Problems found in care centers
Report examined S.C. assisted-living facilities
By Tony Bartelme
Some assisted-living homes in South Carolina, including one in the Charleston area, are filthy and dangerous places where elderly and other vulnerable residents are assaulted, given wrong medicines and live without heat and proper food, a watchdog group said in a report Tuesday.
Read the report
Protection and Advocacy Report on assisted living centers in South Carolina (81 page PDF)
The nonprofit Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, spent 14 months analyzing state documents and investigating complaints at community residential care facilities, better known as assisted-living centers.
Called "No Place to Call Home," the group focused on conditions in five unidentified homes and a sixth closed by a court order last year. The report said these examples reflect neglect and squalor found in many other homes its team of volunteers inspected. Among their findings:
• In some homes, patients were beaten or abused. At one unidentified center in the Charleston metro area, a staffer beat a patient with a two-by-four. During an inspection, officials found an open bucket of used hypodermic needles in the living room. A Protection and Advocacy team interviewed four residents, including one who said, "sometimes people (here) want to harm me." The home had been shut down a few years earlier after a resident's death.
• At another unidentified home, inspectors learned that a staffer was on the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry because of a rape charge. A Protection and Advocacy volunteer, meanwhile, "was locked inside a bedroom because the door had no doorknob."
• At the home in the Charleston area, patients were found sweltering in bedrooms with temperatures above 82 degrees and wearing torn and dirty clothes. Residents weren't allowed to sit in a living room because the administrator wanted to "keep the area clean and smelling good."
Officials with Protection and Advocacy called for stronger laws to shut down repeat offenders, more funding for state Department of Health and Environmental Control inspectors and easier ways for the public to see inspection results.
The Post and Courier's on-line center for investigative reporting.Want to know how your favorite restaurant was rated by DHEC? Wonder about state employees' salaries?
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"Our hope is to prevent even more people from living in squalor, suffering abuse and neglect or even dying due to lack of oversight," said Gloria Prevost, the group's executive director.
Thom Berry, director of the DHEC's media relations office, said the agency several months ago began a comprehensive review of how it regulates assisted -living centers.
About 16,700 South Carolinians live in about 480 assisted -living homes. These facilities typically offer seniors food and other assistance in their daily lives but not the level of medical care of nursing homes. They're regulated primarily by the DHEC, and many are supported by state and federal dollars.
One longtime assisted-living center operator in North Charleston took issue with Protection and Advocacy's findings.
Andrea J. Magwood operates Fair Havens, a 20-bed facility on Cosgrove Avenue in North Charleston. In recent years, when the facility was operated under the name of Genesis Community Care, the DHEC cited the home for poor record-keeping, unsecured medications and uncorrected maintenance issues.
Magwood said that she has operated a residential home for 32 years, and that she and her staff do the best they can to take care of their residents. She said her home and others like hers take in people with difficult health and emotional problems, and that state inspectors sometimes cite homes for minor issues, such as a torn piece of linoleum.
"Are they nit-picky? Absolutely," she said, adding that she changed the home's name to Fair Havens because "of all the bad publicity (about Genesis). There's more than one side to this story."
Dave Zoellner, Protection and Advocacy's managing attorney in Charleston, said most problems identified in the report involve smaller, mom-and-pop operations. He said that he's been in some of the homes, and that many residents live "in appalling conditions that surely you wouldn't want to have one of your relatives living in ... You come away shaking your head."
Reach Tony Bartelme at 937-5554 or tbartelme@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
sardis12 (anonymous) says...
DHEC ought to look into the racket that assisted-living homes have come to be...
I used to work out of an office near a Cabading Home at Rivers and Cosgrove. They took the entire Social Security checks of the residents except for a $39 monthly stipend. Then the Cabading family would show up in Mercedes or BMWs with trunks full of the cheapest food you could get from Wal-Mart or Dollar General.
The residents sat behind a chain-link fence in the back all day, while the staff radio blared loudly in the background. These weren't all crazy people who needed to be caged up, and some residents took CARTA occasionally ($39 per month won't get you far, even on a bus), but there were no outings or transportation provided anywhere. I'm sure the staff was paid a minimal wage, and the drab gray building hadn't seen a can of paint in years. It was (and probably still is) a disgrace.
Around the other corner, on Commander Road, for years a house was rented for $800 per month, allegedly housing an assisted-living facility, but in fact it was vacant. The out-of-state owner was somehow able to get tax breaks and subsidies that made it worthwhile for her to pay rent and pretend to be operating an assisted-living business.
