Recordpub.com - Nursing home probe continues

By Mike Sever

Record-Courier staff writer

Portage County officials will meet Monday in executive session to continue their investigation as to what went wrong at the county's nursing home, The Woodlands at Robinson.

The nursing home has been cited by the Ohio Department of Health for failing to keep a frail woman resident safe and for failing to promptly report an alleged abuse incident as required.

ODH was called Aug. 6 after an aide reported finding evidence the female resident was abused on Aug. 4 in her room. A written report was not filed until Aug. 10, according to ODH.

The board will meet at 3 p.m. Monday at The Woodlands in executive session with representatives of Generations Health Care, a Cleveland-area firm that specializes in nursing home management. The board passed a resolution Thursday to hire Generations.

Commissioners want the firm to review the nursing home's policies and procedures and make sure any problems in procedure are corrected before state inspectors return.

"There's a very serious breakdown in communication that has to change. Emphatically, that has to change," Commissioner Maureen Frederick said Saturday.

Ravenna police also were notified by family and nursing home administrators and have comfirmed they conducted a criminal investigation. No charges have been filed.

ODH's deficiency report described the woman as a "frail, vulnerable resident" who was unable to move her arms or legs. The names of the resident and that of her alleged abuser, who reportedly was the 75-year-old spouse of a Woodlands resident, were blacked out in the report.

Nursing home administrator Gary Borrelli and Director of Nursing Diane Goodwin told investigators they were unaware of three prior abuse allegations the state inspectors said were documented in staff notes.

Last Thursday, commissioners met for about one-and-a-half hours with Borrelli and Goodwin.

Commissioner Chris Smeiles said commissioners have been told inspectors from the Ohio Department of Health may be back as early as Thursday. He also said the county has been notified the fines recommended by ODH have been reduced from $4,250 to $250 a day, and that Medicaid/Medicare payments are no longer in jeopardy.

When it was opened in 2001, Generations Health Care managed the Woodlands for the county for the first year of operation. Commissioners then decided to hire Gary Borrelli away from Generations and have him manage the 99-bed nursing home as a Portage County employee.

Smeiles said the board will wait for the Generations evaluation before deciding on any management changes at The Woodlands.

"We have not discussed retaining (Generations) for management as of yet. Everything's on the table," Smeiles said.

Smeiles said he was unaware of any other abuse concerns at the facility off North Chestnut Street in Ravenna.

"If there are any other concerns that need to be brought up, family or residents should contact the county commissioners," he said.

Frederick said she's received a number of calls from families of other residents concerned about the situation.

"I've been told there's too heavy a reliance on temporary (nursing) services. That's something we need to look at," Frederick said.

At last Thursday's regular session, Frederick told fellow commissioners Smeiles and Chuck Keiper she'd been called by group of concerned Woodlands employees who wanted to meet with commissioners.

Saturday, Frederick said the board was told that, since Woodlands employees are unionized, any meeting with the board would have to be requested by their union.

Smeiles said commissioners are working to quickly resolve safety issues at the nursing home.

"It's very upsetting to have a first-class facility with a stellar reputation for so many years, and this one time period casts a shadow. We are committed to resolving issues and work on restoring public faith in the Woodlands," he said.,

17.	Posted by cocoa September 19, 2007
	Maybe you need to start taking care of your elder instead of bad mouthing everyone.. I put a nice comment about the staff in here and all you did was attack me for leaving good words for the staff! Maybe you need to read your own comments, LOOK BELOW AND START READING:) To chocolate or whatever, I don't have to make excuses for what I say or to you or anyone else, apparently you are the one who doesn't have a life, if you are looking at a post that doesn't apply to you..maybe you should get a hobby or join a chat group, not entertain your thoughts or opinions on a forum that shouldn't even exist.....I would love to butt out and turn a blind eye on this situation but that is not an option....So why don't you guys visit a small town gossip room and make your hear-say and praises into one big chat...one where the person involved can defend themselves and see all the crap people have to say about them... Start proofreading.....there's a hobby that doesn't involve offending people by adding your biased opinion.... (These are your own words NoAnswer)

16.	Posted by KamaScott September 19, 2007
	Noanswer apparently you are a family member of the victim. I do understand your concern. But you don't know what the situation is firsthand any more than I do because YOU WEREN'T THERE for the full story. How much you were there for I do not know. But the people who work there were there for the full story. My point in the first place was that to start ranting about the facility before the full story is uncovered is very unfair and THAT is what it looks like from reading this article. I do not think the blame game is appropriate, I think we need to finds facts and I've met several aides and nurses from this facility and KNOW they would not put a patient at risk in anyway. I ALSO know they respect patient rights. The right to privacy is one of those. They didn't let some stranger wander the halls of the facility. He was the husband of her roommate and she did not ask to be moved (I think she refused to be moved didn't she no answer?) We might think it strange what was going on with those three but ..... To blame the facility in this case I think is way out of line. But that is for the investigators to determine.

11.	Posted by KamaScott September 17, 2007
	Cocoa Well "I" appreciate your comments and they most certainly DO have bearing on the current dialogue. They go to the quality of care at Woodlands. I know my daughter and the other staff who work so hard for the benefit of the residents appreciate your comments also. Noanswer is correct if the patient in question truly cannot move (wouldn't that make them a quadrpalegic) and can't speak then victim it is because no concent can be given, but I'm told that is not the case. She does speak and staff can understand her. So back to square one. I am myself a senior and breast exams have taken on a whole new dimension. If only my Dr. knew! I'm not tellin' and you can't. Just because we get old doesn't mean we're dead yet. I don't know but that if there were more swingers in nursing homes they wouldn't happier places. God knows that healthy sex prolongs life. But that isn't really the point. The point is did theses three: Wife, Husband and roomate have a consentual thing going on or not. If not kick the old man's butt. If they did.....maybe noanswer should butt out. And btw no I don't proof and I can't spell for crap either. Post I :D

9.	Posted by cocoa September 17, 2007
	I am the one who was taken care of at The Woodlands using my daughter's screen name... I went into the nursing home at 52 years old, knowing everything that was going on around me. At my age I was not thrilled to go into a nursing home facility. Once I was there, they made me feel as if I was at home and I received wonderful care. I even had aides come in to make my bed after I got up, even though they really didn't have time, they took the time to stop in and help me out when I needed them. The staff over excelled their job to make me feel comfortable, when all I really wanted was to get better so I could take care of myself in my own home. The quality of care I received enabled me to get back on my feet to care for myself. This nursing home is so clean and taken care, just as well as the patients are cared for. The employees were wonderful, caring, and went out of their way to help me, it wasn't just me--I watched them care for others as I went to therapy, and for walks during my stay. THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF AT THE WOODLANDS!