Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

A California class action lawsuit seeks to shed light on the lack of care given to nursing home residents by Golden Living Centers in California. The primary allegation is that Golden Living Centers systematically refused to follow the state mandated staffing regulations that require 3.2 hours of nursing care per patient per day. Rather, according to the allegations, Golden Living Centers staffed it's facilities at a lower per patient day amount resulting in neglected and injured residents.

Even though this is a California case, it has significant implications in Missouri as well. As a nursing home abuse lawyer I have handled several cases against Golden Living nursing homes and have seen first hand the lack of care that happens in these facilities. If the California case is successful, every single Golden Living facility will be under pressure to improve their staff to patient ratio, even in states like Missouri where there is no minimum staffing requirement.

Staffing is a key component in the care received by nursing home residents. I am regularly amazed at how many nursing homes refuse to admit that their staffing levels have a direct correlation to the number of injuries suffered by their residents. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that one CNA cannot provide adequate care for ten nursing home patients each of whom requires a substantial level of care.

Let's take a closer look at Missouri Golden Living Centers and how they compare with state and national averages with respect to staffing: According to statistics provided by Medicare, the national average for CNA care for nursing home residents is 2 hours and 24 minutes per patient per day. For Missouri nursing homes, that average is 2 hours and 30 minutes per patient per day. A review of some of the Golden Living Centers in Missouri shows few, if any, meet either the national or Missouri averages. Here is the staffing information for six Golden Living facilities in Missouri:

Golden Living Center - Bloomfield: 2 hours and 5 minutes of CNA care per patient per day.
Golden Living Center - Branson: 1 hour and 49 minutes of CNA care per patient per day.
Golden Living Center - Dexter: 2 hours and 23 minutes of CNA care per patient per day.
Golden Living Center - Pin Oaks: 1 hour and 50 minutes of CNA care per patient per day.
Golden Living Center - Westwood: 1 hour and 47 minutes of CNA care per patient per day.
Golden Living Center - Independence: 2 hours and 13 minutes of CNA care per patient per day.