Mold and Mildew Spark Inspection
Camelot Terrace, a nursing home facility located in Streator, Illinois, has been cited by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) after moisture and mildew were found in the facility.
On January 14, 2010, moisture and mildew were found in the facility's C Wing. According to the IDPH investigation, "a notice from the city of Streator Fire Chief (Tom Risley) dated January 14, 2010, sent to the facility's owner states that the city received a complaint regarding roof leakage and water damage at the facility. The notice indicates (the fire chief) performed an inspection at the facility on December 29, 2010, and found the building was in violation related to the roof and interior surface sections of the city code. The notice indicates that the violations are of a serious nature, and that 'signs of rust and water damage' are present on light fixtures and electrical switches on the northeast wing of the building." Additionally, several facility employees reportedly advised the IDPH that "mold/mildew" smell near the nurse's desk.
A January 12, 2010 state inspection revealed "black mildew was present on the wall in the space approximately six inches high between the suspended ceiling tiles and the bottom of the concrete ceiling near the video camera located just inside the fire doors for C wing. An area of sagging, darkly-stained ceiling, approximately 2 1/2 feet square was present in the assisted feeding area near the wall adjacent to the C wing common area. Another inspection performed on January 14, 2010 found "black mildew was present under the layers of peeling paint at the top right side of the door jamb of the activity office, where water was dripping down at the time. Black mildew was present on the inside of the drywall up approximately two feet from the floor, visible in an approximate 16-inch wide area where...had removed a section of wet drywall in room C12 alongside the entry door to the right."
Crystal Lopez, a CNA at the facility for 13 years, believes the facility's environment is causing problems for the residents. She said, "People have been having rashes, headaches, itchy and watery eyes, asthma and difficulty breathing." She said the symptoms have been increasing over the last few weeks, but no one was taken to the hospital.
Michael Lerner, owner of GEM Healthcare in Chicago, disputes the mildew findings, saying, "It was accumulated dust. We cleaned it up and are back in business. We replaced the ceiling tiles."
According to the IDPH, an investigation at the facility continues concerning "safety and health conditions".
