Pennsylvania Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services unveiled their annual Nursing Home Compare List, USA TODAY revealed their own analysis of the list, showing that an alarming number of nursing homes across the country have maintained a 1 star rating – the lowest on the 5-star scale – since the list began back in 2008. We were surprised to find 59 1-star homes here in our own state of Pennsylvania. Some of those homes in our area include:
Saint Catherine Healthcare Center, Ashland
Berwick Retirement Village, Berwick
Mountain View, A Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Coal Township
Dunmore Health Care Center, Dunmore
The Pavilion at St. Luke Village, Hazleton
Mountain City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Hazleton
The Manor at St. Luke Village, Hazleton
Ellen Memorial Health Care Center, Honesdale
Manorcare Health Services-Kingston, Kingston
The Highlands Care Center, Laporte
Millville Health Center, Millville
Kramm Health and Rehab Center, Milton
The Cedars of Monroeville, Monroeville
Guardian Elder Care Center, Nanticoke
Birchwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Nanticoke
Lackawanna Health and Rehab Center, Olyphant
Green Ridge Care Center, Scranton
Golden Living Center, Scranton
Linwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Scranton
Scranton Health Care Center, Scranton
Golden Livingcenter-Tunkhannock, Tunkhannock
Golden Livingcenter-Summit, Wilkes-Barre
Riverstreet Manor, Wilkes-Barre
Golden Livingcenter-East Mountain, Wilkes-Barre
Rose View Center, Williamsport
According to the article, homes receive the lowest rating because they are “much below average” compared with others in their states. Some problems that can cause this low rating include consistently dirty equipment and linens, mistreatment and unlicensed caregivers.
In the article, Larry Minnix, president and CEO of LeadingAge, an association of non-profit nursing homes, is quoted as saying, “Nobody wants to see consistent one-stars; they give everybody a bad name.”
The rating system was created to help consumers make decisions regarding nursing home quality. To come up with the ratings, the federal government contracts with states to inspect nursing homes once a year. Ratings are determined based on annual inspections, quality measures, and staff time spent with residents.
If you have a loved one who is a resident of one of the nursing facilities listed above, there is a chance that he or she may not be receiving the required medical attention they require and deserve. If you suspect that your loved one in one of these homes is being neglected, contact the nursing home abuse attorneys at O’Connor Law for a free review of your case.