NY State Nursing Home Follow Up
Posted by Patti on March 23rd, 2006 / Print This Post
A follow up article about the NY State nursing home that was going to be shut down.
NEWS 10NBC has a follow up on a Rochester nursing home that was sold and renamed after the state accused some employees of neglecting residents. Jennifer Matthew, now called Blossom North, has been under the care of Blossom Healthcare for just over a month. Blossom North President Jerry Wood says the community needs to see change is happening in order for the facility to thrive. “We have a lot of empty beds but they are getting filled.Wood says 90 of the original Jennifer Matthew employees still are still employed as certified nurse assistants. 28 others have been fired or suspended following the state’s investigation that showed employees severely neglected residents. “The department of health has shown me what they had and it was despicable. What I saw and it’s not going to be tolerated here.”
Wood says all remaining employees are currently being retrained in terms of how to handle patients and there’s a new buzz going around to help boost morale. “My big word is compassion but you can’t teach compassion.”
Ann Grande-Cline returned to Blossom North when the new owners took over. She left during the neglect allegations but didn’t want to. Grande-cline says she never saw any abuse. “I didn’t see any of that. I’d be lying if I did.”
“I ‘m glad i didn’t have to move cause that was an awful ordeal on people,” said resident Inez Flanigan.
Wood says constantly checking in on employees and being vigilant will help Blossom North shed the bad reputation left by the previous owner and spare residents from another bad experience or even the fear of one. “I don’t care what your job title is but wherever there’s a job just get it done.”
Wood says the second floor of the facility is being revamped to serve as a rehab facility. If they can acquire 80 rehab patients then the 55 long-term patients they have right now is sufficient.
Wood says this project has been a huge investment and hopes to at least break even by May.