Rather Than Improve Poorly Performing Nursing Homes, Why Not Just Re-Categorize Them?
Last fall, we discussed the problems state inspectors found at Emeritus at Crossing Pointe, a Florida nursing home, that posed an immediate threat to resident safety. During an inspection at the nursing home, inspectors discovered:
- An 82-year-old patient who died after staff failed to provide her heart medication for four days
- Inaccurate resident counts by facility managers
- Residents with infected bed sores (also called decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers or pressure sores)
- Neglected patients- some Alzheimer's patients had toe nails so long that they curved around their toes
- Falsified medical records
- Staff administering the wrong medications to patients that resulted in injury
The living conditions were so poor that Florida officials banned the facility from accepting new patients.
Now, it seems Emeritus officials have officially thrown in the towel at this facility. After months of attempting to improve the living conditions at the facility, Emeritus officials have elected not to re-new the facilities nursing home license. Now, the skilled nursing facility will transition to a 'senior housing' facility.
Although the change in facility designation may seem like a minor change, the reality is that the change in designation of the type of facility is significant from a regulatory standpoint. As a senior living facility, the facility will no longer be subject to any of the regulation imposed by the state of Florida on nursing homes such as inspections.
No word yet as to whether the Emeritus Corporation will retain control over the facility as it transitions to a less structured care environment.
As a nursing home lawyer, I continually see poorly performing facilities attempt to re-name, re-organize and re-categorize themselves as problems arise. In some cases, the re-vitalization of the facility provides a fresh start. Unfortunately, most situations involving freshening up sub-par facilities simply means a change in window dressing. Too often, I see these re-newed facilities continue with the pattern of poor care that got them in trouble originally.
Consequently, it is important for families to learn as much as they can about nursing homes and assisted living facilities before placing a loved one there. In addition to researching the corporation itself, it is important to ask direct questions to administrative staff regarding the history of the facility.
Read more about this Florida nursing home here.
Related Nursing Homes Abuse Blog Entries:
Another Iowa Assisted Living Facility Chooses To Abandon Its License
Pesky Government Regulations No Problem For Assisted Living Facility In Iowa
Now That We Rate Nursing Homes, Is It Time To Rate Other Adult-Care Facilities?
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Loopholes in a reciprocity program amongst 24 states that allows nurses from one state to transfer to another may be putting a tremendous number of nursing home and hospital patients at risk for receiving poor care-- or perhaps more accurately downright dangerous care..png)
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Despite differences in the number of candles on their birthday cake, children and the elderly have far more similarities than differences. Our eldest and most junior members of society are particularly susceptible to abuse and mistreatment due to negligent or suspect care provided by caregivers. 
Many families are forced to institutionalize their 
As the number of older adults increases, families are faced with the question of where their parents and grandparents will receive the best care. .png)
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The pending criminal trial of Jill and Julie Barry will have an important impact on Illinois seniors as it will help define what constitutes 'reasonable care' when it comes to the home-care of elders. Currently, prosecutors in Illinois have few parameters when it comes to the definition of 'elder abuse' because Illinois courts have not formally ruled on the issue before. Consequently, the decision as to how to define 'reasonable care' in a criminal neglect context will fall squarely on jurors..png)
A case case of horrific nursing home neglect (perhaps more accurately nursing home abuse) has been reported in New Mexico. The owner of an Albuquerque Nursing Home, has been found guilty of in the death of resident who was left sitting on top of a bedpan for more than 24-hours. 
Another completely preventable nursing home death recently made the headlines as reported in 
providing skilled nursing care to Alzheimer's and dementia patients. It is a common problem for Alzheimer's Had the facility taken the basic precaution of removing non-edible objects from the residents meal tray this incident would likely not have occurred. Moreover, had the staff properly monitored this man as he ate, the choking should have been caught and the ketchup packet removed from the man's throat.
Four employees of the Medford Multicare Center for Living in Suffolk, NY have been charged with criminal neglect and falsifying business records. New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced the charges following six weeks of video surveillance at the nursing home in 2007. The nurses are accused of failing to move and turn over a patient for up to seven hours at a time, denying the patient water and left him sitting in his own waste. Felony charges were also filed relating to falsifying medical records claiming they administered heart medication when the nursing home was actually had the medication out of stock. The nurses were released without bail and are due back in court on March 20. Read more about this case involving alleged nursing home neglect 
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Big Rapids. The death of Comer lead to a 
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As a father of an active toddler, I am well versed in the importance of keeping close tabs on him at all times. We keep a video monitor on him to make sure he doesn't harm himself. Video monitoring has even gone to the streets in 
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This is a prime example of neglect nursing homes. Nursing homes are required to provide the best care possible for their residents. The failure to clean and open wound is a clear case of patient neglect.
months of her admission to a nursing home. She explained how her 87 year old mother suffered from dementia and needed assistance with most daily living activities including help with meals. The woman went on to explain that the entire reason she brought her mother to the facility was because she was assured that the facility was capable of meeting her 
