Albany Care is building a 2nd floor smoking space

It’s been about two weeks for the reason that Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) lifted restrictions on Albany Care permitting it to simply accept new residents, Jacques Marquis, a Community Support Specialist, advised residents Tuesday at assembly of the Fourth Ward.

The firm is additionally making an attempt to be a good neighbor, Marquis mentioned, and plans to construct an out of doors patio on the second floor above the primary entrance so people who smoke do not congregate in Gray Park, throughout from the power. The firm, he mentioned, has already utilized for a building allow.

But Fourth Ward City Council member Jonathan Nieuwsma expressed frustration with the group and the Illinois Department of Public Health for leaving town out of the method concerning Albany Care’s progress in addressing violations famous by the state.

Albany Care was positioned on restricted standing within the spring, the power not allowed to simply accept new sufferers till they submitted a state-approved “plan of remediation,” Nieuwsma mentioned.

While Nieuwsma mentioned he is aware of it took a number of tries earlier than IDPH deemed the plan acceptable, he thinks the group and Council member ought to have been proven a copy of the remediation plan.

Nieuwsma mentioned he needs a good relationship with Albany Care administration, its residents and town, however with out information of ongoing monitoring, it is problematic.

He has requested Mayor Daniel Biss, company counsel and Candice Mitchell, town’s regional long-term care ombudsman, in addition to the state Department of Health and Human Services and state Rep. Robyn Gabel to work with him on the problem. .

Speaking to Marquis on the cellphone after the assembly in regards to the particular modifications that have been made, he was obscure, saying solely that “the state gave Albany Care a list of things they objected to and the fixes they wanted. We followed their instructions to address the violations.”