US Government Survey Finds Bentwood Nursing & Rehab in Florissant is Causing Harm to Residents

Bentwood Nursing & Rehab is a medium-sized facility in Florissant, Missouri.  According to US News Health, it has an overall “poor” rating.  You can see for yourself by searching Bentwood Nursing & Rehab facility. You will find that  it has several one-star reviews and poor rankings.  In the most recent survey for Bentwood Nursing & Rehab, it is not hard  to see why the federal government has given this  nursing home such low ratings..  The recent  survey conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) found that Bentwood Nursing & Rehab:

• FAILED to assure adequate security of all personal funds of residents deposited with the facility—including this being an “oversight”;
• FAILED to honor the resident’s right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely;
• FAILED to ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards a
  nd provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents;
• FAILED to provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections;
• FAILED to provide enough food to maintain a resident’s health;
• FAILED to provide enough fluids to maintain a residents health; and
• FAILED to ensure serving trays used for meal service were dry prior to use, properly sanitized, and the thermometer used to test the temperature of food was properly cleaned.

Additionally, investigators found that Bentwood Nursing & Rehab was still have issues in areas identified as non-compliant in previous investigations. In short, it appears in some cases Bentwood was still doing things they were previously told not to do.

Disturbing Failures to Feed and Provide Fluids to Residents

Inspectors cited Bentwood Nursing & Rehab for failing provide adequate food and fluids to maintain a resident’s health weight.  After looking at multiple residents, state investigators found  some shocking fluctuations in the weight of these residents which were not being treated for weight issues.  For example, one surveyed resident has the following monthly recorded weights:

• 4/10/18 – 129.3 lbs
• 5/13/18 – 132.2 lbs
• 6/1/18 – 135 lbs
• 8/23/18 – 120.6 lbs
• 8/24/18 – 125 lbs
• 9/11/18 – 129.6 lbs
• 9/25/18 – 123 lbs
• 10/1/18 – 123 lbs
• 11/7/18 – 126 lbs

See the problem?  

Between June and August the patient’s weight dropped significantly, according to the review by a Registered Dietician.  While there is no recorded weight for July, that was apparently listed as 140 lbs but marked as an incorrect weight.  This just compounds the issue with the nursing home improperly monitoring and feeding patients!  If that was not bad enough, apparently supplements and vitamins were prescribed for the patient which were NOT provided to the patient for several months and the patient’s weight continued to drop!  This is unacceptable and dangerous!

No Hot Water—Actually, Not Even “Warm” Water!

Several interviews and reviews at the facility indicated some additional appalling  information.  Residents had complained of cold water in three of the residential halls.  Tests were performed by inspectors who found that residents do not have hot water—in fact, sometimes they barely even had warm water!  After interviewing residents who complained of the water situation, a surveyor set up a calibrated thermometer and took the temperature of water from a bathroom sink that was turned all the way up to high, and found the following:

• 11/8/18 – 7:25 AM – in a room shared by two residents, the hot water ran for two minutes and reached the highest temperature of 90 degrees which was cool to the touch.
• 11/8/18 – 7:30 AM – in a room shared by four residents, after the hot water in a sink ran for three minutes it only reached a high temperature of 74.7 degrees, which was cold.
• 11/8/18 – 7:30 AM – in a room shared by two residents, the water ran for two minutes and reached a high temperature of 76 degrees, which was cold.
• 11/8/18 – 7:50 AM – in a private room, the water ran for two minutes and reached a temperature of 80 degrees which was cool to the touch.
• 11/8/18 – 10:10 AM, in a room shared b four residents the water was tested in a bathroom sink and reached a high temperature of 79.3 degrees which was cool to the touch.

But it Wasn’t Just the Residents That Noticed!  Employees Failed to Do Anything About “Cold” Water

Inspectors also spoke to staff members at Bentwood Nursing & Rehab who admitted that the water was not getting hot!  When interviewed, a Certified Nurse Aide stated that he/she noticed the water was not getting “warm” for a few days, “but did not say anything to anyone about it.”  But it didn’t stop there.  Investigators learned that  the maintenance director, the administrator, and a Regional Nurse Consultant had tested hot water from a bathroom faucet and the temperature did not hit 80 degrees!  So what did they do about it?  Nothing! Apparently the maintenance director said it “was a problem that he could not fix because he needed a new part or something.”  So he called a plumbing company, got an estimate, and then thought that the water was tweaked and had been “alright” so he did not get the reported repairs. 

The Bentwood Nursing & Rehab website, which can be found through its parent company MGMHealthcare.com, states that Bentwood provides a “stellar level of care for residents… in an environment that helps them flourish.”  

When some residents are not getting enough food or water, is that stellar care?  When residents are unable to get hot water are they flourishing?  I think the answer to that is found in the low rating the government has assigned to this facility.

Do you have a loved one at Bentwood Nursing & Rehab?

If you have a family member who lives at Bentwood Nursing & Rehab and you have some concerns about the care they have been receiving, you are justified in your concerns. The Terry Law Firm helps people whose loved ones have been severely injured in nursing homes or who have died as a result of abuse or neglect at nursing home facilities. If you have concerns about the care your family has received at Bentwood Nursing & Rehab, call the Terry Law Firm at (314) 334-1441 to learn what rights you may have.  We have over 18 years of experienced handling nursing home abuse and neglect matters throughout Missouri.