Amidst rising concern over the treatment of nursing home residents, a Senate Panel will convene Thursday to discuss inequities in nursing home care. The hearing comes at the request of State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D – Chicago) who has been working with community leaders over recent months to address what she describes as a “substantial disparity” in care to residents living on Chicago’s South Side.

“For months, I’ve been working with community leaders, local officials and families of the Alden Network to address a repeated pattern in sub-standard care.” said Collins. “After fines from state agencies and site visits it’s clear that we need to take a closer look at how nursing homes are operated in the state.”

The Committee will convene Thursday in Chicago to analyze the reasons why care varies in different geographic areas across Illinois. The hearing is expected to include testimony from families of residents, state agencies, advocates and representatives of the nursing home industry. The hearing will also include testimony from The Chicago Reporter, who has documented stories of nursing home inequity in urban areas in an investigative series.

“The investigation done by The Chicago Reporter raises alarming information about how nursing home residents on Chicago’s South Side are being treated,” Collins added. “If this information is true, there has been a bias in care provided based on economic status and race. This is simply unacceptable and an injustice to our seniors on the South Side.”

"At the end of the day, we need substantive results, and we need to protect our families," said Sen. William Delgado, Chairman of the Senate’s Public Health Committee. “This hearing will begin a comprehensive process of reviewing how nursing home residents are treated in Illinois. I commend Senator Collins as well as the Senate President for their support of this issue.”

The Public Health & Human Services Committees are also scheduled to meet November 5^th to address nursing home placement issues and the safety of nursing home residents.