For many family members, detecting abuse and neglect in a nursing facility can be challenging at best, especially if your loved one has symptoms that mask the typical effects of mistreatment. In many cases, friends and family will mistake the natural progression of the aging process or a debilitating disease when actual abuse or neglect is occurring.
If you suspect that your loved one is the victim of mistreatment while living in a Shelby County nursing facility, contact the Alabama nursing home affiliate attorneys now for immediate legal assistance. Our team of abuse prevention lawyers has handled cases just like yours, and we can help your family too. Call us now so we can begin working on your case today to ensure you receive financial compensation for your damages.
This facility is a 198-certified bed "for-profit" long-term care home providing services and cares to residents of Alabaster and Shelby County, Alabama. The Medicare and Medicaid-participating center is located at:
850 9th Street NW
Alabaster, Alabama 35007
(205) 663-3859
Ahava Healthcare of Alabaster Nursing Center (SFF)
In addition to providing 24/7 skilled nursing care, Ahava Healthcare of Alabaster Nursing Center offers other services. Additional focused care includes short-term and long term care.
The facility also provides comprehensive rehab services, wound care, palliative care, IV (intervenous) care, pain management, hospice, respite care, intermediate care, and physical, occupational, and speech therapies.
Fined $110,470 for substandard care
Alabama and the federal government have a legal responsibility for monitoring every nursing home in the state. These agencies have the authority to impose monetary penalties or hold payment from Medicare if the nursing facility has violated rules and regulations. Typically, the more serious the violation, the higher the monetary fines, especially if neglect or abuse caused harm or could have caused harm to a resident.
Special Focus Facility Designation (SSF) – This nursing home has been designated a Special Focus Facility by Medicare due to “a history of persistent poor quality of care, as indicated by the findings of state and our federal inspection teams.” This designation “means that the facility is subjected to more frequent inspections, escalating penalties, and potential termination for Medicare and Medicaid.”
Within the last thirty-six months, investigators imposed five monetary penalties against Ahava Healthcare of Alabaster Nursing Center, citing substandard care. These penalties include a $59,322 fine on September 27, 2018, a $13,305 fine on September 27, 2018, a $26,356 fine on October 19, 2017, and a $11,487 fine on July 21, 2017, for a total of $110,470. During this time, Medicare denied payment on September 27, 2018, due to a lack of quality care.
This nursing home received six complaints and self-reported one serious issue over the last thirty-six months that resulted in violation citations. Additional information concerning the facility can be reviewed on the comprehensive Alabama Adult Protective Services Website.
Call (800) 926-7565 Toll-Free for a No Obligation Consultation
Information on every intermediate and long-term care home in the state can be reviewed on government-owned and operated database websites, including the Alabama Department of Public Health and Medicare.gov.
According to Medicare, this facility maintains an overall rating of one out of five stars, including three out of five stars concerning health inspections, three out of five stars for staffing issues, and one out of five stars for quality measures.
The state investigators determined that the nursing home “failed to provide medical justification for the use of a seatbelt restraint for [one resident]. The facility further failed to ensure a restraint assessment was performed when the seatbelt restraint was ordered for [the resident].” This deficient practice “had the potential to affect [one resident] reviewed for restraints.”
A review of the facility’s policy titled: Use of Restraints from 2008 indicates “restraints should only be used for the safety and well-being of the resident only after other alternatives have been tried unsuccessfully.”
A review of the resident’s Care Plans indicated that the resident “is at risk for falls due to contracted hips and knees, chronic pain upon a range of motion of extremities.” The resident also had an above the knee amputation and “will not experience any injuries related to falls with safety approaches implemented January 11, 2018.” However, one of the approaches involved a “self-releasing seatbelt for safety due to the resident’s awareness of safety.”
There was a Physician’s order for the self-releasing seatbelt “for safety due to the patient’s decreased awareness of safety.” The resident’s medical records revealed “no pre-restraint assessment for the resident’s use of the restraints.”
Do you suspect that your loved one is the victim of mistreatment while residing at Ahava Healthcare of Alabaster Nursing Center? Contact the Alabama nursing home abuse prevention lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center at (800) 926-7565 for immediate legal intervention. We represent Shelby County victims of abuse and neglect in all areas, including Alabaster.
Discuss your case with us now through an initial case consultation at no charge to you. Also, we offer a 100% “No Win/No-Fee” Guarantee. This promise means we postpone payment for our services until after we have secured a monetary recovery on your behalf.
Sources:
Attorney Brian Murphy
Licensed in Alabama
Chicago Nursing Home Injury Attorney Nursing Home Law Center LLC Home