Nursing Home Lapses in CT

Connecticut’s Department of Public Health has recently fined three nursing homes for lapses in care. Glastonbury Health Center was fined $1020. The fine was the result of a resident’s broken hip which occurred after a fall from a wheel-chair. Wilton Health Care Center was fined $1,160 after a quadriplegic resident with Alzheimer’s dementia suffered a broken arm—the result of a nursing assistant’s improper use of a bed lift. Crossings West Health and Rehabilitation Center was also fined after one wheelchair-bound resident reported being touched inappropriately by another resident.

These recent fines follow a chain of 2014 incidents which resulted in fines. One incident, which occurred at Abott Terrace Health Center in Waterbury, involved a resident receiving injuries after intentionally leaping from a window because of untreated pain. An incident at another home in Waterbury involved an aide kicking a wheelchair into a wall. Other incidents in New Milford included verbal abuses by nurses and the administration of morphine and Dilaudid to the wrong patients. The chain of lapses continued at other homes with incidents ranging from heel sores (due to un-elevated feet of immobile people) to patients with dementia wandering away from homes. Although many staff work very hard at their difficult jobs, proper training and diligence is necessary to avoid these lapses in care. Incidences which involve the verbal and physical abuse of residents and staff have rightfully resulted in the termination of staff.

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Farrish K. Six nursing homes fined following verbal abuse, lapses in care.Hartford Courant. October 7, 7 2014. http://www.courant.com/health/hc-nursing-home-fines-20141007-story.html

Rosner C. Three nursing homes fined following lapses in care. Hartford Courant. February 23, 2015. http://www.courant.com/health/hc-nursing-homes-cited-20150223-story.html

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