That this goes on is no secret, but nobody seems to give a damn...
July 22, 2009 at 1:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jacman (anonymous) says...
What's the deal not wanting to name these places or individuals involved in this garbage ? What the hell kind of newspaper are you when you don't provide the public with enough knowledge to protect themselves or their loved ones ? I can only " shake my head " !
July 22, 2009 at 4:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
I managed my mother's care during her final decline. This included using West Ashley assisted living and then nursing facilities - they were not cheap - $2K and $5K per month, respectively. I found the facilities clean, with good food and good care. I think is important to stay involved, especially with the management of medical care and drugs. The nursing facility had an in house doctor.
July 22, 2009 at 5:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
patlabb (anonymous) says...
As a Nurse I have seen falling apart facilities were they treat the clients and staff like crap. The facilities are falling apart and cockroach infested. An example is Magnolia Manor is Monks Corner with several serious patient safety violations and yet is operating to this day. I have seen cockroaches in the patient's food at that place.
July 22, 2009 at 5:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Part of the problem, only a part, goes back to what I was advocating yesterday on the longshoreman article. Many of the staff that work at these places don't get paid much more than a minimal wage, so, in a sense, you get what you pay for. As said by Neponset, you also, as with your children, stay engaged often.
July 22, 2009 at 7:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MisWesaMoves (anonymous) says...
Sardis...Right there with ya. My father who was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's went to live @ Cabading temporarily. He was still in excellent physical shape and would "get out". The 3rd time he got out and "roamed" he ended up @ my mother's house, West Ashley. No one from Cabading EVER called us, the police, nothing. I guess they put up the chain link fence after we raised cain and took Daddy out of there...Crooks...ALL OF THEM.
As for Andrea Magwood, my mother used to work with her. A very nice lady. I've been to her care home when I was a teenager. It was nice and comfortable and she was very warm and kind to her residents. But I do remember hearing about her complaints that "they" (agencies) were always on her for one thing or another and that she was doing the best that she could.
July 22, 2009 at 7:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
One of the problems I had at the nursing facility was a steady stream of staff turnovers. I would no sooner get things the way I wanted them, when the floor/wing supervisor would leave and I had to start over. Need to visit/check on thing almost daily.
July 22, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
laurasmorris (anonymous) says...
An article like this that doesn't name names does more harm than good. Having to go into or having to force a parent into an assisted living facility is an extremely difficult decision that is not helped by painting them all with a broad brush. Long term care insurance was not even available or was unaffordable for most elderly and disabled individuals, so whatever it costs to be in an assisted living facility has to be paid out of someone's pocket, generally the children of eldery parents. There are a number of excellent facilities in the Charleston area, though not enough for all who would benefit. The best constantly struggle to keep expenses down--not because of greed as this article implies, but because it's essential that costs don't exceed ability to pay. I find the cost very reasonable for what you get. One of the best in the Charleston area has a basic daily charge of $165. This includes a room the size of a nice hotel room, three meals a day, transportation to medical appointments and shopping, basic attendant care, daily activities, and other amenities. Tell me, where in Charleston could you even get a decent hotel room with no food or services for $165?
July 22, 2009 at 7:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
laurasmorris (anonymous) says...
I should have read the report before commenting! The facilities covered in this report agree to accept a cap of $1100 per month for room and board and "personal care." No wonder you find these problems. How can you expect to get good services for $35.50 per day?
July 22, 2009 at 8:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
drp7773 (anonymous) says...
Anyone that preys or abuses the elderly or children should be locked up from society for good. This includes any assisted facilties for any reason.
July 22, 2009 at 8:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
STREETLAW (anonymous) says...
I can tell you from personal experience there is not one nursing home in the entire charleston area that would not have people going to jail if they were taking care of dogs. But there is no equivelent of a SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) where people are concerned. And you don't have to take my word for it. I come in contact with many nurses and nurses aids who have worked in such facilities who were very critical of them. One talked of doing nurse training in one and crying every night because of what she saw. Another told me they are not nursing homes but dying homes. And she was talking about a facility my wife was in for a short while.
The people on the front end of these operations are all sweetness and light, but the people who actually take care of the patients could often care less.
And some of the doctors who are in the facilities see hundreds of patients at a half dozen such facilities and often spend less very little time with any given patient. DHEC also does not have enough staff to investigate these places.
