According to the state Department of Health, a physician ordered compression socks for a resident with blood clots. Nursing staff was directed to apply them in the morning and take them off at night, but failed to follow these orders. This resident had a history of falls, and a physician ordered bilateral floor mats to be placed on the floor when the resident is in bed. Nursing staff failed to follow this directive.
Another resident with arthritis and Parkinson's was supposed to be bathed by nursing staff. When observed by state inspectors, he had facial hair and his fingernails were dirty. He said, "I like to be shaved but I don't have a razor."
Gracedale officials pledged to retrain the staff and audit periodically to ensure residents are receiving adequate care.
This is what they promised in December.
These deficiencies appear to be minor. But if the nursing home hopes to improve its star rating, this is the wrong way to do it. .
Earlier this month, US Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey released a "secret list" of nursing homes that are either in or are candidates for the federal Special Focus Facility (SFF) program. These are homes that “substantially fail” to meet the required care standards and resident protections afforded by the Medicare and Medicaid programs. It includes 16 Pennsylvania homes, but none in Lehigh or Northampton County.
McClure's Gracedale is no better - and arguably worse - than the Gracedale of his predecessors. If we'd only listened to John Stoffa.
ReplyDeleteStop the horror to these innocent human beings. What a travesty as the horror these people endure like a camp 50 years ago. Don't sell it... JUST CLOSE IT. Like Allentown State Hospital- shutter it! when are people going to wake up. These are human beings not being taken care of. An animal shelter takes better care of the cats and dogs then this place. Those responsible in government should be charged! If you left your parent or adult this way in your own home you would be arrested for neglect then why not here? This is not acceptable.
ReplyDeleteMcClueless lied. What a surprise! Absolutely correct that Gracedale is WORSE not BETTER, as he compaigned, under McClueless. One term and out along with ALL his cabinet! Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteThese two deficiencies are so minor in nature that it is silly to make a big issue out of them. This is not an abuse of patients. Nobody beat up a resident or slapped a patient. someone failed to read the doctor's order for placement of floor mats and didn't shave a resident. There are one thousand other reasons why Gracedale should be considered for nursing care of your loved ones. Is the facility clean? does your loved one get he proper medications? Is the food nutritional and tasty? Are the hired staff cordial, friendly and helpful? Are their activities for your loved one to help occupy their time? The list goes on and on. The real problem I see at Gracedale is adequate staff. Until the County starts paying competitive wages the staffing problem will continue. You cannot overwork the staff, make them co-pay for benefits that further eats up their paychecks, and decrease morale. These are the areas where McClure is a failure. Address these needs and a better rating will follow. McClure once said that the employees are Northampton County's greatest asset. Isn't it time for him to prove it?
ReplyDeleteSign me
Gracedale Nursing staff retiree
“Gracedale officials pledged to retrain the staff and audit periodically to ensure residents are receiving adequate care.”
ReplyDeleteAudit PERIODICALLY - are you freakin’ kidding me!!!!!! We’re not auditing a warehouse to see if all the parts are on the shelf, we’re talking about the welfare of our family and friends. This is a travesty from the very top all the way down the chain.
“An animal shelter takes better care of the cats and dogs then this place.”
ReplyDeleteGive me a break. While no one is happy that Gracedale has been cited again, the deficiencies here are minor. One resident is unshaven and another was missing fall pads aside his bed. This kind of problem happens at even the best nursing home. But right now, Gracedale has no room for error. That is what disturbs me. If the star rating does not rise, hospitals and families will stop sending residents
Retiree, I think you put your fingers on a solution. It is pretty clear to me that higher salaries must be paid. I do think employees there care very much.
ReplyDeleteBut Bernie, didn't your hero just negotiate with these people?? Every time you put up a piece on Northampton County since McClure et al have been in you show what a sycophant you have become and will become to ANY administration that gives you access. Your "reporting" is no longer based on purely facts...its biased as hell.
ReplyDeleteOf course I am biased and anyone who claims not to be is full of shit. I am also honest. Look for this storyinThe Morning Call or Easton Express. You won’t see it. I am being honest and will publish stories that make McClure look bad as well as those that make him look good.
ReplyDeleteIts simple CLOSE THE WAREHOUSE OF HUMANS! Rid the tax payers of fleecing of the parents bank accounts so we can get them in and the crappy care. Get the county out of the nursing home business. Bernie why don't you write about how many counties have sold out and went out of the nursing home business? Our stupids in the courthouse have not figured out that we do not belong in the nursing home business. Make sure you tell us how much the union members care about these people as they are left unattended and not taken care of. Angle and Stoffa were right!
ReplyDeleteI have written about counties that sold their nursing homes, and several times. My guess is the only reason you know this is bc you read it here. Despite your obvious anti-union sentiment, I have seen with my own eyes how much Gracedale employees care about residents. They even bring them home. I doubt you have ever done anything like that.
ReplyDeletewritten by someone in the Slate Belt who always had an axe to grind, even more when he was creamed in court on this issue. Someone who does not know the Dept of Health corruption, the palm greasing and the clean as spic n span inspections without any findings..in places that are not fit for an animal and should be shut down. Other places, great care given, yet a long line of deficiencies. Sadly these health inspections mean and tell very little. Its all who you know, and how much palm grease you have.
ReplyDeleteSure.... the state and federal reports on Gracedale over the last 3 years on patient must be fake news and colluded by the russians right?
ReplyDeletePlease keep telling us how underpaid the taxpayer trough out there is. Read the reports and tell us how much they care.... kinda like how much OJ loved Nicole...
Keep telling us how great Gracedale is... kinda like being told a gas chamber in the bath was a health spa...
ReplyDeleteThere's a simple answer to all these knuckleheads complaints. If you don't like the joint don't go there. People should be allowed to make their own choices. If you negative nannies have the perfect place for mom or pop to go (assuming you don't want them living under your roof) let's hear which ones.
ReplyDeleteBTW for-profits can be quite selective about who'll they accept especially when it comes to how much loot is to be made over their life expectancy. I'd also recommend sneaking around the areas the tour guide (salesperson) rather you not see. You'd be quite surprised. We were with the 6 or so we visited no matter how fancy they appeared to be.
There are certain areas of nearly all these homes which are under lock and key. This is not only to keep dementia patients safe but also keep visitors out. You'd be amazed some of the stuff I've seen in even the highest rated.
ReplyDeleteLVCI, Gracedale is unlike the for-profits in another way. They are pressured into accepting residents with serious problems. The workers there care very much. They treat residents like family.. I think most of the problems will go away with more staff and the electronic records. Because it is publicly owned, it gets scrutiny from me.
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ReplyDeleteI am not going to allow you to post drivel unless you identify yourself and take responsibility for your nonsense.
ReplyDeletehow many counties have sold out and went out of the nursing home business?
ReplyDeleteThere are 17 counties in PA that still own nursing homes. Most recently, York sold theirs last year.
64 counties and only 17 are stupid enough to keep spending tax dollars on a money loosing venture and sadly we are on of the stupids-
ReplyDeleteThere are 67 counties, so you should count yourself as one of the stupids.
ReplyDelete