Editorial from Aiken Standard
The Aiken Standard had an interesting editorial about the deficient care of nursing homes in Aiken, South Carolina and the new 5 star rating system. The editorial states that nursing homes are increasingly becoming an integral part of the health care network in our country. As people live longer, the chances that they will spend some time in a nursing facility increases. That is why the federal government's five-star grading system is so important for patients and their families.
The five-star comparison allows people to compare nursing homes in their areas and to determine which might be the best for themselves or their loved ones.
Medicare recently came out with its latest report on nursing home quality, grading all six of the nursing home facilities in Aiken County. Only one of the six scored at the five-star level which means "much above average" according to the Medicare guide. Carriage Hills Living Center scored at the five-star level.
Only one of the other five, NRC Healthcare - North Augusta, was at the three-star, or average, level.
Pepper Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center score two stars out of five, below average.
The other three, Anne Maria Rehab and Nursing Center of North Augusta, Azalea Woods Nursing Home in Aiken, and Heritage Healthcare at Mattie C. Hall in Aiken, all scored one star out of five, much below average.
It would be hoped that all of the local facilities would have scored at least average. Further it is hoped that patients and their families will insist that improvements be made in the future.
Complete information about the nursing home comparisons can be found online at www.medicare.gov/NHCompare.
It doesn't surprise me at all that Azalea Woods scored one out of five stars. That's probably one of the worse nursing homes in Aiken. (Probably the oldest and unkept) My Grandmother, unfortunately had to be placed there and if it wasn't one bad thing happening, it was another. After being placed on the bedside potty, she was forced to sit on it for 1 1/2 hours before someone decided to check on her. She could not get herself up. Mine and my family's complaints to the Head of Nursing went to deaf ears many many times. Our concerns did not seem to matter.
On her last day, my Grandmother's chest pain complaints were ignored after she repeatedly told the nurses. They happen to walk in and she was dead. They called an ambulance, but it was too late. The nurses themselves told me they did not know how long she had been dead. I would die in my own bed before being placed in that nursing home.
It is in such dis-repair. It's looks good from the outside, but the inside needs to be totally remodeled.
Their beds are very old, some don't work correctly, and the bathrooms are old and disgusting. Beyond cleaning.
I have never seen such a stinking place and horrific care before. It is a very depressing place for the old to have to go live out their golden years. Azalea Woods needs to be shut down.
I'm so sorry to hear about the care provided to your mother. I hope you filed a grievance complaint, and contacted DHEC to initiate an investigation. What does the death certificate say about cause of death? Did anyone conduct an autopsy? I hope you find the answers you deserve to get.
Thank you, Mr. Mullman for your interest in my Grandmother's care at Azalea Woods Nursing Home.
She died on February 21, 2005.
Although it has been 4 years, it still upsets me to think of the un-deserved care that she received there. I had to contact my Aunt regarding the death certificate. The cause of death is very hard to understand. It had several things listed that I didn't understand. Such as, Atoril Fabulation, Hyperpoidisma, Arthritis, Hypertention, Anemia. Very confusing to me.
The family did have a "meeting" with the head of nursing there before my Grandmother passed away. I'm not sure if it was called a Grievance Report, but we all had complaints. Even my Grandmother was at the meeting. An autospy was not conducted. We all felt there was not use, due to her age & deteriation. We didn't know to contact DHEC to tell you the truth. This was a first experience for all of us and we simply did not know what to do, except to complain to the head of nursing, but to no avail. We all complained to nurses of my Grandmother not receiving her medication, and receiving the "wrong" medication. What is one to do? After reading all these stories of nursing home abuse, it seems a hopeless situation, that any of them will get better, because they can post what they want to on the patients records, etc.
AND, in some causes, it is the nursing homes' word against the patients word, or the family's word.
They can write what they want in their records to protect themselves.
Thank you, Mr. Mullman for your interest in my Grandmother's care at Azalea Woods Nursing Home.
She died on February 21, 2005.
Although it has been 4 years, it still upsets me to think of the un-deserved care that she received there. I had to contact my Aunt regarding the death certificate. The cause of death is very hard to understand. It had several things listed that I didn't understand. Such as, Atoril Fabulation, Hyperpoidisma, Arthritis, Hypertention, Anemia. Very confusing to me.
The family did have a "meeting" with the head of nursing there before my Grandmother passed away. I'm not sure if it was called a Grievance Report, but we all had complaints. Even my Grandmother was at the meeting. An autospy was not conducted. We all felt there was not use, due to her age & deteriation. We didn't know to contact DHEC to tell you the truth. This was a first experience for all of us and we simply did not know what to do, except to complain to the head of nursing, but to no avail. We all complained to nurses of my Grandmother not receiving her medication, and receiving the "wrong" medication. What is one to do? After reading all these stories of nursing home abuse, it seems a hopeless situation, that any of them will get better, because they can post what they want to on the patients records, etc.
AND, in some causes, it is the nursing homes' word against the patients word, or the family's word.
They can write what they want in their records to protect themselves.