If you try to sue these facilities for neglect you better have a bucket of money to do so. One thing they do know how to do is cover their assets.
These places are in some respects protected by DHEC because they do not widely publish the name of facilities that neglect the patients. They should also use undercover investigators because the elderly don't have access to them to air complaints.
As to assisted living homes, I can only suspect you get what you pay for.
For anyone planning to get old, I suggest you be sure and get rich at the same time or you may spend some pretty miserable years toward the end of your life. Quality care for you or a loved one requires a very costly one on one 24/7 arrangement that will set you back about $300,000 a year.
I wish the Post and Courier would look more deeply into this issue and name names.
July 22, 2009 at 8:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RuleNumberOne (anonymous) says...
This article is really referring to BOARDING HOMES rather than assisted livings. These are low budget options to the higher priced facilities.They're usually mom-and-pop outfits that are very informal. I'm troubled that charges are made and no names are given. DHEC is a paper tiger- if you close a facility, where do you put those people? So they are forced to work with facilities that are substandard.But you can't keep slashing agency budgets and expect them to monitor either. The Long Term Care Ombudsmen at Trident Area Agency on Aging investigates complaints about abuse and neglect in facilities too. I agree that there is more concern for pets than older people and standards need to be raised.While some facilities do exploit older people and should be prosecuted, many do provide good care using the limited resources they have. The real problem is either poverty or poor planning for retirement. And people need to understand that Medicare does NOT pay for long term care.And a boarding home , which is an unlocked facility is not an appropriate home for an Alzheimer's resident who wanders.
July 22, 2009 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mainermike (anonymous) says...
AS I SEE IT, by Mainer Mike Brown.
Do the owners of these assisted living homes honestly think they're going to get away with it?
July 22, 2009 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sj301 (anonymous) says...
As stated by others, how's a person to know and/or protect their family member when these articles aren't specific enough? AND there's a HUGE difference between Residential Care and Assisted Living facilities. I mean HUGE!
July 22, 2009 at 10:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pavlovsdog (anonymous) says...
Why are the names of these establishments NOT listed???? They are receiving public dollars. I see no need to be 'discreet' and keep their names on the hush hush.
And Yes! A torn piece of linoleum can be a problem. Someone's walker can get caught on the torn piece and they can trip, fall, and the rest is history.
July 22, 2009 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
My Father caught a staph infection from one of these places near Eagles Landing---he was 86.5 and it killed him---
July 22, 2009 at 11:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
I see lots of comments about naming the folks that fail to provide adequate services - just think about it - there are lots of underemployed lawyers just itching to file a suit against the P&C and collect big bucks for them selves.
July 22, 2009 at 12:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
This problem is only going to get worse. Is it a good thing that we have chemicals and procedures now that can keep us living past a point that we can take care of ourselves?
July 22, 2009 at 12:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
It is not easy taking care of an elderly parent - I have done it, ie managing their health care needs, making sure that they get enough to eat, insuring they take their meds etc. And cleaning up when they have a potty accident - it is especially hard for a son to clean up his mother, but I did it. At some point, one needs help and there are two options: assisted living for elderly folks that need just a little help/care and skilled nursing when the needs are great. The person in charge of management needs to do some home work and place their loved one in a good facility - most elderly have a home, SS, etc and in most cases, these funds will pay for the care - forget about them leaving something for you. Once a person enters a skilled nursing facility, life expectancy is about two years - do the math on their funds.
July 22, 2009 at 12:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
neponset--i did the same but siblings and my mother refused to hire nursing help which my Dad could afford. So not having the power to stop them (not in control of the money)he was put in a home that killed him---I will not forgive them
July 22, 2009 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
Numba10
Sorry for your loss. Fortunately I had the control and hired folks to help, but the cost for 24/7 was greater than the cost of a facility and eventually my mother was placed in a skilled nursing home. It was very hard to give up and place her in a home, but I was running out of steam and it was the only choice. But one can not just place someone in a facility and let them handle it - one needs to continue to manage things - make sure things are done poperly.
July 22, 2009 at 1:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mainermike (anonymous) says...
AS I SEE IT, by Mainer Mike Brown.
You can tell the owners of these centers really care about people.
July 22, 2009 at 2:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
I helped my dad with my mom and then later helped him after she passed away. Both were put in assisted living eventually, and neither survived more than a few months. I felt like I had let them down, but I couldn't work and care for them at the same time at home. Oh, well, life goes on.
July 22, 2009 at 2:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sci_noid (anonymous) says...
