I started writing this a little over a year ago. At the time I was angry at DR. Larry Joe Russell and Hendersonville Health and Rehabilitation. I was convinced, and still am that they had something to do with my mothers unexpected passing.
I am no longer focused on Dr. Larry Joe Russell, or Hendersonville Health and Rehabilitation. After researching the NCDHHS survey results, I am trying to change the system. The regulators are not regulating. Either the NCDHHS is unable to enforce their own regulations, or they are powerless to do so.
In the past two years I have filed a complaint with the NCDHHS, the agency that regulates nursing homes. They supposedly did an investigation of Hendersonville Health and Rehabilitation, and found no deficiencies. This prompted a meeting with the Western regional director of NCDHHS. Even after presenting her with medical records, that substantiated our complaints, they still found nothing wrong. They went as far as doing a review of their initial investigation. They still found no reason to substantiate my complaint, even with written proof. The summary of their review was written by a Dr. in Raleigh. He had to write the letter three times. The first draft had Mom dying the night she fell, she did not. The second says that Dr. Russell saw her the morning after the fall, he did not. It goes on to say that if Mom pulled off her personal alarm, it was her fault. The third report had the details and dates correct, but still found no reason to substantiate the complaint.
The problem is not DR. Larry Joe Russell or Hendersonville Health and Rehabilitation. It goes much deeper than that. The problem is the laws and the way they protect the owners of these places, and Doctors with no morals, like Dr. Larry Joe Russell. There are plenty of doctors, willing to take the money from wherever it comes from. The lives of the patients are just the price paid for substandard care. It happens every where, in almost every home in every State in the Country.
Don't get me wrong, nothing would make me happier than seeing Dr. Larry Joe Russell answer for the lives that he could have saved, just by seeing his so called patients. Hendersonville Health and Rehabilitation should have answer to all the families that have been hurt by their lack of care.
It all has to start somewhere, the only records I have are from Hendersonville Health and Rehabilitation, and Dr. Larry Joe Russell. That is why I have focused on them. As I have said before, I have nothing to gain from this. The statute of limitations on a law suit are long past. I am trying to make a difference.
There are people dying needlessly at homes everywhere. The reason for this blog is to try and make sure that these people are allowed to live the end of their lives with some dignity. These are our parents, and grandparents. They have worked all their lives, just to be left lying in their own waste, hungry and lonely. The owners of these places are smart, they know when you are going to visit. They make sure there are plenty of staff during the day, right up until you go home.
They make these places look like resorts on the outside. Look closely, when you go inside, the reality is there if you look for it. They take advantage of the fact that the person you are trusting to their care, cant be cared for at home. They don't want you to worry about anything. So they advertise how their passion makes a difference. How they care for their patients like their own family. Look around, they are liars. They are taking record profits from their ownership, with little to no liability. They make their money, by not having the staff to provide even basic care. Talk to a nurse or cna, that works in one of these places, they are always short of help. The good employees, leave, and look for something better. The rest, just take their paychecks. They resent the patients, because they are the cause of their being overworked. They are afraid to say anything because they will get fired, and no one else will hire them.
I have spoken to several of these people. They will answer ads, and talk on the phone. They will tell you how bad the patients are treated, and how lives could be saved. Ask them to help, and that's the last conversation you will ever have with them. I have spoken to relatives of patients that have been abused and overbilled. They will tell you specific things that happened, until you ask them to do something about it. As long as they can stay anonymous they will tell the stories.
The people who die in these places are not anonymous, they have names. Patricia Ackerman Lytle, that is my mothers name. They all have families, that have no clue how badly they are being treated, I know we didn't. Or they don't want to get involved. I didn't choose to get involved either, but if I quit trying, I will not be able to sleep at night. I could use any help I can get. Do you sleep at night?
Please, get involved.
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