St. Louis Area Has Nine Nursing Homes Designated Among the Worst-Rated Nursing Homes in the Country

There’s an old phrase that says “there is no such thing as bad publicity”.  Well, that is not the case for seventeen Missouri nursing homes that made news this week for being named to “the list” containing some of the worst nursing homes in the United States who have a history of serious quality issues.  The List of 395 nursing homes throughout the country was compiled after an exhaustive investigation into chronic problems at nursing homes that house elderly individuals who are among the most vulnerable in our society.

The government regularly identifies nursing homes for the “special focus facilities” list which represents nursing homes that the government has determined have historically provided poor care and are in need of help to get back to providing quality nursing home care. Many of the nursing homes on the list just released are “candidates” for the special focus facility list.

According to CMS, “The methodology for identifying facilities for the SFF [Special Focus Facility] program is based on the same methodology used in the health inspection domain of the Five-Star Quality Rating System. Results from the last three standard health survey cycles and the last three years of complaint survey performance are converted into points based on the number of deficiencies cited, and the scope and severity level of those citations. The more deficiencies that are cited, and the more cited at higher levels of scope and severity, the more points are assigned.” You can read the entire CMS brochure on the Special Focus Facility Program here

Family members who have loved ones in any of these facilities are justifiably concerned about the quality of care they are receiving at these facilities. If you have a loved one who has been abused or neglected at one of these facilities or any nursing home facility in Missouri, you can call our office and discuss your concern with an attorney. Our phone number is (314) 878-9797

On a personal note, I have been handling nursing home abuse and neglect cases for over twenty-years. I have handled cases against some of these facilities that are listed and others I have never had a case against. I have no personal axe to grind by identifying these facilities. At the Terry Law Firm, we want to help people who trust their loved ones to nursing home facilities who may not have access to information that will help them make decisions in the best interest of their family. That is all we are doing here…passing on information.

Here are the Missouri nursing homes on the recently released list:

• Kansas City Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare — 12942 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145
• Crestview Home — 1313 South 25^th Street, Bethany, MO 64424
• Normandy Nursing Center — 7301 St. Charles Rock Rd., St. Louis, MO 63133
• Garden Valley Healthcare Center — 8575 North Granby Ave., Kansas City, MO 64154
• Life Care Center of Bridgeton — 12145 Bridgeton Square, Bridgeton, MO 63044
• Hillside Manor Healthcare and Rehab Center — 1265 McLaren Ave., St. Louis, MO 63147
• Parkland Care and Rehabilitation Center — 401 Mar-Le Dr., Wentzville, MO 63385
• Crystal Creek Health and Rehabilitation Center — 250 S. New Florissant Rd., Florissant, MO 63031
• Maplewood Healthcare Center — 724 NE 79^th Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64118
• Edgewood Manor Center for Rehab and Healthcare — 11900 Jessica Ln., Raytown, MO 64138
• Christian Care Home — 800 Chambers Rd., Ferguson, MO 63135
• Lewis & Clark Gardens — 1221 Boone’s Lick Rd, St Charles, MO 63301
• Redwood of Raymore — 600 East Sunrise Drive, Raymore, MO 64083
• Rancho Manor Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center — 615 Rancho Ln, Florissant, MO 63031
• Hidden Lake Care Center — 11400 Hidden Lake Dr, Kansas City, MO 64133
• St. John’s Place — 3333 Brown Rd, Overland, MO 63114
• Green Park Senior Living Community — 9350 Green Park Rd, St. Louis, MO 63123

What should you do if you have a loved one in one of these nursing homes?

 Family members whose loved ones are in one of these nursing homes have a right to be concerned about the care they are receiving.  Here are 5 recommendations if you have a loved one in one the seventeen Missouri nursing homes on this recently released list:

1. Check on your loved one. Go to the nursing home and do a through check to make sure that your loved one is not suffering from bed sores or bruising from unknown origins.  Thoroughly check their entire body to ensure that there is nothing about their physical condition that has been hidden from you.
2. Talk with the Certified Nursing Assistants. Certified Nursing Assistants (also known as CNAs) perform most of the care for residents at nursing homes.  If there is a problem at a facility, the CNAs will know about it and will be the most likely ones to tell you the truth. Ask them if there is enough staffing to meet the needs of the residents. Ask them if they are receiving the training they are required to receive so they can provide the best care for residents.
3. Talk with the administrative staff. Make an appointment with the administrative staff including the Administrator and Director of Nursing and express your concerns about their facility being named among the worst nursing homes in the country. Ask them pointed questions about the problems the facility is having and why. Address any concerns you heard from the CNA’s with the administrative staff.
4. Tour the entire facility and use your five senses. Tour the facility and pay attention to how the facility smells. Touch the floors, the walls and the railings to see if they have been cleaned or if they are sticky. Look at the residents to see if they are clean and well-groomed.  Listen for call bells to see if they are answered promptly. Taste the food to see if it tastes good and is nutritious.
5. Don’t be afraid to look into moving your loved one to a different facility. Sometimes family members leave their loved ones at a particular nursing home because it is close to their home and they can get there easily. That is an understandable strategy, but sometimes a facility may get so bad that the “close to home” strategy needs to be reconsidered. Don’t be afraid to talk with other nursing homes to see if they may be a better fit for your loved one.

Sometimes facilities that land on this list work hard and become much better over time. Other times, they languish and continue to provide poor-quality care. How family members handle this decision is solely their decision, but they should definitely use this opportunity to reevaluate if they want their loved one to remain at this facility or look into alternative options.

If a loved one has been injured by a Missouri nursing home

The Terry Law Firm is dedicated to pursuing justice for Missouri nursing home residents who have suffered serious injuries or wrongful death as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect. Our St. Louis nursing home abuse lawyers will be happy to talk with you if you have any concerns about the care your loved one has received. Simply check out our website at www.NursingHomeJustice.com or call us directly at 314-878-9797.