UNIVERSITY CITY (KMOX) A KMOX listener contacted us at wits end with the conditions at the U-City Forest Manor Nursing Home. Maria Keena went to the facility and found out this:
U-City Forest Manor is a for profit corporation, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), it shows the facility is affiliated with Palladian Healthcare. medicare.gov
Palladian is affiliated with five facilities in Illinois and Missouri. Creve Coeur Manor, Creve Coeur, Aviston Countryside Manor, Aviston Illinois, Mount Vernon Countryside Manor, Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff, and Taylorville Care Center in Taylorville, Illinois.
According to medicare.gov. U City Forest Manor has an overall rating of one star out of five. Health inspections are below average, staffing is much below average, and quality measures are below average.
Creve Coeur Manor has a one star rating. Aviston Countryside Manor, two stars, Mount Vernon Countryside Manor, two stars, Oakdale Care Center, one star, and Taylorville Care Center, one star.
KMOX accompanied the patient's daughter Mrs. L into the facility. We walked through the unlocked front door without anyone questioning us. We walked through the hallways, passing staff and no one approached us about what we were doing there. The patient was in a movable chair, out of her bed. She is not able to move without assistance.
The patient told us she does not see a nurse or aid all the time, some times she says they don't come in. On the day we visited it was after noon and the patient said her face had not been washed yet and that some days they do not change the linens everyday. When that happens they put a diaper on her, without washing her first.
KMOX spoke with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) State Director Lenny Jones about Missouri having one of the worst rankings when it comes to staffing and inspection of nursing homes. Jones says "when we're talking about trying to get a minimum staffing ratio just shy of four hours of care per resident, per day and here we have examples of nursing homes still in Missouri that provide under two hours of care per day, that's just atrocious."
Jones says Missouri is making gains on sending inspectors in to evaluate nursing homes and have finally caught up with a huge backlog. However, over the last two years, Governor Mike Parson cut budgeted funds the Missouri Legislature approved for advocacy groups like VOYCE.
Jones recommends reaching out to Gov. Mike Parson to say that the legislature appropriated money that goes to ombudsmen and that money needs to be spent for advocacy organizations like VOYCE.
Secondly Jones says reach out to your congress people and tell them to support a federal staffing ratio for nursing homes.
VOYCE voicestl.org is an advocacy organization that wants to educate and empower individuals and their loved ones for quality living across the continuum of long-term care.
VOYCE tackles various obstacles to quality long-term care and to ensure the community has the resources they need.
Our Their services are available in the city of St. Louis and counties of Adair, Clark, Franklin, Jefferson, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Ralls, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Louis, and Warren in Missouri.
VOYCE has ombudsmen making regular visits to long term care communities in 21 counties around St. Louis and Northeast Missouri to ensure that all residents are receiving high quality care. When they find problems, they work with families and residents and the facilities to find answers and solutions to meet the resident's needs.
Since going to the nursing home last week, Mrs. L tells KMOX, U City Forest Manor has removed the bug infested bedside table from her mother's room. They are also making an effort to serve hot meals to the patient and her roommate.
We have also provided Mrs. L with resources for potentially removing her mom from the facility. Remember, VOYCE is available to help you navigate your way through a very difficult process of finding a loved one a facility where they will be safe and cared for in your absence. Being an advocate for your loved one is very important, but you do not have to handle it along.
