DETROIT, MI – A settlement has been reached with six Detroit-area nursing homes over allegations they provided “grossly substandard care” to their residents while accepting taxpayer dollars.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently announced a $4.5 million settlement with the facilities and their ownership companies, Villa Financial Services LLC and Villa Olympia Investment LLC.
Nessel said the case originated as a federal whistleblower lawsuit by Villa employees, who claimed they personally witnessed the mistreatment of residents. According to the complaint and the whistleblower accounts, the nursing homes failed to:
-Sufficiently staff the facilities to adequately care for residents;
-Prevent, control, and treat infections;
-Prevent falls by residents;
-Provide for residents’ toileting needs, so that residents sat or lay in soiled beds and clothes for extended periods;
-Prevent and treat pressure ulcers, also known as bed sores.
“Chronic neglect of nursing home residents is absolutely unacceptable, yet sadly all too common,” Nessel said. “American taxpayers contribute billions every year to ensure quality care for our most vulnerable. When that care is not provided, my office will continue to work alongside our federal partners to hold those responsible accountable.”
The following six Villa facilities were part of the settlement agreement: Ambassador, Father Murray, Imperial, Regency, St. Joseph’s, and Westland.
As part of the agreement, Villa will pay $3,418,633 to the United States and $1,081,367 to the State of Michigan. The settlement follows an investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Health Care Fraud Division of the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
Villa will also enter into a five-year quality-of-care Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. The CIA requires companies to retain an independent quality monitor to review the companies’ delivery of care and evaluate their ability to prevent, detect, and respond to patient care problems.
Importance of Whistleblowers
In the fight against nursing home abuse and neglect, whistleblowers play a pivotal role in exposing misconduct and protecting vulnerable residents. They often have unique insights into the day-to-day operations of nursing homes and can identify patterns of abuse or neglect that might otherwise go unnoticed. These individuals can report illegal, unethical, or abusive practices occurring within long-term care facilities.
They can be:
-Current employees (nurses, aides, administrative staff, etc.)
-Former employees who left due to concerns about facility practices
-Contracted workers (therapists, maintenance personnel, etc.)
-Volunteers or regular visitors who observe suspicious behavior
-Family members of residents who witness or suspect abuse
At FreeNursingHomeAbuseReport.com, we understand the devastating impact of nursing home abuse and the importance of having a strong legal advocate on your side. Our team can connect you with experienced nursing home abuse attorneys in your area. Fill out our simple contact form to report suspected abuse and request more information about your loved one’s nursing home. Our team will get to work on your behalf and provide you with the support and guidance you need.
