Ohio Nursing Homes
Posted by Patti on April 13th, 2006 / Print This Post
Two reports from Ohio- nursing homes under investigation.
Nursing home was scene of fatal beating
A Toledo man who, police said, had a mental disorder and dementia was arrested yesterday for allegedly beating an Alzheimer’s patient with a bathroom towel bar in a nursing home, causing the victim’s death.Sharon John Hawkins, 62, is charged with murder in the death Friday of Norbert Konwin, 77. He was arrested at 12:30 p.m. at a treatment facility at 2051 Collingwood Blvd. and is being held without bond in the Lucas County jail pending arraignment today in Toledo Municipal Court.
What good does it do to arrest a person with Alzheimer’s disease/dementia? It’s not like they have too much control over themselves and it’s not like they have good judgement. Or memory. The only real crime here is the patient mix at this facility. Everyone who works with dementia residents knows they often go through a period of violent behaviors during the decline process. I also think if facilities are going house residents who are violent, more staff is needed to supervise. Plain and simple. Arresting the demented does nothing except waste tax payers dollars.
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The second article:
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — The state investigation into the operations of Lakeside Heights Nursing Center is continuing, but no date has been set for when it will be finished.“We are reviewing files seized,” said Corey Bellamy, assistant communications director of admin services in the state Attorney General’s office.
Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo executed search warrants for the facility on Monday, April 3 after Medicaid and Medicare funding was pulled from the home because of numerous regulatory violations, including 12 that posed immediate threat to the health, welfare and safety of residents.
The two-day search warranted thousands of files for review.
“We’re going to move as quickly as possible. However, to just say it’s going to take a specific amount of time I cannot say,” Bellamy said.
According to Kentucky statues, a nursing home license can be revoked when there is “substantial failure to comply with the provisions” set forth by the state Health and Family Services Cabinet. The cabinet would notify the home by certified mail and include the reason for the action.
At that point the facility would have the option to appeal to the Franklin County Circuit Court.
According to the statutes “an appeal may be taken by filing a petition for review in the Franklin Circuit Court within 30 days after notice of the final decision.”
Beth Crace, public information officer for the cabinet, said if Lakeside Heights looses its license, it would be the first revocation under the current Inspector General Robert J. Benvenuti III.
“He’s been here about two years,” she said. She said she was unsure when the last Kentucky nursing home license was pulled.
In addition to loss of its operating license, the facility operators could face felony charges. Kentucky state law says knowing or wanton abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults are felonies. If investigators find residents were neglected and claims for Medicaid payments were filed, it is considered a felony fraud offense.
Lakeside Heights administrators did not return a phone call seeking comment.