Inspections of nursing homes have revealed a number of nursing homes that have high numbers of violations.
Currently, Minnesota is in the middle of the road when it comes to nursing homes that have lost Medicaid and Medicare funding. Typically, inspections of nursing homes in Minnesota result in citation for a variety of small deficiencies as well as some more serious health care issues. However, the state tends to be at the bottom of the barrel with regards to the number of fines that it issues for violations.
One nursing home had allowed a resident to repeatedly leave the facility to visit her abusive boyfriend. Another home did not report and investigate instances of suspected elder abuse that was made somewhat evident by the abrasions and bruises that they were sustaining. Some of the staff members had reported these markings on the residents. There were other homes with cleanliness issues that included strange odors and insects.
It is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that is in charge of inspections of nursing homes that are federally funded. Of the 111 nursing homes in the metro area, 10 of them had rather significant violations in the past three years. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services utilizes three years of data to rate nursing homes.
While some of the violations have not been specifically defined, one center had a total of 62 violations. Violations included not taking an incontinent resident to the toilet, not developing care plans for every resident, a lack of grab bars, improper bed-sore treatment, and not dating opened food or cleaning ovens.
Another facility did not notify a pharmacist or a physician about the condition of a resident. They also did not investigate a report of resident mistreatment, abuse, or neglect. The bathrooms were not sanitary, a diabetic resident’s diet was not monitored, and a variety of other violations that totaled 51.
The third facility with the highest number of violations, standing at 48, did not properly investigate an abuse allegation, did not develop a care plan for an at risk resident, didn’t monitor the diabetic diet of a resident, did not provide support for a resident with balance issues, allowed a resident to become dehydrated, and failed to minimize infection risk within the facility.
Other violations cited at other facilities include not maintaining the dignity of residents, not helping residents with grooming, and allowing residents to smoke in dangerous situations or when they are not supposed to smoke at all.
For more information about elder abuse.
To contact Attorney Kenneth L. LaBore, directly please send an email to: KLaBore@mnnursinghomeneglect.com, or call Ken at 612-743-9048 or toll free at 1-888-452-6589.
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