In July of this year, Wave 3 news reported (in an understated way) that a Jeffersontown, Kentucky nursing home had lost its certification to care for Medicare and Medicaid patients. According to Wave 3, “In late May, the CHFS Office of Inspector General completed several investigations that were begun after receiving complaints about Hurstbourne Care Centre at Stony Brook, located at 2200 Stony Brook Drive. CHFS cited Hurstbourne Care Centre for numerous violations of state and federal laws that regulate the health and safety standards for care by nursing homes.”
The investigations resulted in Medicare and Medicaid patients being relocated to other, approved facilities. Upon closer inspection, however, one realizes that the reasons for the loss of certification were quite horrific. The report by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services include deficiencies like:
- A resident interview revealed that ants were in the resident’s bed and crawling all over the resident’s body. The resident was scared and screamed for help from the staff.
- A resident was found on the floor, and no physician was notified. According to records, there was no evidence that precautions were taken against another fall. An x-ray taken 16 hours later showed a broken right tibia.
- A resident was not weighed weekly in direct violation of a physician’s order. The resident lost 9.4% of total body weight in a month. Records showed that caloric intake was not properly monitored during that time.
- Residents were observed smoking on the grounds while unsupervised, indicating a failure to ensure a plan of care.
- A resident suffered an eye injury that remained untreated and unexamined for 30 days after the injury occurred.
The scope of negligence on behalf of this facility is overwhelming. What is more shocking, perhaps, is that the after an investigation by Kentucky officials, the facility was not shut down. Losing Medicare and Medicaid approval may ultimately prove devastating to the facility, but how much more damage will they be allowed to do before the business fails?
The regulatory system for nursing homes is obviously not working properly. That this level of neglect and abuse is even possible is downright horrifying. Elder abuse is very real, and when it occurs on an institutional level it is absolutely unforgivable.
If your loved one is in a nursing home or long-term care facility, you have placed faith in a facility and its’ personnel to take care of them. When that faith is betrayed, you and your loved one may be entitled to compensation. Our experienced and compassionate Kentucky nursing home abuse attorneys can help get you the compensation you deserve. Please contact Crandall & Pera Law today for a free consultation at one of our offices in Kentucky or in Ohio.