Gov. Pat Quinn's Nursing Home Safety Task Force proposed reforms Thursday to address problems in treatment at Illinois nursing homes. These reforms come after the Chicago Tribune's series of reports exposing the overuse of nursing homes used to house the mentally ill. One important aspect of the proposed reforms is to "expand housing and treatment options and divert mentally ill people from nursing homes into more appropriate treatment settings in their communities."

ACLU of Illinois staff attorney Lori Turner said overall the ACLU of Illinois is satisfied with the proposed reforms from Quinn's Nursing Home Safety Task Force.

"We are pleased with the task force's emphasis on expanding home and community based housing options for people with mental illness, recognizing that nursing homes are not the most appropriate, integrated setting for people with mental illness, and we are hopeful that these recommendations will lead to long overdue meaningful reform and a systemic overhaul," Turner said. "We agree that some of the tough questions have been left unresolved, but continue to advocate that the solution to these problems is not the creation of more institutions in Illinois."