If you or a beloved family member is at the point in life where a nursing home may be the best choice, you have hundreds to choose from in West Virginia. Unfortunately, even though nursing homes are supposed to be locations where an older person’s needs can be met through caring staff assistance that treats everyone like family, this is not always the case. In fact, many of West Virginia’s nursing homes and assisted living centers score poorly on the state’s mandatory inspections, because they do not provide a high quality of life to their residents.
One of the most common issues faced by nursing homes—not only in West Virginia, but across the nation—is understaffing. When a single staff member is responsible for 20 or more people as opposed to the recommended three, it is only natural that shortcuts and lackluster care will result; there is simply not enough time in the day. Even if abuse occurs as a result of a staff member who simply forgot something on accident, it is important to hold the nursing home accountable.
Likely one of your first instinct was to report what happened directly to the facility. This is an important step, but it does not always result in changes. The good news is that you are not alone, and West Virginia offers a number of resources to help you in filing a complaint against a nursing home and making sure that your loved one is taken care of.
Reporting Elder Abuse in West Virginia
Every state in the United States is required to administer an Ombudsman Program that is available statewide. The Ombudsman Program’s purpose is to mediate and advocate for nursing home residents and those living in long-term care facilities to ensure that they are receiving appropriate care and are not victims of negligence and abuse. The organization in charge of the Ombudsman Program is the Administration on Aging, which means that contacting your local ombudsman is a great first step in reporting elder abuse or neglect anywhere in West Virginia.
The ombudsman for West Virginia can be reached as part of the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services. If you would like to send documentation of your claim, you can reach the ombudsman at 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston, WV 25305, or you can visit the office directly at Town Center Mall, 3rd level. You can also reach out via phone at (304) 558-3317 or toll free at (877) 987-3646. If you have documentation to send, the ombudsman program’s fax number is (304) 558-5609.
If you believe that someone you love has been the victim of abuse or neglect in a nursing home in West Virginia, Senior Justice Law Firm would be happy to assist you in taking action. Reach out for a free consultation at 888-375-9998 so that we can discuss your situation and help you to develop a strategy going forward.
How Do I Report Nursing Home Abuse in Charleston?
When it comes to the population makeup of West Virginia, no area can beat Charleston for sheer number of people—and, as a consequence, a huge population of elderly folks in need of long-term care. The entirety of the metro area, which is composed of Kanawha, Boone, and Clay counties, is home to more than 200,000 residents and upwards of 20 individual nursing homes within 25 miles of the city center. Areas like Sissonville, Saint Albans, and Glasgow sport long-term care facilities of their own to help address the rising elder population in the area surrounding Charleston.
It is no surprise that older folks are choosing to retire in Charleston. Its historic charm, stunning natural vistas, and temperate weather invite people from across the country to make a home there in their later years.
However, across West Virginia, the more than 120 nursing homes meant to serve the aging population have found themselves struggling to provide adequate care. Of the 13 nursing homes closest to Charleston’s metro center, only two scored higher than Below Average, with the vast majority receiving the lowest possible rating of Much Below Average, or 1 out of 5, on their mandated government inspections. This issue remains consistent not only in West Virginia but across the country due to the ever increasing presence of for-profit nursing home administration that prioritizes income over appropriate staffing levels. While the best outcomes are realized when staff are responsible for four or fewer residents each, those working in for-profit nursing homes may be charged with the care of more than 30.
Typically, the nursing homes that scored at Much Below Average, the lowest possible rating, struggled to:
- protect each resident from physical, mental and sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect
- provide sufficient nutrition and hydration
- provide safe and appropriate dialysis, respiratory care, and pain management
- safeguard against significant medication errors
- prevent skin wounds such as bedsores
- provide and implement an infection prevention and control program
If you or someone you love is currently living in a nursing home or elder care facility in Charleston, West Virginia and you are unsure of what to do next, you have options beyond the Ombudsman Program. Reach out to 1-800-834-0598 to speak with experts who can handle your complaint.
How Do I Report Nursing Home Abuse in Huntington?
Charleston is the largest city in West Virginia, but Huntington boasts its own fair share of the state’s elderly population and nursing homes. With a population of nearly 50,000 and nearly 20% of all individuals being over the age of 65, it is no wonder that Huntington bears a significant part of the state’s nursing home situation. Even though Charleston is larger by population, Huntington is home to more long-term care facilities overall.
The spread of quality of care in Huntington nursing homes is also more drastic than in Charleston; while Huntington boasts more homes that rank at average or better, the nursing homes that receive low scores receive dramatically low ones, with some locations even being cited for confirmed abuse that saw them added to the federal register of negligent nursing homes. Staffing remains an issue, as do common problem areas like medication dosage, proper documentation, and mitigation of fall risk.
