candidate Rauner compassionately put it, “that’s what happens occasionally in nursing homes”. Remember this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSUKpY4ASC8
Comment by TopHatMonocle Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:54 am
Arsenal , earliest I can find is Sept. 2015, well after BVR was sworn in.
http://tspr.org/post/seven-dead-legionnaires-disease-quincy-veterans-home
Comment by Sugar Corn Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:57 am
What do you want from Gov. Ayn Rand?
For Rauner, veterans are just props. Same as kids, small business owners, and everyone else he takes those transparently phony-grinning pictures with and posts onto social media. They’re there to benefit Bruce Rauner.
Not hard to imagine the kind of ad one could make with this, with cuts to Rauner saying “I am not in charge.” Devastating. It’s another indictment of someone who’s only had two interests: destroy unions and slash programs that help people live with dignity.
Comment by Moe Berg Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 11:01 am
The Quincy Veteran’s home has been a mess for quite some time. So this is not a new problem. But Rauner has had three years to address this problem and has failed to do anything.
Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 11:23 am
Rauner is going to deflect, say the state brought in experts, CDC, etc., but then resort to partisanship. WBEZ is heavily sponsored by the Pritzker Foundation and Chicago Public Media’s Board is stacked with contributors to Democratic candidates. I hope he owns up to the outbreak, but unfortunately I see him going after the messenger.
I not a big fan of Pritzker jumping out and politicizing the deaths. The outbreak has been going on for almost 3 years now, and, if he wins, Pritzker is going to have to deal with it to. Unfortunately, deaths of people under the care of the state happen, whether it are veterans, inmates, or kids, If Pritzker is campaigning on a platform of no deaths in state institutions, he is going down the wrong road.
Comment by Swift Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 11:31 am
Easy answer. His first and foremost question to any issue is,
‘What’s in it for me?’ These deaths didn’t float his boat.
Comment by WasAnon Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 11:45 am
From the WBEZ report-
Jeffries contention:
“But Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Erica Jeffries defended the administration’s response to the illnesses and said that veterans like Tucker got the best care possible while they were residents at Quincy.
‘He was treated and cared for and loved at our home. All of our residents are, and I ask you to find a family member who says that they are not,’ she said. ‘He succumbed to Legionnaires’ disease. It can kill you.’ “
What happened to Mr. Tucker:
“When he developed a fever at the home on Aug. 21, 2015, he was given Tylenol, according to the family. By that point, there had been five earlier confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease at the facility dating back to July 23 of that year, according to the CDC.
It was a detail Tucker’s family did not know at the time because the state hadn’t yet publicized the spate of illnesses.
Six days later, Tucker was still not on any kind of antibiotic and hadn’t been tested for Legionnaires’, according to his family and their lawsuit with the Illinois Court of Claims. Tucker even asked for a priest because he was “fearful he was going to die,” according to a court filing. Only then did the veterans’ home staff take a urine sample that confirmed he, too, had contracted Legionnaires’.
A day later, Tucker became unresponsive.”
Rauner’s, “that’s what happens occasionally in nursing homes”, and Jeffries, “He succumbed to Legionnaires’ disease. It can kill you” show true callousness to what the patients, residents, and families go through when a loved one dies in these facilities.
(Hat tip to TopHatMonocle)
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 12:31 pm
He’s not in charge
Comment by yeah so what Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 12:32 pm
“But Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Erica Jeffries defended the administration’s response to the illnesses and said that veterans like Tucker got the best care possible while they were residents at Quincy.
I worked out there for over 10 years. Plain and simple, it’s minimal health care by the lowest bidder. I couldn’t take it any more, so I left. At the time, there was nothing that could be done. The current Superintendent seems like a stand up guy with a good head on his shoulders. Hopefully he can clean things up.
Comment by Scooteriffic! Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 12:53 pm
medical issue but also public health issue. you would think that some scientists could be on the job and figure it out. do we have the budget that would handle?
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 12:56 pm
There are some sad truths to this. Maintenance of the plumbing system has been inadequate,for many years, and the recent repairs were inadequate and no doubt past budgets failed to provide the funds for proper maintenance. The current lack of a budget or real efforts have only made it worse and more expensive to do what needs done. The amount of funds it is going to take to overhaul the plumbing system is beyond what the politicians will want to divert from thier other pet projects. The current Governor shifts blame and says he is not in charge, doubtful he will make a positive impact on this. The next Governor will use this as a platform for how much he/she cares for veterans, pledge to fix it and will not be able to appropriate the funds required to upgrade the system. Eventually people will forget about this, and another outbreak will occur.
I would expect “something” to be done. Some genius will decide all they need to do is sanitize the plumbing system. That will help, but not very long if there is still unused lines and other places for the water to sit and stagnate and allow things to breed. What needs to be done is demolish all of the old plumbing, and install new plumbing to code. That is only real fix, it is expensive to do right.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 12:58 pm
“After delivering the grim news, the Frenches insisted on a Legionella test on his father. It came back negative, but they decided on the spot they wanted him out of the Quincy veterans’ home. Steve French said the troubles didn’t end there: In checking Richard French out of the home, staff erroneously marked him as deceased, meaning he faced a cutoff in Social Security benefits as he was moving into another nursing home. It was a monumental hassle to undo, Steve French said.”
–
“I remember when we opened mail after she died that came from Quincy, and we thought it was going to be some sort of apology that she was dead,” Deann French recalled. “It was a past-due notice on what was owed for her portion of living there.
“And, of course, she hadn’t paid it because she was dead,” she continued. “It was insult to injury at that point.”
–
Pressed if she had any reason to doubt any aspect of his account and to answer why the staff would say Dolores French was safe when she was likely dead, Jeffries said, “I really can’t answer that because I don’t have the details, and I’m not going to answer a question I don’t have the details on. I really don’t know.”
–
What a terrible tragedy for this family. Thanks for sharing Rich.
Comment by njt Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 1:28 pm
As Rich notes, the whole article is worth a read.
Plenty of efforts have been made to clean up the plumbing system, but its age makes that a nearly-impossible task - and cost to replace the entire existing system est. at $500 million (”miles and miles of pipes”).
It seems preferable to close the Quincy facility and create two-three new facilities at dispersed locations in Central IL.
The gov could have / should have done something along these lines by now.
This one is totally on him. JB (and other Dem candidates still hanging in there) shouldn’t let him forget it.
Comment by dbk Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 3:32 pm
There is no way that running new pipes should cost $500 million.
Per the IVHQuincy.org website there are 1,000,000 sq ft there.
Per this article, a new hospital $/ft is
1. Honolulu: $475 to $760 per square foot
2. New York City: $475 to $700
3. Los Angeles: $470 to $700
4. San Francisco: $450 to $650
5. Boston: $400 to $650
5. Washington. D.C.: $400 to $650
6. Chicago: $360 to $630
7. Portland, Ore.: $380 to $525
8. Seattle: $385 to $530
9. Phoenix: $350 to $500
10. Denver: $370 to $455
11. Las Vegas: $285 to $455
So we are supposed to look the other way while taxpayers are asked to spend $500/ft for a remodel project?
There is something seriously wrong here in Illinois.
Comment by cdog Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 8:02 pm