A long running investigation into the Glencare at Wilmington nursing care facility has uncovered numerous complaints. Department of Social Services has been looking in to the facility over the past year, and things became more intense after two former employees alerted government officials and the local media recently. Since this investigation took a more intense turn, it has been found that DSS received six complaints in January of 2009 alone about the assisted living facility.
DSS found many complaints after the investigation, but specific complaints are not documented. The Special Care Unit, which is home for residents who suffer from dementia, was not providing sufficient supervision of these patients who often have special needs. On three separate occasions, sexual assault took place by a resident of the unit. Various staff members reported being witness to these assaults during an interview, but they failed to follow guidelines. Staff members did not notify the administrator in order for the incidents to be reported to DSS, nor was the resident responsible for the assaults examined by a doctor.
Over the past year, the Wilmington, NC facility received a total of 23 complaints. So far this year, they have already received 8 complaints. The Department of Social Services stated that medicine distribution was not documented on a consistent basis by staff members. DSS also reported that a staff member was hired that had previously been placed on the state health care personnel registry because of neglecting a patient at another elderly care facility. Glencare also received three “Type A” violations last year, the most serious a facility can be given.
In the middle of all of this, a new owner took over the facility. Glen Kornegay said that changes were being made to correct the issues at Glencare. In an interview conducted by DHHS, the committee talked with his wife who is a registered nurse and vice president of Kornegay Healthcare. The DHHS committee was told that the report by DSS wasn’t totally accurate, but Department of Social Services said they were not given the opportunity to give their side of the story.
The Department of Health and Human Services finally voted 6 to 1 against a penalty for Glencare, but that was overruled by the DHHS chief Barbara Ryan, who assessed Glencare a $2,000 penalty. This penalty must be paid by mid-February this year.
Nursing home abuse and neglect is unfortunately a large and growing problem in this country. If your loved one has been abused or neglected in a nursing home or elderly care facility, contact a New York nursing home abuse lawyer at once.