In Huntington, Tami Handley is the Regional Ombudsman who can be contacted at the physical office address of 418 8th Street, Second Floor, Huntington, WV 25071. The local ombudsman office can be reached at 304-697-2070 using extension 2520, and if you have documentation to send, you can use fax number 304-715-3221. This Ombudsman Program office serves the counties of Cabell, Lincoln, Putnam, and Wayne.
In addition to this option, West Virginia offers a Senior Services department as part of the state administration that can be found at http://www.wvseniorservices.gov. From there, you can reach the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services and make a report.
How Do I Report Elder Abuse in Morgantown?
While Charleston and Huntington are home to many of the state’s nursing homes and other assisted living facilities, Morgantown is not far behind in terms of its role in caring for the state’s aging residents. The 10 nursing homes nestled within the 25 miles surrounding the city center leave residents with some choice about where to call home, and many of the facilities receive average ratings. Of those that do not, staffing and health inspection results remain the biggest concerns.
Morgantown is home to almost 30,000 people, and nearly 10% of them are over the age of 65. This means that nursing homes will likely continue to pop up in the coming years, and it is important to remember that any facility—even one that has high scores on its inspections—is not immune from scrutiny. If you suspect that someone you love is being mistreated in a long-term care location, be sure to reach out to both state and local resources for reporting.
In Morgantown, the head of the local ombudsman program is Ed Hopple, who currently operates at 165 Scott Avenue Suite 209, Morgantown, WV 26508. You can reach this office by phone at 304-414-5433 or by fax at 304-715-3227 if you have documents you would like to send relating to your report. Harrison, Lewis, Monongalia, Preston, and Taylor are all served by this office.
In addition to this local office, you may also report mistreatment of elders in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification, which holds such locations accountable for their management and patient treatment. They have an online contact form at https://ohflac.wvdhhr.org/Apps/Forms/Complaint where you can lodge a complaint, or you can reach out to them directly by using the following mailing address and format:
Attention: [Health Care Facility Type] Complaint Intake
Office of Health Facility Licensure & Certification
408 Leon Sullivan Way
Charleston, WV 25301-1713
If you would like to reach out by phone, the OHFLAC can be contacted at (304) 558-0050 for the Health Care Facility Complaints department and (800) 442-2888 for the Home Health Hotline. If you would like to make a complaint specifically against a nurse aid, you can fax your response to (304) 558-1442. For other faxing needs related to nursing home abuse reporting, send to (304) 558-2515, and be sure to include the type of health facility in the subject line.
Monitoring Care to Prevent Nursing Home Abuse in West Virginia
Across West Virginia, every nursing home or assisted living facility must agree to undergo regular inspections by the Department of Health. These are mandatory, and they occur at unannounced intervals—typically once per year, though facilities that score poorly may be visited more often. More than 100 details are analyzed during these visits, from the care being given to residents to how the facility keeps its documents. If any inadequacies or violations are found, the facility may receive a warning or a fine. Sever deficiencies can be punished with fines exceeding $100,000, and if they do not make changes to improve the lackluster areas, the DoH may even revoke their license and shut them down.
Reporting Abuse in Long-Term Care in West Virginia
If you have reason to think that your loved one or family member is not being treated appropriately and with the proper care at a nursing home or assisted living facility in West Virginia, it is important that you take action. Regardless of whether the abuse was intentional or negligent, it is important that you move forward with a lawsuit against the facility. No amount of compensation will reverse the suffering that your loved one experienced, but lawsuits serve a critical purpose.
Remember that the majority of nursing homes are operated by for-profit entities that are primarily concerned with payouts from Medicaid and residents over a high quality of care. If you elect to file a lawsuit holding the nursing home or assisted living facility accountable, you will be striking the organization directly where it matters most to them: their pocketbook. This is one of the most effective ways to prompt change in the administration of the nursing home, as they will likely amend their practices to avoid further lawsuits. You can make a big impact on the people who rely on the nursing home for care by helping to change it through a suit.
Reach Out to Senior Justice Law Firm for Elder Abuse and Neglect Lawyers in West Virginia
Senior Justice Law firm specializes in cases of nursing home negligence and abuse. It is our sole area of practice, and our experience in the field helps us to take charge of even the most difficult cases. Get in touch at 888-375-9998 so that we can sit down with you at no cost during a consultation to discuss whether you have a case and how best to proceed. Whether you would prefer to settle out of court or want to be sure justice is served by a court, we can help you claim the damages owed to you while making an impact on the nursing home at fault.
