State representative
The St. Louis American recently reported that St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center on Mehl Avenue has been named one of the nation’s 54 worst-performing nursing homes. I applaud the American for bringing attention to this story and feel especially motivated to respond.
When assessing nursing homes for my grandmother, I was surprised by the lack of suitable alternatives. My family contacted the Department of Health and Senior Services and found that, according to state inspection records, ALL of the nursing homes in our immediate area had serious quality of care violations.
We explored AARP’s website as well as Medicare.gov’s nursing home comparison page before ultimately deciding that St. John’s Place on Brown Road was our nearest and best option.
St. John’s Place was on par with state averages for number of residents under its care (78) as well as for deficiencies noted in its annual inspection (10). The facility was comfortably sized and seemed adequately staffed, safe and sanitary. However, since my grandmother has been in its care, we have been very disappointed.
In October, my grandmother was admitted into DePaul Hospital’s intensive care unit due to non-responsiveness, acute renal failure, dehydration, malnutrition and an irregular heartbeat. On another occasion she required emergency care for improperly treated ulcers on her heels. Because negligence seems to have played a contributing role in these health setbacks, my family decided to contact DHSS.
DHSS conducted an investigation and found the following violations:
· allegations of verbal abuse towards residents
· failure to follow physician-ordered diets for more than 30 diabetic residents
· failure to administer injections, medications and other treatments per physician’s orders
· failure to provide basic hygiene to residents in a timely manner; and
· inadequate infection control practices.
If this is happening to my own family with all of the information and resources at our disposal, can you then imagine another family who is not as well-versed in negotiating bureaucratic processes?
The following advice may be helpful for those with a family member in a long-term care facility:
* Visit often and at different times. Checking on your loved one at various times of day provides you with a more accurate picture of how your loved one is being cared for. It also keeps the nursing staff on their toes.
* Keep a log of your visits. Note the date, time and any observations or concerns. If you have raised any questions or made any requests of a staff member, be sure to note the details.
* Do not assume that your loved one is being cared for properly. Ask questions and stay informed. Check body for bed sores and issues with hygiene.
* Make yourself knowledgeable about your loved one’s care plan including medications, meals and fluids. Review periodically with nursing staff and/or physicians to ensure the care plan remains current and is being administered properly.
* Be nice to nursing home staff and get to know the nurses. They work hard. A word of gratitude goes a long way towards making sure your loved one receives the highest quality of care possible.
* Speak with other families. They may know something you do not know and vice-versa.
As state representative, I am a member of the Senior Advocacy Committee, which seeks to protect the well-being of all seniors as it relates to their care and housing. Additionally, I served as the state’s senior advocate and helped shepherd into law the Senior Care and Protection Act of 2003 under Lieutenant Governor Joe Maxwell.
When originally passed, this was considered the most comprehensive reform of senior care regulations in our state’s history. It strengthened penalties against poorly performing nursing homes and reduced red tape as a reward for those providing quality care. It also tied level of care and training of staff to key Medicaid reimbursements.
I believe we need to reevaluate the Senior Care and Protection Act and other provisions so that we can find a way to deal more effectively with issues of nursing home quality and oversight. We should investigate adopting a Zero Tolerance Policy towards negligence and abuse and strengthen the civil rights of families who find themselves at the mercy of these facilities. I intend to do something about this in the next legislative session.