The government has been advertising the Medicare.gov website to let seniors know the nursing home inspection reports are available online (they also allow other websites to download this information and Caregiverlist also provides it). I have been hearing the ads on NPR and elsewhere.
The nursing home inspection reports are a nice starting point for seniors and their family members when evaluating a nursing facility for a short or long-term nursing stay. But it is important to realize that these nursing home inspections are only performed once every 15 months. Ask any Certified Nursing Aide who has worked at a nursing home (working at a hospital or nursing home is required as part of their certification training) and they will tell you that most nursing homes have an alert “code” that goes out when the nursing home inspectors walk in the door – – – it could be just announcing on the P.A. that “Minerva is on line 1”. This means everyone is on their best behavior. It reminds me of elementary school when parents sat in on the classroom – even the bullies were nice to everyone on those days, including the teacher.
In addition to the inspections only being made every 15 months, the nursing home violations are not included in the inspection report, and, actually, this is the information you really need to know when evaluating a nursing facility.
If you really want to make sure you are going to be moving a senior into a quality nursing home, the best way to find out the quality of the care is to find out the number of nursing aides on staff per number of beds and to talk to the staff. In addition, find out the monthly nursing home violation report in your state. As you’ll see from the June, 2008, violations in Illinois, many of the violations most likely happen because there just aren’t enough caregivers to manage problem residents and to assist with bed sore management.
This is why more seniors are opting for care in the home by a one-on-one caregiver. Senior Home Care Agencies provide in-home care for a cost of between $16 – $28 per hour, depending on what part of the country you live in, and this fee provides for all the payroll taxes, insurance protection and active management of the caregiver.
Nursing Home Violations For The Month Of June 2008
SPRINGFIELD, Ill – The Illinois Department of Public Health today announced the following type “A” violations of the Nursing Home Care Act were cited during the month of June. An “A” violation, which is the most serious licensure violation imposed by the state, pertains to a condition in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious mental or physical harm will result.
The statement of violation for each facility can be obtained by clicking on the facility’s name.
Alden Alma Nelson Manor, a 268-bed skilled facility located at 550 S. Mulford Avenue, Rockford, has been fined $32,500 and notified of license revocation for failure to prevent and protect residents from abuse. Three residents were physically attacked by another resident. The facility has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A status was held February 26 and settlement negotiations are underway.
All American Nursing Home, a 144-bed skilled and intermediate care facility located at 5448 N. Broadway Street, Chicago, has been fined for failure to maintain a sanitary kitchen and ensure proper food handling to prevent hazardous food borne illnesses. Kitchen staff was observed preparing food without washing hands or using gloves. The facility requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A hearing was held and the facility paid $1,200.
Allen Court, a 16-bed intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled located 1650 E. Main Street, Clinton, has been fined $20,000 for failure to implement its own policies to prevent neglect of a resident. Staff failed to provide a thorough assessment of the resident’s symptoms and did not provide immediate medical attention after a fall. The facility has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A status in the case was held February 25.
Belhaven Nursing & Rehab Center, a 221-bed skilled care facility located at 11401 S. Oakley Avenue, Chicago, has been fined $30,000 for failure to provide necessary care and services to residents to prevent pressure sores and treat new sores. The facility has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A status in the case is April 16.
Blue Island Nursing Home, a 30-bed intermediate care facilities located at 2427 West 127th Street, Blue Island, has been fined $15,000 for failure to adequately supervise residents and monitor a resident’s consumption of alcohol and prevent the resident from physically abusing two other residents and a staff member. The facility requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A status in the case was held February 26 and settlement negotiations are underway.
Brother James Court, a 99-bed intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled located at 52508 St. James Road, Springfield, has been fined $10,000 for failure to implement facility policy and procedure on Abuse and Neglect. The facility also failed to recognize the need for additional supervision of a resident after a sexual incident between two residents. The facility has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A status in the case is March 31.
Cardinal Hill Healthcare, 90-bed skilled care facility located at 400 E. Hillview Avenue, Greenville, has been fined $55,000 for failure to provide adequate supervision to prevent a resident from choking which resulted in death. A resident took another resident’s sandwich without staff knowledge; was later found without vital signs and pronounced dead. The facility has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A status in the case is March 31.
East Peoria Gardens Healthcare Center, a 103-bed skilled and intermediate care facility located at 1920 Springfield Road, East Peoria, has been fined for failure to provide necessary care and services to maintain health. In the case of 4 residents, the facility did not (1) perform cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), (2) provide adequate supervision, and (3) monitor worsening medical condition. As a result, 3 residents died and a fourth suffered gangrene to a toe. The facility requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A hearing was held and the facility paid $32,500.
Mosaic Living Center, a 150-bed long term care facility for residents under the age of 22 located at 7464 N. Sheridan Road., Chicago, has been fined $10,000 failure to provide nursing care in accordance with a residents needs. Due to the facility’s failure to properly monitor a resident with a history of removing a feeding tube, the resident lost almost 30 pounds. The facility has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A status conference was held February 8 and settlement negotiations are underway.
Moweaqua Nursing & Retirement Center, a 70-bed skilled care facility located at Maple and Macon Streets, Moweaqua, has been fined $50,000 for failure to supervise a resident at high risk for falls. The facility did not assess nor make changes to the plan of care for the resident, after repeated falls. As a result, the resident fell and died after suffering facial fractures and head injuries. The facility has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A status in the case was held February 25.
Parents and Friends of the Specialized Living Center, a 100-bed intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled located at 1450 Caseyville Avenue, Swansea, has been fined $20,000 for failure to implement a diet order for a resident at risk for choking. The facility did not monitor the resident who had received the wrong texture and consistency of food. The resident was hospitalized after choking. The facility has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A status in the case was held February 25.
Regal Health & Rehab Center, a 143-bed skilled and intermediate care facility located at 9525 S. Mayfield, Oak Lawn, has been fined $25,000 for failure to adequately supervise four residents identified as unsafe smokers. Three of the four residents require continuous oxygen therapy. The lack of supervision resulted in one resident suffering burns to his face. The facility has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A status in the case is March 5.
St. Anthony’s Nursing & Rehab Center, a 120-bed skilled and intermediate care facility located at 767 30th Street, Rock Island, has been fined for failure to develop and implement a plan to address a resident’s sexual behavior toward other residents. The facility also failed to implement effective interventions to monitor the resident responsible for sexually abusing two other residents. The facility requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A hearing was held and the facility paid $12,000.
Timbercreek Rehab & Health Care Center, a 202-bed skilled care facility located at 2220 State Street, Pekin, has been fined $20,000 for allowing two Certified Nursing Assistants with findings of abuse on the Health Care Worker Registry to work at the facility. The facility also failed to protect residents from abuse by one of the CNAs, who was later found to have broken the wrist of a resident. Both were terminated. The facility has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A status in the case is March 3.
