A federal judge told a number of Illinois nursing home operators in a ruling this week that they must stop using propaganda to dissuade residents from moving into the community.

Under a court settlement reached earlier this year, about 4,500 psychiatric patients in the state were promised the opportunity to move into community-based housing if they qualify and elect to do so.

But in an effort to keep the residents in place, operators of the nursing facilities where many currently reside recently sent out “information sheets” warning that leaving the facilities could put residents at risk of becoming homeless, hungry or lacking health care.

In his ruling U.S. District Judge William Hart called much of the information inaccurate and ordered the nursing home operators not to contact the residents any further without permission from the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois or the other attorneys who represent the group, reports the Chicago Tribune. To read more click here.

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