Elderly Abuse Happening in N.M. Nursing Homes, Richardson Says
By Barry Massey
The Associated Press
SANTA FE — A state agency found neglect and inadequate care of residents at three nursing homes during an undercover investigation and has recommended the government take over operations of a facility in Clovis.
"My administration has zero tolerance for elderly abuse and it appears that elderly abuse is happening in New Mexico's nursing homes," Gov. Bill Richardson said at a news conference to announce the findings of the investigation by the Aging and Long-Term Services Department.
The governor ordered a broader examination of the nursing home industry. State tax auditors, for example, have been directed to start reviewing finances of nursing homes across New Mexico. There are 81 nursing homes in the state and Richardson estimated they receive about $400 million in state, federal and private payments.
State auditors are to determine if nursing homes are complying with tax laws as well as properly billing government agencies for services to poor and elderly residents. Medicaid, which is jointly financed by the state and federal government, pays for some nursing home care.
The findings of the undercover investigation go to the state Health Department, which is responsible for licensing nursing homes and enforcing standards for care of residents.
Katrina Hotrum, the state's long-term care ombudsman, said no physical abuse of residents was found at the three nursing homes during the undercover investigations, which occurred in January and April.
"What we found was worse, in my opinion, it was benign neglect," said Hotrum. "And benign neglect in a short amount of time causes actual harm to residents because you're not bathing them, you're not dressing them, you're not feeding them, you're not toileting them and you're not monitoring them. That causes actual harm and even death."
Chris Christensen of Albuquerque, an undercover investigator, spent five days at a Ruidoso nursing home posing as someone with Alzheimer's disease. The door to the Alzheimer's unit was not locked and Christensen said he twice left and walked outside the facility at night.
State officials said that posed a threat to elderly residents who could wander off and get lost in cold weather.
Christensen described unsanitary conditions in a bathroom he shared with two wheelchair-bound female residents who stayed in an adjoining room. One of the women had "weeping sores" on her legs. He said one staffer had an identification badge as a registered nurse and dispensed medications. However, state records indicate she had no nursing license.
"I was never prompted to change clothes. No one ever noticed and I never did," said Christensen. "The smell in the Alzheimer's unit for me was probably one of the toughest things to get used to. If diapers were changed quickly, the odor seemed to go away fairly fast."
Lee Hays, administrator of the Ruidoso Care Center, said he could not comment because he had not received any information from the state about the allegations of substandard care.
The Aging and Long-Term Services Department has recommended to the Health Department that the Buena Vista Nursing Home in Clovis be placed in receivership, which would allow the state to operate the facility.
Health Secretary Patricia Montoya said it would take several days for her agency to determine whether there was enough evidence to ask a court to order a receivership.
Dr. Ali Ghaffari, medical director at the nursing home, said he could not comment on the state's investigation and his wife, who is the administrator of the nursing home, was not available for immediate comment.
Ghaffari and his wife own the nursing home, according to Michelle Lujan Grisham, secretary of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department. State corporation records list Ghaffari as vice president of Buena Vista Retirement Center Inc. and Linda Ghaffari as president. They also are directors of the corporation.
Christensen also participated in the investigation of the nursing home at Clovis. He accompanied a woman who was checked into the facility and posed undercover as a person with an alcohol-related problem.
Grisham said the woman was able to drink alcohol while she stayed at the nursing home and at one point was able to leave the facility. The undercover resident was gone two hours before police were notified.
At the Albuquerque nursing home, medication was suggested to calm the undercover investigator at the time of admission even though no medical record evaluation had been performed, Grisham said.
The investigator saw dried urine on bedding and a toilet was "soiled with blood and feces," according to information released at the news conference. Staff was allowed to bring dogs into the facility. The animals urinated on the floor and doorjambs but it wasn't cleaned up for hours or even the next day.
Peter Bayon, compliance officer for El Centro Villa Nursing Home, said the nursing home had not seen the investigation's findings until materials were provided by a reporter. The facility has not been contacted by a state agency, he said, and "unfortunately, if there are issues here, these were not brought to our attention."
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