Unsatisfied with the nursing home’s explanation for the dozens of bruises on their 84-year-old grandmother, the family of Armeda Thomas, an 84-year-old resident at Madison Manor Nursing Home decided to place a video camera in the disabled woman’s room. The video tape confirmed that Thomas was the victim of physical and verbal abuse from the staff at the facility. The video revealed the following evidence of abusive behavior on the part of nursing home staff:
Failed to bathe Thomas - Failed to feed Thomas.
- Taunting and mocking the disabled woman
- Pulled residents out of bed by their neck
- Let Thomas lay on the floor for an hour before any aid was provided
Following the discovery of the videotaped abuse, the Attorney General began a criminal investigation which revealed the nursing home failed to investigate injuries of ‘unknown origin’ to 17 cognitively impaired residents at the facility. Kentucky nursing home investigators issued a Type-A citation to the nursing home determining the conditions at the facility posed immediate danger to the residents.
According to Kentucky nursing home records, the facility has corrected the violations posing immediate jeopardy to residents and is working to correct the less serious violations. Madison Manor is part of the Richmond Health and Rehabilitation Complex and is owned by Extendicare, a national nursing home operator.
Although the nursing home employees behavior is inexcusable, blame for this barbaric treatment also falls on Extendicare. The fact that there are multiple episodes of abusive behavior can only mean that Extendicare has failed to provide adequate training and supervision for its employees.
For laws related to Kentucky nursing homes, look here.