(210 ILCS 45/2-112) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 4152-112)

Sec. 2-112. A resident shall be permitted to present grievances on behalf of himself or others to the administrator, the Long-Term Care Facility Advisory Board, the residents' advisory council, State governmental agencies, or other persons of the resident's choice, free from restraint, interference, coercion, or discrimination and without threat of discharge or reprisal in any form or manner whatsoever. Every facility licensed under this Act shall have a written internal grievance procedure that, at a minimum:

(1) sets forth the process to be followed;

(2) specifies time limits, including time limits for facility response;

(3) informs residents of their right to have the assistance of an advocate;

(4) provides for a timely response within 25 days by an impartial and nonaffiliated third party, including, but not limited to, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, if the grievance is not otherwise resolved by the facility;

(5) requires the facility to follow applicable State and federal requirements for responding to and reporting any grievance alleging potential abuse, neglect, misappropriation of resident property, or exploitation; and

(6) requires the facility to keep a copy of all grievances, responses, and outcomes for 3 years and provide the information to the Department upon request.

In accordance with F574 of the State Operations Manual for Long-Term Care Facilities, the administrator shall provide all residents or their representatives upon admission and at request with the name, address, and telephone number of the appropriate State governmental office where complaints may be lodged in language the resident can understand, which must include notice of the grievance procedure of the facility or program and addresses and phone numbers for the Office of Health Care Regulation and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.

(Source: P.A. 102-1080, eff. 1-1-23.)