HENRICO COUNTY, VO – Conditions at a nursing home in Virginia have resulted in it being placed on a list of the nation’s worst long-term care facilities, WTVR reports.
Henrico Health and Rehabilitation Center was identified by Medicare with two icons on its website, indicating the facility has a history of serious quality issues. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has now placed Henrico Health and Rehab on a list known as Special Focus Facilities, those that are placed under intensified oversight and enforcement by state and federal regulators.
The list, comprised of the poorest performing nursing homes, includes facilities that “rarely address underlying systemic problems that give rise to repeated cycles of serious deficiencies, which pose risks to residents’ health and safety.”
Henrico Health and Rehab has been fined at least four times since 2023 for over $200,000 by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that regulates nursing homes.
On the state level, the facility has been cited by VDH with three immediate jeopardy deficiencies between 2023 and 2024, and nine violations involving abuse and neglect. Among the citations were those involving neglect of incontinence care and long wait times in responding to call bells. The health department also found significant medication errors and failure to intervene when a resident with a declining pressure ulcer experienced significant weight loss. In addition, state inspectors learned that the nursing home had failed to protect two residents from sexual abuse perpetrated by a nurse’s aide.
Two advocates for the facility’s residents were quoted in the WTVR report, including Cynthia Jefferson, who said, “I start talking to some of these patients, and they start telling me these stories: how things were, how nasty their rooms were, how the food was. It’s like a madhouse over there.”
Due to its placement on the Special Focus list, there will be more frequent inspections at Henrico Health and Rehab and higher penalties for violations, along with the potential for being terminated from Medicare and Medicaid if the facility fails to improve.
The report notes licensing records showing that Henrico Health and Rehab is operated by Medical Facilities of America, a chain that runs more than 30 other nursing facilities across Virginia.
Underreporting of Nursing Home Abuse
Raising awareness of nursing home abuse is a key to protecting residents, but statistics show that far more needs to be done.
-Despite the high prevalence of abuse, only 1 in 24 cases is reported to authorities, according to the NCOA.
-The U.S. Justice Department notes that caregiver neglect is the most unreported type of abuse, with only 1 out of every 57 cases being reported.
-A May 2023 congressional investigation found that most states have nursing home inspection backlogs due to stalled federal funding.
-31 states and the District of Columbia had average inspection staff vacancy rates above 20%, with Kentucky (83%), Alabama (80%), and Idaho (71%) having the highest rates.
What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
Reporting nursing home abuse is crucial not only for protecting your loved one but also for preventing others from experiencing similar mistreatment. By coming forward with your concerns, you can help shed light on abusive practices and hold negligent facilities accountable for their actions. If you suspect that your loved one is experiencing any form of nursing home abuse or neglect, take action immediately. At FreeNursingHomeAbuseReport.com, we dedicate ourselves to supporting families through the process of reporting abuse and holding negligent facilities accountable. By filling out our simple online form, you can request a free, confidential consultation with our experienced team. We will listen to your concerns, provide guidance on documenting and reporting the abuse, and connect you with local resources and legal support.
