Nursing Homes Cutting Corners on Safety, Accumulating Fines
Imagine this: residents wander the halls in a nursing home facility, yelling and hitting each other. One resident beats a roommate with a stick. Another person is found with a broken finger and a bloody forehead gash. Meals are served from dirty meal carts and the dining room is unsanitary. Shower facilities are a mess, with broken tiles and black material all over the floors.
Sadly, this scenario is all too common at nursing home facilities across the nation. The one described above was fined more than $319,000, but unfortunately nothing changed. Five months later, inspectors levied six additional deficiencies of immediate jeopardy, which is the highest level of deficiency for a nursing home. The parent company of this nursing home has been ordered to pay nearly $10 million in fines since 2021, which is considered the highest among nursing home chains.
This situation may seem utterly deplorable, but in for-profit nursing home chains, it is nothing new. These chains are well-known for cutting corners in pursuit of profits. It’s all too common, as for-profit facilities make up more than 72% of the nation’s nearly 14,900 facilities. Tragically, the victims of this corporate greed are the nation’s most vulnerable citizens- the elderly residents who live in these nursing homes.
A recent investigation revealed an industry that places a premium on cost cutting and big profits, with low staffing and poor quality. The for-profit sector fosters an environment that frequently cut corners, putting the lives of patients at risk every day.
These issues are common all throughout the country, and South Carolina is no exception. Nursing homes in the state have accumulated more than $5 million in fines over the past three years. In fact, two well-known chains operating in South Carolina have been assessed fines in excess of $600,000 each.
Fines can often be a useful indication of a facility’s quality of care. However, figures for South Carolina may actually fail to account for ongoing violations.. The state ranks 12th lowest in nursing home fines per capita.
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Nursing homes should be doing what they can to properly care for patients. Cutting corners and neglecting residents can lead to worsened health outcomes and even death.
Abuse and neglect in a nursing home are never acceptable. If your loved one has been injured or harmed while in a nursing home facility, contact a Columbia nursing home abuse & neglect lawyer from Simmons Law Firm. We will investigate your claim and seek full compensation for any harm suffered by you and your loved one. Schedule a free consultation today by calling (803) 779-4600 or filling out the online form.
Source:
scdailygazette.com/2024/03/26/for-profit-nursing-homes-are-cutting-corners-on-safety-and-draining-resources/
