Nursing Home Abuse
Well, we really don't need any more bad news but I ran across this
posting the other day. This article talks about the rise in lawsuits against nursing homes for abuse. In the past six years, a whopping 22% increase of reports of abuse. The only good news here is that this is partly due to more rigorous annual inspections by state and federal authorities.
When it comes to reporting abuse in a nursing home, I would be the first in line. And abuse is not just physical. Abuse can take on many forms, from physical and mental abuse to theft.
I remember the old story (on 60 Minutes) from the 80's that caught a nursing aide who had been stealing money from residents. With hidden cameras set up, it showed how a family member left a $5 bill in the resident's Bible. The visitor was not out of the door for a minute when the aide entered the room and went straight for the bedside table, removed the Bible and took the bill.
Another story that saddens me is how the therapy team finally figured out why a resident was always urine soaked each morning, despite her increasing awareness of needing to use the restroom. When this resident was shifted to early AM treatments, arriving in her room to complete ADL's received the comment of her needing to use the restroom, but she didn't have $5. After several days of this comment, we finally put two and two together when the family came for a meeting and asked if we had been taking the resident to the gift shop. They were concerned because she always requested having money to spend, but never noted any purchases. You may have guessed it; the aides on the night shift had been charging residents $5 to take them to the bathroom. Both of these stories are classic abuse, regardless that we are only talking petty theft. If the aides had been stealing from other aides, OK, fine, but to steal from a helpless resident just infuriates me.
The article also goes on to tell how some chains of SNF's are being sold at a low price, normally after a poor survey or decreased revenues. The new owner will spend a few dollars to "spruce up" the place, tend to a few major problems, and then sell for a huge profit after one good survey. This sounds familiar in the therapy world too, doesn't it?
I was just browsing this forum again, and saw a few old familiar names mentioned in a couple of posts. Hillhaven, Prism, and Kindred are all names of former therapy contract companies. I believe a similar thing has happened here. Some of these companies have had past problems with either fines or lawsuits. After soiling their good name, and losing staff, they simply change names and re-open. Hmmm.... sounds like a good future topic, so check back!
Until next time, hope all your thoughts are good,
Tim