By Linda Williams/TWN Staff Writer
08/24/2011
Two former nursing assistants at Valley View Skilled Nursing Facility were found guilty of misdemeanor elder abuse and sentenced to 20 day jail terms and two years probation. Monica Rose Smith, 52, and Jennifer Louise Burton, 34, were considered the "ringleaders" in slathering seven elderly dementia patients with a slippery ointment in November 2009 as an ill advised payback plan for the next nursing home crew. Four other workers were fired by the facility and criminal charges were brought against three of them. All those convicted have had their state nursing assistant licenses revoked.
Nursing assistant Jared Buckley, 30, was found guilty of misdemeanor elder abuse; and ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and serve two years on probation. This was Buckley's second incident, having failed to report elder abuse at the same facility in March 2007. For the previous incident Buckley was allowed by the district attorney to complete a 24-month diversion program as punishment and to remain on staff.
The remaining defendants Jennie Bido, 27, and Christine Boyd-Guerrero, 31, were found guilty of failure to report elder abuse and were ordered to perform 100 hours of community service each. They will also serve two years probation.
"As part of a cruel and shocking prank, these caregivers abused defenseless elders," said then Attorney General Jerry Brown. "This is despicable behavior by people placed in a position of trust."
As a state licensed facility, Valley View reported the incident to the state, which conducted the investigation before turning the criminal cases over the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
Valley View, along with 26 other facilities owned by Horizon West was sold to Plum Healthcare Group earlier this year. Valley View is now known as Redwood Cove Healthcare Center. According to the Medicare comparison site for nursing facilities, the facility has 68 beds and has a two of five star rating with a score of five being best.
The current administrator Sharon Donnelly, was brought in to lead the Ukiah facility in March 2010, having worked in Horizon West facilities for 33 years, "The focus of Plum is that a strong staff enables better patient care." She also cited increased staffing ratios at the Ukiah facility following her arrival.
A number of deficiencies were highlighted on the September 2010 inspection, including failing to hire only people with no legal history of abuse or neglect and for failing to report and investigate acts or reports of abuse, neglect or mistreatment. It also failed to keep each resident free from physical restraints not needed for medical treatment.
The inspectors also determined the nursing home failed to "store, cook and give out food in a safe and clean way."
The facility received its highest rating (three of five stars) for staffing, with ratio of certified nursing assistants to patients higher than the state or national average. This was slightly offset by a two of five star rating for having fewer hours of registered nurse time available per patient.
Only 72 percent of long stay residents received a flu vaccine, compared to the state average of 89 percent. The short-stay residents were even worse with only 48 percent receiving the flu vaccine compared to the state average of 83 percent.
A number of fire safety deficiencies linked to construction were cited at the last inspection including the building had a number construction deficiencies, including materials of construction, lack of internal doors designed to limit spread of smoke and did not have exits that are accessible at all times. Fire safety deficiencies were also highlighted due to lack of properly maintained smoke detectors and a fire alarm system which could not be heard throughout the facility. The inspectors determined the building did not have automatic sprinkler systems in working order or portable fire extinguishers.
SOURCE: The WillitsNews
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