A recent report shed light on four Alabama nursing homes with a “persistent record of poor care.” The four are now under consideration as candidates for the “special focus facility program,” which includes nursing homes that will be highly monitored by authorities. If they fail to improve and correct violations, they could be stripped of Medicare and Medicaid funding.
According to an AL.com report about the four facilities, the Alabama nursing homes are among 400 across the country placed on the list of those with a record of poor care. The four identified homes are:
- Diversicare of Foley
- Terrace Oaks Care & Rehabilitation Center in Bessemer
- Trussville Health & Rehabilitation Center in Trussville
- North Mobile Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
AL.com cited problems at the nursing homes, including a failure to protect residents from abuse and neglect at Diversicare, sexual abuse at Trussville, a failure to give medication to a patient at Terrace Oaks, and failure to report verbal abuse to state officials within two hours of the incidents at North Mobile.
The government maintains detailed information about every Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the United States. Anyone can look up a nursing home by visiting the Nursing Home Compare section of the Medicare website. The website allows consumers to compare the quality of care and staffing at nursing homes.
Diversicare of Foley, for example, receives two stars out of five for its overall rating, which Medicare says is below average. The other three facilities received one star, or “much below average.”
How To Choose A Good Nursing Home
Placing a loved one in a nursing home is never an easy task but you can take steps in advance to avoid those with poor reputations or a history of problems.
It’s a good idea to do the following:
- Ask for recommendations from friends, relatives, co-workers and healthcare providers.
- Call the nursing homes on your list and ask them questions: How many people live in the home and how many staff do they employ?
- Visit the nursing homes you are considering.
- Beware of odors and strange sounds during the visit: Ask staff questions about where the smells and noises are coming from.
- Observe the employees: Do they appear overworked or overstressed?
- Observe the residents: Do you see bruising or other signs of abuse or neglect?
- Trust your gut: If you get a bad feeling about the facility, you should consider another nursing home.
- Visit Nursing Home Compare and look up the name of the facility to determine its rating.
If your loved one is living in a nursing home and you suspect abuse or neglect, you will need to take swift action. Contact a nursing home neglect attorney at Braswell Murphy LLC, in Mobile, Alabama, for a free consultation. An experienced and compassionate lawyer can help you decide your next steps.
