South Carolina Nursing Home Blog : South Carolina Nursing Home Lawyer & Attorney : Poliakoff & Associates Law Firm : Elderly Care, Senior Care

Lawyers and Settlements had an article about the lawsuit filed in a case where a surveillance camera captured images of nursing home abuse in what has been deemed the second-worst elder care facility in the nation, according to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Richmond Health and Rehabilitation Complex in Madison, also known as Madison Manor, was also ranked the worst facility in the state of Kentucky.   Madison Manor is owned by Extendicare, a for-profit chain that operates 21 facilities in the state. The Lexington Herald Leader reported Wednesday that three Extendicare facilities are on the GAO national list of worst performers.

Last year a hidden camera at the Richmond facility caught images of abuse inflicted on an 84-year-old resident by nursing aides. The resident, Armeda Thomas, has since died. However, in September of last year, Thomas' family hid a video camera in her room at Madison Manor in an effort to explain bruising on the resident's body.

Nursing assistants were seen physically abusing and taunting the Alzheimer's patient. The nursing assistants were also allegedly shown refusing to feed or bathe the resident.

Thomas died two months later. Her family proceeded to sue the nursing home, and three nurses' aides were indicted and charged with abuse.  Jaclyn Dawn VanWinkle pleaded guilty earlier this year. Amanda G. Sallee stands trial in March and Valerie Lamb is set to enter a plea early in the new year.

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The Lexington Herald-Leader had an article about a Richmond nursing home facing allegations of abuse has been added to a list of nursing facilities requiring federal oversight.   The federal Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services added Richmond Health and Rehabilitation Center to its "Special Focus Facilities" list in April.

The Richmond Register reports the facility also known as Madison Manor is considered "Class A," meaning it is newly added and pending a standard survey by federal inspectors.  The "Special Focus Facilities" list highlights facilities that either have more problems than most nursing homes, more serious problems than most other homes or a pattern of serious problems over a long period of time, according to the department.

The Kentucky attorney general's office is investigating allegations of abuse at the facility after the family of the late Armeda Thomas, 84, hid a video camera in her room in September to document employees' behavior.   That recording led to criminal charges against several former employees of the facility. Former nurse's aide Jaclyn Dawn VanWinkle pleaded guilty last month to reckless abuse or neglect of an adult and received a probated 12-month jail sentence in exchange for assisting prosecutors with their case. She was seen on the video dancing in front of Thomas in her room.

Amanda Sallee of Richmond was charged with wanton abuse and neglect of an adult for allegedly eating Thomas' meals instead of offering them to her or offering to help feed her.

Valerie Lamb of Berea was charged with reckless abuse and neglect of an adult for allegedly lifting Thomas by her neck and lifting her legs higher than necessary when performing incontinent changes, her misdemeanor indictment says.

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