Coronavirus: Burr Ridge Facility Won't Release Case Number

BURR RIDGE, IL — A Burr Ridge assisted living facility will not reveal publicly the number of residents and staff with the coronavirus, but says it is divulging that information to family members. The grandson of a resident at Harvester Place questioned whether the facility was being open with the public about the situation, saying his grandmother has tested positive.

On Monday, the man spoke to the Burr Ridge Village Board about Harvester Place, which is part of the Anthem Memory Care chain. He was connected to the virtual meeting by phone.

"I just want to make sure you are all aware that there are several confirmed cases, and that's all I wanted to say," the man said. "I hope you keep an eye on them. I don't trust the corporation."

In a statement to Burr Ridge Patch on Thursday, Anthem said it has been "open and transparent" with all residents' family members about the status of the coronavirus situation. Family members, the statement said, have received weekly letters providing information on the situation.

The company said it has fully complied with reporting requirements to the county health department and the state Department of Public Health. And it said it responds to daily phone calls from family members and has appointed an employee to serve as a liaison to answer families' questions.

"We report every day there is a new development to the county and weekly to the IDPH," Laura Kislowski, vice president of sales and marketing, said in the statement. "The difference in reporting time periods may account for the person that spoke at the city council meeting misinterpreting the reporting to these agencies."

In a statement to Patch on Thursday, the state Department of Public Health said 1,587 cases associated with long-term care facilities, including assisted living, have been confirmed. That includes 296 deaths. The agency said 305 facilities have had residents and staff with the coronavirus and 125 facilities have had virus-related deaths.

"The Illinois Department of Public Health is developing a listing of those facilities to be made available," the agency said in its statement.

As of Thursday, Burr Ridge had 47 cases of the coronavirus, according to the health departments in Cook and DuPage counties.

In response to the man's comments at the board meeting, Mayor Gary Grasso said he regularly contacts the four senior living facilities in Burr Ridge. He said he was "not allowed to know" how many residents in each place were diagnosed with the coronavirus.

"All four centers are practicing and following the guidelines, which include regular checks of residents," the mayor said.

Grasso also said the facilities are regularly checking the temperatures of staff.

"I'm fairly confident that all of our senior centers are doing the best job for residents and their staff," he said.

If you are a family member who has received a Harvester Place letter on the coronavirus situation, you can send it to david.giuliani@patch.com. Patch will not release residents' names.

Read more:

Illinois Coronavirus Update April 16: 25,733 Cases; 1,073 Deaths

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