5 Hospitalized For Signs Of Neglect At Home Care Facility
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Five people were hospitalized over the weekend for the effects of abuse and neglect, after a startling discovery Saturday inside a south suburban home that was being used as a care facility.
Sources said the victims, who all suffer from previous medical conditions and disabilities, were dehydrated and had visible bed sores.
CBS 2's Brad Edwards reports the victims were under medical supervision while police conducted an investigation.
Police visited the home Saturday, after one of the elderly residents called for help.
When CBS 2 arrived at the home Sunday, a woman standing outside said, "don't put that camera on me, because I got the right to break your shit, so don't play with me."
Saturday night, although lights were on inside the home, a sign on the front door indicated the home was "not approved for occupancy" by the village of Riverdale.
Sources said the story unraveled when an elderly resident called for help on Saturday.
Riverdale police said five residents between the ages of 50 and 70 were taken to hospitals. They claimed they were neglected and physically abused on a regular basis. They also told police they had to give up their personal information, including debit card and LINK card numbers, and were not allowed to call their families.
"All of the people were transported to local hospitals because of their conditions," Riverdale police said in an email. "We're working with the [Cook County] State's Attorney's office and medical personnel at the hospitals where the patients were transported."
Police said more information would be available sometime Monday, after investigators interview the people responsible for caring for the patients.
