Sandi's Story

ODOA Town Hall Speech September 5, 2025 Oxford, Ohio September 5, 2025
In 2021, I was the only medical professional to testify for Esther’s Law cameras in LTC, using my experience as a nursing home employee. I was a mandated reporter and explained to House Representatives abuse, neglect and noncompliance of state and federal laws are not being followed since staff are afraid to file complaints, they are rarely substantiated and risk of job loss is too great.
The award winning, Long Term Care Quality Navigator tool is applauded as a breakthru movement for improving care in nursing homes. It has no benefit for vulnerable residents who are placed in 1 Star facilities by Ohio social workers. Fines totaling $600,000 are just the cost of doing business. No big deal. The Navigator benefits the wealthy who are able to afford a 4-5 Star facility.
Governor DeWine appointed 20 members to The Nursing Home Quality and Accountability Task Force with very impressive credentials, Executive Directors and CEO’s representing industry groups like nursing home owners.
On Sept 2, the Ohio Supreme Court delivered a win to nursing home operators saying Ohio Medicaid incorrectly calculated payments for high quality facilities. The lawsuit alleged that high quality centers were getting short changed on the incentive payments. The industry definitely has a voice to make things happen in their favor.
On the other hand …
If you study surveys, many facilities are not documenting data like UTI’s, pressure ulcers, falls, etc which determine incentive payments and star ratings. Ever wonder why a resident has a significant injury but the facility will not transfer them to the hospital?
Licensed nurses and administrators sometimes dictate what goes in a medical record protecting the facility. I have a survey where a floor nurse admitted she was told by a supervisor “not to document” an incident in a resident’s medical record that could potentially substantiate a complaint or lawsuit.
The ODH has the authority to report such unprofessional conduct of licensed professionals to Licensing Boards and the Attorney General for further investigation, yet seldom do so.
My research discovered anyone can file a report against a nurse or Administrator by going online to the perspective licensing board.
Most residents and staff cannot upload videos and photos or documentation from medical records to file complaints. I have called the DOH twice and was given information by intake specialists that Ohio is a one consent law state which means anyone could secretly record statements by staff substantiating injuries or events which frequently are not documented in a resident’s medical record. Yet, this is not mentioned in the Ohio Dept of Health Complaint Guide.
If I had this knowledge during the pandemic when facilities were shut down, I would have recorded every conversation I had with charge nurses, the Social Worker, ADON, DON and ADM who condoned abuse of a resident by making her live on the filthy tile floor since she was non ambulatory and a fall risk if seated in a wheel chair. I was told by the ADM I was not a mandated reporter and it was the resident’s choice to be on the floor. No documentation existed in her medical record to substantiate my complaint to the DOH.
According to an article published on March 31, 2025 by Journalist Brenda Ordonez, “Per the Butler Co Clerk of Courts there are at least 3 active wrongful death lawsuits against defendants: Majestic Care of Fairfield, Majestic Care, and other affiliates.” Cameras, cameras, cameras told the true story how two elderly ladies suffered prior to their death.
“Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has a plan at increasing the number of nurses working in NH’s and the number of state agencies that inspect nursing homes to ultimately improve protecting resident’s health and safety.” Your tax dollars may soon be paying $40,000 RN tuition reimbursement to get one nurse back in LTC. Your tax dollars may soon be paying for additional inspectors to look for documentation that does not exist to substantiate non compliance and abuse, yet facilities will continue to benefit and receive millions in incentive rewards while your loved ones suffer.
Caring staff will return to care for your loved ones in Ohio when consumers demand true and accurate transparency promised by Governor DeWine’s Nursing Home Quality and Accountability Task Force.
Rewarding the practice of undocumented evidence of violence, murder, noncompliance, Resident Right violations with millions of tax payer dollars to greedy nursing home operators is the transparency government officials continue to avoid taking responsibility for.
Consumers with real life experience in LTC deserve a seat on the board to be the voice for all residents since the nursing home industry has a powerful voice.
Please focus your immediate goals to empower mandated reporters with the ability to protect, allowing residents to live with respect and dignity in LTC and Assisted Living facilities in Ohio.
If you need to file a complaint, I have information that may help hold the facility accountable. I also have instructions how to easily locate surveys on the LTC Navigator.
Respectfully,
SK RN (Retired)


