Serving as an example of how regulators can effectuate change, the Altoona, Pennsylvania nursing home, Laurel Crest, is not only undergoing tremendous scrutiny for surveyors to ensure quality, but outside consultants are being brought into the facility to make sure that the right changes are made.
One of the most prolific and dangerous trends in the nursing home industry is the failure to perform background checks on and properly supervise employees. In this astounding case, a predator-nurse was reported to have abused multiple residents at a significant number of long term care facilities before detection.
After being bought out by private investors in 2002, along with 48 other nursing homes in Tampa, Florida, Habana Health Care Center began to suffer, and so did it’s residents. Within the first few months the number of clinical nurses at the facility had been cut by half in an effort to cut costs by the facility’s new management. And, according to Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration, budget cuts were made for nursing supplies, resident activities and other services.
I found an alarming report on a New Jersey nursing home in the Star Ledger recently. A surprise inspection by Senator Richard Cody (D-Essex) revealed an astounding level of neglect at the New Vista Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Newark, NJ.
Carlyle Group, a District-based private equity firm, has reached an agreement to acquire nursing home operator Manor Care for $6.3 billion, the companies said in a statement on July 2.
Nursing homes should be a place where you can trust your loved ones’ needs will be met and quality care administered. This is not always the case and in order to insure that it is for your loved one, it will be up to you to do the research and make certain the nursing home you choose provides quality care.
A major concern with both nursing homes and assisted living facilities (ALF) is short staffing. In our practice, we routinely find the plaintiff’s injuries are directly related to inadequate staffing.
In evaluating a nursing home for a loved one, it is advised that you go and visit the nursing home and ask some important questions.
When deciding on a nursing home for a loved one, it is recommended that you do a pre-visit investigation.
Finding the right assisted living or residential care facility for you or a loved one is an important decision. After you have determined the kind of services you or your loved one need, you should obtain or develop a list of assisted living facilities in your area offering those services.
