In the Elder Justice Newsletter, we highlight citations, including deficiencies related to abuse, neglect, and substandard care, that have been identified as not causing any resident harm. The goal of this brief newsletter is to shed light on the issue of so-called “no harm” deficiencies, which typically result in no fine or penalty to the nursing home.
This special issue of the Elder Justice Newsletter focuses on facilities owned or operated by Centers Health Care, a growing nursing home chain, which is facing mounting legal challenges amid allegations of “poor conditions… and evidence of massive Medicaid fraud.”
Though Centers’ website states that its facilities “maintain a large, tight-knit care staff to ensure every resident has more than one hands-on caregiver,” federal data indicate that Centers Health Care facilities average 3.38 nurse staff hours per resident per day (HPRD). This is well below the 4.1 HPRD identified in a federal study as the minimum necessary to provide basic safety.
Federal data also indicate that the average overall rating for Centers facilities is 1.6 (with one being the lowest possible rating and five the highest). Their average ratings for health inspection is 1.7.
LTCCC and the Center for Medicare Advocacy have long been concerned about sophisticated, predatory operators in the nursing home sector. This issue of the newsletter aims to highlight the harm and suffering that arise when operators with serious, well-documented issues are permitted to continue and expand their nursing home operations.
This newsletter focuses on the following “no harm” violations:
- “I hope your sugar goes up to 500 and you have a heart attack and die”: Resident experiences verbal abuse at one-star facility.
- Nursing home shortfalls: Inadequate staffing leads to painful delays in care.
- Left waiting and suffering: Residents found in soiled conditions.
- Nine days in pain: Resident endures delay in UTI diagnosis.
- Neglect in daily care: Residents left unattended in soiled clothing.
- Abuse confirmed, reporting delayed: Residents endure abuse amid culture of fear.
Do YOU think these deficiencies caused “no harm”? Click to download the newsletter or read it in the PDF below.
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