The grieving woman was unable to visit her dying sister at a time of need in a nursing home.
Elysia Garner passed away last month. Her sister, Luchanda Castleberry, wants to tell her story about her being banned from visiting the elderly home of The Hav in Death Plains.
This case is complicated and there is a question of why the facility banned visitors from the facility in the first place. Castlebury insisted that all she did was to express concern about the care her sister is receiving. And she was banned from visiting.
“You know, she made me better,” Castlebury said.
Family photos
Castleberry considered her sister to be her best friend. Now, photos from Garner's funeral program and bracelets wearing “sisters” are all she's left behind.
“I was resting her on one of these bracelets,” Castlebury said.
When Garner suffered a series of strokes in 2023, Castlebury helped her take her to a nursing home – The Hav of Death Plains. However, during her first few visits, she noticed that her sister's pain and wounds had worsened.
She took a photo that was too graphic to show on TV. In addition to the pain and wounds, the photos show her sister being dirty and covered in vomit.
“It definitely took an emotional toll,” Castlebury said. “I want an answer as to why this was allowed to happen to my sister.”
Castlebury has visited frequently and admits that she was very vocal about her concerns. However, she insists that she is never threatening or violent.
Then one day Castleberry was told she had been banned.
“They didn't allow me to see my sister at the facility, and they didn't have no no. Why it wasn't a documentary. I was getting a different story about why,” Castlebury said. “They punished her, and again, what did she do to be punished?”
CBS News Chicago asked Zahaf's lawyers to help him understand why Castlebury was forbidden from seeing her sister, but they declined to comment.
Meanwhile, Castleberry has begun reaching out to people that are possible to help, including the courts.
A Will County judge ordered Castlebury to be allowed to visit her sister. But then the state judge said against.
In September, Guardian ad litem wrote: “The Guardians' ad report on the Casterberry incident.
Castlebury also contacted the Illinois long-term care ombudsman.
The office representative told Castlebury: “I can't imagine your frustration. I look at the photos and am furious with your sister.”
“Residents have the right to see who they like at any time,” said Kelly Richards, the long-term ombudsman in Illinois.
Richards could not comment specifically on the Castlebury case. But she explained that her office defends patients like Garner, which also cannot force the door to a nursing home.
However, her office tries to find workarounds like FaceTime and video calls.
“It's not black and white,” Richards said.
After months of fighting to meet her sister, Castlebury finally got a call in January that she could come to the nursing home. But it wasn't about visiting her sister.
Her sister was dead.
“When my sister passed away, I called that morning to say, 'Hey, can you come and get your body?” Castlebury said.
Castlebury is not the only one who has a complaint against the Death Plains' Zahav.
The Illinois Department of Public Health Records shows that Zahaf of Death Plains has been investigated and cited in at least eight serious offences since October 2023.
Zahav also has one star on the Medicare.gov website. This indicates that the facilities had more health citations than the state and national averages.
“No, I can't bring my sister back. But I can say, 'Hey, I know consciousness, I know accountability,'” Castlebury said. “I have 100 emails begging and pleading someone to help my sister. And the phone couldn't be answered, and I want to know why.”
Jake Bogoff, CEO of Zahav Healthcare Consulting, has issued this statement on behalf of Zahav of Des Plainles.
“Death Plains of Death Plains incorporates the trust of people who continue to serve us very seriously and are committed to protecting the health and well-being of our residents. Everything we do is focus on improving the quality of life of our residents. A key part of the process is focused on full cooperation with partners with local, state and federal regulatory agencies and appealing to all people to investigate everything. And we work directly with residents and their families to resolve issues, and while we follow state and federal regulatory procedures where regulatory agencies may be tested, the report is published only in accordance with administrative regulations set out by the Ministry of Public Health and CMS. Zahav has not been cited by Zahav by IDPH or CMS on Visitor Restrictions. Similarly, Des Visitor restrictions introduced by Zahav in Plaines have been found to be inconsistent with the relevant code and regulations at any regulatory authority.
“Getting the trust of those we serve and care for is driving us, and everything we do is focused on improving the safety and quality of life of our residents.
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Megan Hickey
