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StumbleState closes Las Vegas nursing home after reports of abuse, theft
Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 | 8:32 a.m.
CARSON CITY – The state has closed a Las Vegas assisted-living center after charges that its elderly residents were physical abused and their money stolen from them.
Residents of the Las Vegas Home Sweet Home, 2615 Lindell Road, were removed and placed in other facilities last week after the state Bureau of Health Care and Compliance suspended the license of the nursing home.
A representative of Las Vegas Home Sweet Home couldn't be reached for comment.
The investigation uncovered cases in which Social Security checks and other funds allegedly were found being deposited into the personal accounts of caregivers. The probe found caregivers took more money than necessary for grocery store purchases and didn't return it to the residents, state officials said.
The state reported there was abuse of an elderly woman who had a shouting match with a manager. Officials said she was dragged down the hallway by her ankles while kicking and screaming.
The woman was removed from the home and Metro Police investigated the alleged physical abuse, the state said.
Officials said the home has been investigated and fined repeatedly by the state bureau in recent years. It said the suspension was issued by the state on grounds that residents weren't safe as a result of chronic and repeated non-compliance with regulations.
Discussion: 6 comments so far…
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Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
"chronic and repeated non-compliance" What took them so long to close this place? NV appears to need more regulatory teeth.
Absolutely throw the guilty people in jail. Illegally depositng another persons Social Securtiy check into your account is a crime.
People who do this to the elderly are scum!
Why is Metro allowing these scum bags to get away with this? Criminal charges should be the next step not just closing their doors. As it is now they will just get new jobs at other nursing homes and continue to commit crimes against helpless seniors, duh.
Is this a nursing home or an assisted living? They are two different operations. The article is confusing to that fact.
Sure hope they look at all these homes and the employee's that work in them. I know of several that do hire those with felony abuse on their records. Not sure if they do the background or just hire them to fill the void of a worker.
Stealing a SS Check probaly falls into a federal crime. I would like to see the Feds step in and if these people are guilty, they can see what it's like to be mistreated in prison. I understand a crime is a crime regardless of the victim. I'm not a relative of any of the people that were there, but I still feel like giving them a nice a** kicking.
I would echo "Ronster."
Sorry to nitpick, but a "Nursing Home," and an "Assisted Living Facility," are not the same thing.
Nursing Homes are far more regulated. Unfortunately, it doesn't really take that much to open and run an assisted living facility which is more like a group home.
I work in the industry, get alot of folks who come to Nursing Homes aka "Long Term Care," or "Skilled Nursing Facility," via "assisted living," or "group homes," and the horror stories i've heard are numerous.
The headline might say "nursing home", but the story itself is pretty clear: "The state has closed a Las Vegas assisted-living center...the Las Vegas Home Sweet Home..."
This happens more than you think. Sure you can say "what took them so long" or "criminal charges should be next", but in a month or two, the place will be open for business again - AFTER they clean up their act and most likely just temporarily.
Because the pay for working in these facilities is extremely low, the nursing homes/assisted living facilities are not hiring the cream of the crop. That is not all of them; a lot of the workers are compassionate and caring individuals, but sometimes I think there are more bad apples than the dedicated ones. I also have heard many stories, along with personal experience concerning mY Dad.
Assisted living facilities, most of the time, do NOT take Medicaid patients. They are mostly private pay and pay the residents do. It could cost anywhere from $2000 to $5000 a month. Whereby nursing homes take private pay, but the majority of residents are on Medicare/Medicaid. Nursing homes also have patients with more serious ailments. Assisted living is just that - those who just need a little assistance to live independently. At least here in Illinois, these are the definitions of these faciities. I can't imagine Vegas would be any different. Also, in Illinois even assisted living facilities are regulated by the State.
It is a sad state of affairs that this happens all over the country. You trust these places to care for your loved ones, and 9 times out of 10, your loved one will be robbed, abused, treated like crap and sometimes will die in their care. IF there is no other choice, do not do this to your loved ones; keep them at home. Hire home care workers but do not put them in a home.
Det-Munch
You are correct, it is the same or very similar in nevada. The state does regulate and inspect "assisted living," but obviously not closely enough.
I concur and feel for your story. However, I would caution against so much caution in lumping all "homes," together.
Nursing homes are of a completely different grain. Nursing homes are run by a licensed admin, with many licensed and/or properly credentialed healthcare professionals onsite, nursing, therapies, activities, social workers, etc. etc. and with routine visits from an attending physician and/or nurse practitioner.
Thats not to say there aren't horror stories coming out of nursing homes as with anywhere else. Certainly the goal should be to keep loved ones at home and as independent as possible.
When that option is no longer medically feasable or safe, do your due diligence. Check for online reviews of a facility, although there may be none and any that there are are certainly open to embellishment and/or personal agendas.
More importantly, check the place out in terms of their regulatory track record. I believe the info is available upon request. Perhaps with the Bureau of Licensure?
And tour the place. Get a feel for it. Talk to staff and current residents there. And use your nostrils. Nursing Homes with shoddy housekeeping will hit you right away often times when walking in the front door with a nasty lingering urine smell.
@bottx
Headline mentions nursing home. First paragraph states assited living facility. Second paragraph says nursing home. I call that confusing for a news article.
rontster,
Oops. :(
I found the first paragraph statement to be stronger than the headline and missed the second reference accordingly.
Yeah, a bit more consistency would have been better.
Sad and note that residents had to BUY FOOD WITH THEIR SS--aren't they provided adequate nutrition? I know of a man in such a place that had to beg someone to bring him a blanket to keep warm in the winter....
This was really sad. Like many others, I was concerned about the risk of elder abuse. What I found to be the best solution was using an agency that offers ClearCare homecare solutions. I can log into a website and see when the caregiver arrives at my mom & dad's house, when they get their medication, meals, and other essential tasks. This point-of-care system has given me such peace of mind, knowing they are so well cared for -- and I can stay completely involved.