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Virginia Nursing Homes Receive More Violations than National Average

Thirteen nursing home facilities in the Roanoke area have received more citations than the national average. Avante at Roanoke had an unexpected health and fire inspection resulting in 34 deficiencies in 2007, which is more than four times the national average for for-profit nursing homes.

Inspectors discovered that Avante had a pattern of patients not being bathed frequently enough due to understaffing. There were indications of problems with cleanliness and two instances where nursing home residents faced immediate harm.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, these types of problems are not uncommon. In fact, 94 percent of nursing homes were cited in 2007 for failing to meet federal health and safety standards. However, the overall number of violations nationally dropped from 14,781 in 2005 to 14,394 in 2007. The deficiency average in Virginia has grown by 8.7 percent, despite the national trend.

State and local senior advocates were not surprised to hear of the violations of the Roanoke nursing homes. Joani Latimer, Virginia’s long-term care ombudsman said “It’s really disturbing, but unfortunately, it’s not new.”

Last year, Virginia was ranked among the 10 worst states in the country for high-risk pressure ulcers, also known as bed sores, with a total of 2,260 instances among patients. Latimer believes that Virginia needs a better system that offers more direct-care staff and better-trained physicians, otherwise nothing will change.

Ombudsman Pam McAdams with the Local Office of Aging’s Area Agency of Aging said that she receives approximately 40 phone calls every month from concerned individuals regarding their loved ones’ nursing-home care. She conducts her own investigations and works directly with nursing homes.

Avante, which is a 130-bed facility in the Old Southwest neighborhood, received 28 health-inspection infractions and 6 fire and safety deficiencies. According to a report obtained by the Roanoke Times, Avante had one isolated incident of actual harm and another was considered a case of immediate jeopardy. Most of the citations that Avante received were not as serious. Avante’s regional director stated that the deficiencies were corrected and the facility is now in compliance.

Avante wasn’t the only nursing home to receive numerous citations. Virginia Veterans Care Center, a 180-bed facility, received a total of 26 health and 3 fire and safety violations. The previous year Virginia Veterans Care Center only had 3 or 4 violations. None of the deficiencies were life threatening.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home and suspect nursing home neglect or abuse, contact Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C. at (800) 690-0235. Our Virginia nursing home abuse attorneys will be able to help you determine if abuse or neglect occurred.

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Norfolk, VA 23510
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