Quinn forms nursing home safety panel

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has formed a state Nursing Home Safety Task Force that he says will improve safety at nursing homes and for nursing home residents.

Quinn announced the task force on Saturday and named his senior health policy advisor, Michael Gelder, to head the panel. Six state agencies and departments will participate in the task force. According to the governor's office, the task force will examine nursing policies and procedures in addition to other duties.

Quinn says the task force will make sure nursing homes are "a safe haven for residents, many of whom are among our most vulnerable and needy." He says this will be done "with all deliberate speed."