Support the Community Choice Act so we all have a choice in our future!
"The Community Choice Act provides an alternative and will fundamentally change our long term care system and the institutional bias that now exists. Building on the Money Follows the Person concept, the two million Americans currently residing in nursing homes and other institutions would have a choice. In addition, people would not be forced into institutions order to get out on community services; once they are deemed eligible for the institutional services, people with disabilities and their families will be able to choose where and how they receive services. Instead of making a new entitlement, the Community Choice Act, makes the existing entitlement more flexible."
July 22, 2009 at 3:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
The
We are only here for a short period of time and then we pass across the river Styx. Hopefully there are people who love us and will make our passage to the other side a little easier. Don't forget a coin for the boatman.
July 22, 2009 at 3:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lmh1991 (anonymous) says...
Is not the PandC's fault these facilities are not named. P&C give you a link to read the report. If you click on that report and read it, you will realize the report does not give these names.
July 22, 2009 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cabooty105 (anonymous) says...
In response to sardis12, who claims DHEC ought to look into Residential Care Facilities (formally called boarding homes). To set the record straight, DHEC inspects the facility and reiviews residents' records, along with all the financial statistics of the residents. On top of that, an annual cost report is submitted which shows every money made and every expense the facility has for the year. Your claim of the residents receiving $39/month is completely wrong. Reguarding your comment on the cheap food purchased from Wal-Mart or the Dollar store, I hope you aren't telling me that the majority of the people that buy food and supplies at these stores are cheap. I would like to know what fancy stores you go to. Concerning the residents behind the chain link fence, this fence was put up as a result of DHEC's request several years ago. Mr. Sardis12, the residents aren't caged up here because they can come an go as they please no matter what mental condition they are in, its their right. Your claim that their isn't any transportation is also completely wrong. How in the world do you think they make their Dr. appointments, see their caseworkers and get their prescriptions? Your claims are just assumptions from an office near the facility. For over 20 years, DHEC has inspected the buildings and the records of the residents. In addition, the residents' caseworkers constantly come into the facilities to check on their client's wellbeing. You seem to know more what is going on inside the facility, without actually being involved. You seem to know more than the people working there and the agencys that inspects them. I suggest that you call the proper agencys so you will get a better understanding of how a residential care faciltiy operates. As for what we make after paying all of the expense like the insurance, mortgage, water, electricity, gas, taxes, licenses, groceries, medcations, maintenace, payroll and many other bills, please let me know what kind of racket is going on. Maybe you would like to try taking care of the elderly and the mentally ill yourself. Who knows, after 24 years of business, you can work hard, make sacrifices and save up enough money to drive a used 12 year old Mercedes too.
July 22, 2009 at 5:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JustJennings (anonymous) says...
I was in a nearly fatal accident several years ago and saw the corruption, fraud, and incompetence that goes on. I personally reported it, but nothing was done. The biggest problem in this country is the lack of accountability for government officials. The do what they want, but nothing is done to them even if they break the law.
July 22, 2009 at 7:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
klstitus (anonymous) says...
In response to this article as a whole. The allegations stated have no merit. The facilities that this newspaper mention deal with the severely mentally ill not nursing homes. Residents that are sex offenders, murders, and drug addicts. In a perfect world one would like to think that all people can function normally and contribute to society. But this is not the case. The article does not name names simply because these allegations not convictions. Inspectors have the authority to walk in unannounced 24/7 to remove residents and closed the facility. Do these advocacy groups volunteer to help improve these facilities or help train employees?
July 22, 2009 at 7:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TraumaDoc (anonymous) says...
I read the report. Keep in mind the selection bias in the report. They did 67 inspections then reviewed 28 that they thought might present problems. They then went back and issued a report on the five worst plus a facility which they include despite acknowledging that it has already closed. The conditions they describe are clearly deplorable and should be dealt with, without question. They don't, however, say a word about the 39 inspections without problems or the 23 that, under review, were not commented upon. I believe these folks have good intentions and admirable goals but are clearly sensationalizing their selected worst facilities to make a point. Don't get me wrong, the point is valid and those facilities should be corrected but painting all facilities with a broad brush by not identifying the five offenders is duplicitous and purposely intentioned to promote their cause. The better way to do this is to specifically identify the offenders and get them fixed rather than try to scare people all over the state. Hold the offenders responsible and recognize the ones without problems as doing a good job. It is more honest.
July 22, 2009 at 8:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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