Nursing Home Quality and Accountability Task Force Members:

Members of this task force have authority, available resources, and public approval necessary to have a positive impact on residents residing in long-term care facilities in Ohio.
My personal experience working in LTC will explain my deep interest in supporting the goals of The Nursing Home Task Force.
In 2020, I tried to protect residents during the pandemic and have extensive documentation supporting my failed effort to protect Alzheimer's residents. Members who have not experienced conditions in LTC or reviewed current surveys are incapable of comprehending the reality that exists today.
I shared my experience working at a private pay LTC facility and testified during the hearings to help pass Esther’s Law.
I would like to make the following suggestions based on my experience working as a nurse for 46 years. Information quoted from recent surveys of a Special Focus Facility in Cincinnati will leave no doubt in your mind, that many residents and their families continue to be exploited. Surveys will never begin to convey the deep level of despair many residents feel on a daily basis. You will not hear a resident crying, begging for “water” or a resident screaming for help for an hour because he fell out of bed (his call light needed repair), or “Sandi, I don’t want to want to live this way.”
Enabling Excellence
In 1987, The Nursing Reform Act was initiated due to poor living conditions in nursing homes. The goal of the act was to ensure seniors in nursing homes receive high-quality of care. Surveys are conducted to ensure facilities are reaching those standards adopted almost 40 years ago. Yet abuse and neglect remain an ongoing issue. The Task Force must ensure existing laws and regulations are enforced or revised to protect residents.
Federal regulation enforcement options in some situations provide measures to impose temporary monitoring by state government authorities until deficiencies are remedied. Residents would see immediate improvements in care if temporary placement of Interim State Surveyors were placed in facilities with continued ongoing violations and noncompliance. This would send a strong message to all employees, complacent leadership practices are no longer acceptable or tolerated. Change the culture by educating staff, by example. Some staff may have never worked in a facility that demonstrated quality care. Many staff tend to “mirror” what they see.
In many LTC environments, residents have become an “unwanted task” no longer shown respect or treated as humans. Often the quality of care offered to residents depends on the motivation and expectations of management. If their main agenda is career advancement and increased profit for owners, residents will never be a priority in that facility.

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The following excerpts are quoted directly from state surveys (2022-2023) of a Special Focus Facility (SFF) also a CMS Abuse Citation Facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. This is a brief summary describing how these residents live on a daily basis. Pay scrutiny to the role of management in these surveys. Several suggestions are based on these recent state surveys.
Astoria Place of Cincinnati, Ohio Survey Date 3-7-2023 (Pages 1-8 of the survey )
Level of Harm Immediate Jeopardy
Resident #59 exited the locked facility at 10:45 pm “Found the following morning at 9:30 am sitting on a bench at a busy intersection 4.7 miles away. Temperature was 28 degrees with wind chill 25 degrees.”
Level of Harm Immediate Jeopardy
“Resident #41 left facility and walked 1.8 miles, found by police at 1:45 am temperature was 39 degrees with wind chill 34.”
Astoria Place of Cincinnati, Ohio Survey Date 4-12-2023 (Refer to page 5 of survey)
Level of Harm Immediate Jeopardy
“This resulted in Immediate Jeopardy on 3-8-2023 Resident #57 was found to have his fingernails grown into his palm, forming an abscess, subsequently sent to the hospital and found to be severely septic (severe infection) and diagnosed with tenosynovitis (inflammation of a tendon) of the right middle finger and gas gangrene (highly lethal infection) necrotizing fasciitis (a rare bacterial infection that spreads quickly in the body and can cause death) of the right middle finger. Resident #57 required emergency amputation of his right third middle finger and partial amputation of his right 5th finger. Additionally, the facility failed to provide adequate nail care for dependent residents #50 and #56.”
Astoria Place of Cincinnati, Ohio Survey Date 5-11-2023 (Refer to page 3 of survey)
On 5-2-23 “During the interview, LPN #132 was asked why the specifics of the incident with Resident #10, including the resident accessing and ingestion of the medications were not documented in Resident #10’s medical record. The LPN replied administration told her not to chart about it. A telephone interview on 5-3-2023 at 3:35 with Medical Director #410 reported Resident #10 resided on a locked unit due to her lack of safety awareness and drug seeking use.”
*Resident was sent to the ER for an overdose.
“At approximately 9:50 pm Resident #10 exited the secured unit thru an alarmed basement door without staff’s knowledge. After exiting the facility, Resident #10 wheeled herself up an exterior wheel chair ramp, across the facilities parking lot and into a dimly lit, busy, curvy two-way street where resident #10 had fallen out of her wheelchair and on to the street when a motorist

