A Rockford family is calling for accountability after alleging that a staff member at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center mistreated their elderly relative, who is deaf and nearly blind, during her recent hospital stay.
According to the family’s account shared on social media, the woman had been admitted for treatment of a toe infection and was discharged earlier this week to await surgery scheduled for Friday. While hospitalized, the family claims a nurse or certified nursing assistant (CNA) responded dismissively to the patient’s request for help and refused to properly assist her when she attempted to use the restroom.
The post alleges that the staff member instructed the patient to push down the recliner footrest on her own, despite her physical limitations, and watched her struggle to stand. The family says the patient had been largely bedbound for a week and later developed shoulder strain that required treatment.
The family also says the patient, who was wearing a yellow fall-risk bracelet at the time, was left to navigate to the bathroom with little guidance, leading to serious safety concerns.
In their statement, the family called the staff member’s actions “unprofessional and cruel” and urged the hospital to investigate the matter immediately.
OSF HealthCare has not yet released a public statement but has reportedly been contacted by the family. The family says they are awaiting a response from the hospital’s administration.
The incident has sparked discussion online about patient advocacy and the importance of compassion in healthcare, especially when caring for vulnerable patients with disabilities.