March 2011 Nursing Home Report Card: Golden LivingCenter - Colonial Manor of Albany
Golden LivingCenter - Colonial Manor of Albany is a 60 bed nursing home facility located in Albany, Missouri. In the past three years, Golden LivingCenter - Colonial Manor of Albany's inspection deficiency record has met or surpassed the average number of health deficiencies in Missouri. For the reporting periods of 2009 and 2010, the facility received seven citations. It received eight citations in the 2008 reporting period. The average number of nursing home deficiencies in Missouri is seven. Currently, Golden LivingCenter - Colonial Manor of Albany has an overall rating of four stars, according to the system instituted by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, although has just a three star rating specifically regarding its Health Inspections.
A few years ago, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid created a new way of rating nursing homes known as the Five Star Quality Rating System. This system uses information from three key areas to rate the facility as a whole: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. For example, when reviewing information on Golden LivingCenter - Colonial Manor of Albany, nursing home staffing received four stars, quality measures received four stars, and health inspections received three stars. Digging deeper into information used to compile health inspection results, the Terry Law Firm noted that during an inspection on October 9, 2009, state investigators found an incident involving actual harm to one or more of the residents of the facility. Two years earlier, the facility faced an "Immediate Jeopardy" citation, which is the worst classification of citation available. Both of these citations involved making sure that the nursing home is free of dangers that cause accidents.
State health inspections are comprised of approximately 180 different items in the major aspects of care that state health inspectors review and inspect each time they visit the facility. Under Mistreatment Deficiencies, Golden LivingCenter - Colonial Manor of Albany was cited three separate times in three years. In 2010, the facility placed its residents at risk for harm when it either failed to hire only people who have no legal history of abusing, neglecting, or mistreating residents or it failed to investigate any acts or reports of resident abuse, neglect, or mistreatment. This facility again placed its residents at risk for harm on October 30, 2009, when it failed to keep all residents free from physical restraints unless necessary for medical treatment. During the 2008 inspection reporting period, the Golden LivingCenter - Colonial Manor of Albany was cited by state investigators for placing its residents at risk for harm when it failed to write and use policies that forbid mistreatment, neglect, and abuse of residents or theft of their property.
Golden LivingCenter - Colonial Manor of Albany was cited several times in 2009 and 2008 in the area of Quality Care. Residents with reduced range of motion require a great deal of assistance to keep and increase their range of motion. The facility failed to assist its residents in this respect in 2009. A year earlier, state investigators found that the facility failed to provide services that meet a professional standard of quality for its residents and failed to provide social services for related medical problems to help each resident achieve the highest possible quality of life. Facility staff also was cited in 2008 for failing to ensure that residents entering the nursing home without a catheter were not given a catheter unless absolutely necessary.
Resident rights are an important part of life in a nursing home. Although nursing home residents may require assistance and special care to get through the day, they still have basic rights as human beings. Golden LivingCenter - Colonial Manor of Albany was cited three times in the area of Resident Rights in the past three years. Most recently, in 2010, the facility was cited for failing to provide services that met the needs and preferences of each individual resident and, during the same time period, facility staff failed to try to resolve each resident's complaints quickly. During the 2008 reporting period, the facility failed its residents when staff failed to immediately inform the resident, his/her physician, or a family member of a resident's injury, change in condition, a need to alter treatment, or of a necessary transfer or discharge.
Proper diet and nutrition is necessary for the health and well-being of each nursing home resident. Golden LivingCenter - Colonial Manor of Albany was cited in 2010 for failing to store, cook, and distribute food in a safe and sanitary way. Nutrition is a very important issue for vulnerable senior citizens, making this violation extraordinarily serious.
Pharmacy services at all nursing home facilities need to be accurate. Inaccurate services in this area can lead to illness and even death. Golden LivingCenter - Colonial Manor of Albany failed its residents multiple times in the past two years when it failed to keep the rate of medication errors (i.e., the wrong drug, wrong dosage, or wrong time) to less than 5% and failed several times to make sure that residents are free from serious medication errors.
Golden LivingCenter - Colonial Manor of Albany is required by law to provide a safe environment for its residents. In the last three years, the facility failed three times to provide a facility that is free of dangers that cause accidents. This is particularly troubling given the notice it had on this issue with previous citations.
Proper facility administration is necessary for a nursing home facility to run smoothly and safely. Golden LivingCenter - Colonial Manor of Albany was cited three times in 2008 and 2009 when it failed to adhere to basic administration policies. In 2009, the facility failed to follow all laws and professional standards and failed to train all employees on what to do in an emergency. In 2007, the facility was not administered in such a way that the highest possible level of well-being was achieved for each resident.
The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse and neglect, including numerous cases at a variety of Golden LivingCenters. If you suspect that your family member might be a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, please contact Missouri Nursing Home Attorney David Terry for a FREE no obligation consultation toll-free at 1-888-317-2525 or 314-878-9797.
