In the News

Northwest Herald, May 23, 2007

As the summer temperature rises, state Rep. Jack Franks hopes to cool things down for Illinois nursing home residents.

On May 16, the Illinois Senate passed the Woodstock Democrat’s House bill, which requires all nursing homes in the state to install air conditioning in their buildings. The bill first passed in the house in March, 115-0, and passed, 57-0, in the Senate. Blagojevich has 60 days to sign the bill, or it automatically will become a law.

However, Franks is confident that the bill will be signed because of the overwhelming support.

The state representative first turned his attention to the problem when he found out that the Sheltering Oak nursing home in Island Lake didn’t have air conditioning.

“Elderly citizens often have respiratory problems, and a lot of humidity and heat can cause more problems,” Franks said. “I certainly wouldn’t want my parents to live in a place like that. I wouldn’t want anyone’s parents to live in a place like that.”

In addition to Franks, the House sponsors of the bill include Democrats Daniel Beiser, LaShawn Ford and Mary Flowers. Its Senate sponsors are Susan Garrett, D-Highwood, and Pam Althoff, R-McHenry.

The bill also is backed by the Department of Public Health, Illinois Health Care Association, Illinois Council on Long Term Care, National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Illinois.

A representative for the Sheltering Oak nursing home declined to comment. Despite the controversy, the 70-bed nursing home has a clean record from the Illinois Department of Health.

In addition to cooling residents in the summer, the bill also aims to keep nursing home residents warm during the winter by requiring nursing homes to equip bedrooms and common areas with heating.

“I’m happy they were able to get a resolution so quickly,” Franks said.

“Hopefully the governor will sign it quickly so no one will have to go through this again.”