Mistreating senior citizens living in nursing homes is an unacceptable, reprehensible, and disgraceful action done by the hands of caregivers, visitors, and other patients. Many families relocate their loved one into the nursing home, believing that they will receive the highest level of care in a safe environment. Unfortunately, neglect and abuse are an all too common occurrence that leaves victims harmed, injured, or dead.If your loved one was injured while living in a Bristol County nursing facility, contact the Massachusetts Nursing Home Law Center attorneys now for immediate legal intervention. Let our legal team of abuse prevention lawyers work on your family’s behalf to ensure you are financially compensated for your monetary damages.
This long-term care center is a 135-certified bed "for-profit" home providing services to residents of Somerset and Bristol County, Massachusetts. The Medicare and Medicaid-participating facility is located at:
455 Brayton Avenue
Somerset, Massachusetts 02726
(508) 679-2240
Somerset Ridge Center Nursing Home
In addition to providing 24/7 skilled nursing care, Somerset Ridge Center Nursing Home offers other services. Additional focused care includes short-stay care, IV (intravenous) therapy, respite care, hospice, wound care, dementia and memory care, colostomy care, and restorative services involving physical, speech and occupational therapies.
Fined $40,898 for substandard care
Both the State of Massachusetts and the federal government can impose a monetary fine or deny payments through Medicare when a nursing facility has been found to violate established regulations and rules. The greater the monetary fine, the more serious the violation is that likely harmed or could have harmed one or more residents at the nursing home.
Within the last three years, federal investigators imposed a monetary fine against Somerset Ridge Center Nursing Home for $40,898 on March 07, 2018, citing substandard care. Additional documentation concerning penalties and fines can be reviewed on the State of Massachusetts Reporting Elder Abuse & Neglect Webpage.
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The state of Massachusetts and federal government nursing home regulatory agencies routinely update their care home database system. This list contains historical information of all citations and violations.
According to Medicare, this facility maintains an overall rating of two out of five stars, including one out of five stars concerning health inspections, four out of five stars for staffing issues and two out of five stars for quality measures.
The state investigators determined that “the facility failed to ensure the devices which restricted the resident’s freedom of movement and therefore restrain the resident was assessed.” The findings include that the facility “failed to conduct a restraint assessment to evaluate the use of the seatbelt and a wedge cushion.”
The facility’s policy on restraints includes “residents have the right to be free from any physical or chemical restraints imposed for the purpose of discipline or convenience and not to treat the resident’s medical symptoms.” The investigation involved a severely, cognitively impaired resident who “requires extensive assistance with activities of daily living and utilized bed and chair alarms.”
The surveyors made observations throughout the day on February 28, 2018. During that time, the resident “was out of bed and in a wheelchair on the Unit.” The resident “had a seat belt on and also had a wedge cushion that was placed between the resident’s knees that was secured with Velcro straps around the resident’s legs to keep the wedge in place.”
The wedge cushion and the seat belt thus restricted “movement of the resident’s legs.” A review of the Current Occupational Therapy Notes from February 22, 2018, through March 22, 2018, indicated that “the resident was to have an abductor wedge was straps between the bilateral knees when seated in the wheelchair.” However, the surveyors determined that there was no restraint assessment, care plans, or Physician’s orders in the clinical record for the use of restraint.
The facility Unit Manager stated on March 6, 2018, that “the seat belt and wedge had not been assessed as a potential restraint and the facility failed to implement the facility’s restraint policy/assessment as required by state and federal nursing home rules and regulations.
Were you the victim of mistreatment while you lived at Somerset Ridge Center Nursing Home? Contact the Massachusetts nursing home abuse lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center at (800) 926-7565 for immediate legal intervention. We represent Bristol County victims of abuse and neglect in all areas, including Somerset.
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. All information you share with our law offices will remain confidential.
Sources:
Chicago Nursing Home Injury Lawyer Nursing Home Law Center LLC Home