The mission of every nursing home is to provide around-the-clock residential care for seniors or disabled people. That care includes providing meals, physical therapy, medication delivery, general hygiene, and providing opportunities for socialization.
It takes a trained staff of dedicated employees to accomplish those care goals. Unfortunately, sometimes those facilities fall short of providing support for their residents.
The Kentucky Lantern recently published an investigative report about nursing home abuse. They found that many facilities had extensive and repeated violations. Here is how they framed their findings:
“The investigation revealed an industry that places a premium on cost-cutting and big profits, with low staffing and poor quality, often to the detriment of patient well-being. Operating under weak and poorly enforced regulations with financially insignificant penalties, the for-profit sector fosters an environment where corners are frequently cut, compromising the quality of care and endangering patient health.”
When you suspect abuse of your loved one, you need to know how to report a nursing home to the state of Kentucky.
Documenting the Signs of Abuse
According to the health policy research site, Kaiser Family Foundation, over 20,000 Kentuckians are living in some kind of nursing home facility. It is always distressing to think of your loved one being neglected in the very facility you helped them move into.
Even though the nursing home staff is providing support, you are still considered their primary caregiver.
Abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, or financial. Abuse can also show up as healthcare fraud or general abandonment. Yes, just because your loved one is surrounded by fellow residents and staff, they could still be abandoned. If you suspect abuse, is important that you document the signs of neglect.
Here are some signs of abuse you might notice:
For physical abuse:
- Unexplained injuries such as broken bones, sprains, bruises or burns.
For emotional abuse:
- Changes in behavior
- Withdrawing from social activities
- Witnessing verbal abuse that is aggressive or demeaning
For sexual abuse:
- Appearance of sexually transmitted disease
- Torn clothing
- Bruising or swelling around the genitals
For financial abuse:
- Unpaid bills (if money is still coming from their accounts)
- Unknown credit card transactions
- Missing checks or credit cards
For abandonment abuse:
- Missing medications
- Lack of food and beverages
- Dirty living environment
- Soiled bedding
- Bedsores or infections
- Leaving a resident with mobility issues in their bed
For healthcare fraud abuse:
- Excessive diagnostic testing
- Billing to insurers for services that weren’t provided
- Unnecessary equipment or treatment
As for your documentation, in addition to an officially written complaint, you can also use cell phone videos and photos to support your complaint.
State Agencies Where You Can File a Complaint
Every nursing home should have a procedure that allows you to file a complaint. They should also have a follow-up policy in place to address the issue. You do not have to wait for the nursing home to resolve the situation, especially when it is serious. There are several state agencies that you can reach out to express your concerns. Here are the primary agencies:
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). The CHFS “inspects, monitors, licenses and certifies all health care facilities as defined by KRS 216B.015 (13). The division also investigates complaints against health care facilities, reviews facility plans, and develops regulations.”
Office of the Inspector General – This agency enforces regulatory standards in nursing homes. They also can take action in the form of fines and, in extreme cases, closures.
The Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency – This is a statewide agency dedicated to improving the quality of care for nursing home residents. They are a good resource to point you in the right direction to file your complaint.
Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control – If your loved one is using Medicaid to supplement the payments for the nursing home, then you can report the abuse directly to this office.
Getting an Attorney Involved
After filing a complaint, the various agencies can respond, but that might not be enough to directly help your loved one. You might consider speaking to the Peterson Law Office. We have years of experience helping families with la loved one who has suffered nursing home abuse in Lexington, KY.
If you suspect any mistreatment, don’t hesitate to call our offices to discuss what happened.
