Investigation finds widespread abuse of adults with disabilities in Illinois
CHICAGO -- A newspaper investigation found more than a thousand cases of abuse and neglect of Illinois adults with disabilities who were placed into private group homes.
The Chicago Tribune says its investigation revealed mistreatment inside Illinois' taxpayer-funded group homes and their day programs, with caregivers failing to provide basic care while regulators conceal harm and death with secrecy and silence.
The investigation found at least 42 deaths linked to abuse and neglect in group homes or their day programs over the last seven years. Residents have been humiliated and lost freedom, state records show.
The Chicago Tribune's investigation also shows 1,311 cases of documented harm since July 2011 - hundreds more cases of documented harm than publicly reported by Illinois' Department of Human Services.
Read more: http://www.sj-r.com/news/20161118/investigation-finds-widespread-abuse-of-adults-with-disabilities-in-illinois