A Glen Carbon, Illinois nursing home resident filed a lawsuit alleging that a faulty furnace at the facility caused her to suffer a heat stroke.

The lawsuit, filed on July 1, 2011 against Eden Village Care Center and Cummings Heating & Cooling, Inc., alleges that the woman was found unconscious and near death in her room in May 2009 from exposure to extreme heat. She had been lying on the floor overnight in a room that registered a temperature of 110 degrees.

The lawsuit further alleges that the facility’s furnace had previously had problems with a stuck heat sequencer and a broken control board.

Elderly individuals are very sensitive to weather extremes. We have all seen the public service announcement advising us to check on our older neighbors during periods of extreme heat. One would think that nursing home employees – who are supposedly ultra-sensitive to the needs of the elderly – would know better than to leave residents in rooms with excessive temperatures. Having been involved in a case several years ago where my client died of hyperthermia with a care body temperature of 109.7 degrees, I am particularly incensed by cases like this.

I wish the resident involved in this case a speedy recovery and good luck in her legal case.

If you or a loved one have suffered abuse or neglect at the hands of a nursing home and are in need of legal assistance, contact Illinois Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney David Terry to schedule your FREE, no obligation consultation at 1-888-317-2525.