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discovered the resident. The facility identified 10 residents currently residing in the facility at risk for elopement.
Astoria Place of Cincinnati, Ohio Survey Date 7-25-2023 (Refer to pages 6 -7 of survey)
“Review of facility SRI tracking number 236341, created 6-23-2023 revealed the facility reported an injury of unknown origin/source to the State Agency. The SRI noted Resident #25 fell from bed on 6-9-2023, landed on her left side, and was discovered as having a fractured left hip on 6-21-2023. The SRI was marked as completed on 6-29-2023 and the allegations were unsubstantiated as evidence was inconclusive.” Later in the survey, “An attempted interview on 7-13-2023 at 11 am with DON (Director of Nurses) revealed the DON refused to participate in an interview with the surveyor regarding Resident #25. The DON would only state, LPN #80 put in a fall note for Resident #25.”
“A telephone interview on 7-18-2023 at 3:09 pm with PA #120 reported a staff nurse (identified as LPN #59) was on duty and told her that Resident #25 did not have a fall.”
Astoria Place of Cincinnati, Ohio Survey Date 7-25-2023 (Refer to pages 11-12 of survey)
This portion of the survey is of great interest to me because I have a deep sense employees have been sending numerous complaint reports (anonymously perhaps) to the Ohio Department of Health attempting to help the residents. Staff were directing surveyors to specific locations/times/persons to observe and interview.
“During the complaint survey beginning on 7-12-2023 concerns were identified related to the physical environment (call lights not functioning and the resident environment not being homelike), staff sleeping and staff stealing kitchen supplies:
“Review of a statement from a Dietary Aide (DA) #54 dated (7-17-2023) he witnessed two former STNSs (#55 and #70) packing (Name) brown plastic bags of food out of the kitchen refrigerator. DA# 54 contacted the kitchen manager (KM) #91 and told him he would send an accurate picture. KM #91 asked DA#54 to see if he could see what was in the bags, but DA#55 was by the bags so he could not. DA#54 then left the kitchen to go to the bathroom and when he returned both DA #55 and #70 were doing the dishes so he quickly snapped pictures of the grocery bags and what was inside them and sent the pictures to KM#91 letting him know they were stealing items out of the kitchen.”
“Record review revealed an investigation of this incident was completed by Human Resources (HR)#29 and only included the one above statement. HR#29 indicated the incident had been reported to the interim administrator, however there was no evidence the interim administrator completed any type of additional follow up or investigation, Both STNAs were subsequently terminated.”
“During an environmental tour on 7-13-2023 from 3:14 to 3:57 pm with Maintenance Director #97 Resident #10, #11, #12, #13 were observed without functioning call lights. Following the observation, the call lights were repaired. However, there was no evidence the interim
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administrator was overseeing the resident environment, physical condition of the facility and/or provision of maintenance services.”
“In addition, in Resident #14’s bathroom there is no sink with running water, no pull cord, and no cover on the light fixture. Following the observation, the call lights were repaired. However, there was no evidence the interim administrator was overseeing the resident environment, physical condition of the facility and/or provision of maintenance services.”
“On 7-17-2023 at 9:48 am observation with Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #48 revealed the shower room between the two halls had ceiling tile hanging and the shower room on the 100 Hall had a hole in the ceiling revealing a black substance. There was no evidence the interim administrator was overseeing the resident environment, physical condition of the facility and/or provision of maintenance services.”
“An observation on 7-17-2023 at 6:10 am revealed LPN #36 appeared to be sleeping in the nurse’s station. When asked if she was sleeping, the LPN acknowledged she was. The LPN then reported she was at lunch, however this could not be verified as the employee was from a staffing agency. The observation was reported to the interim administrator who indicated sleeping would not be appropriate. The interim administrator placed the individual, on the facility do not return list.”
“On 7-19-2023 at approximately 4:30 pm interview with the interim administrator revealed she believed the issues currently occurring in the building were related to the culture of the employees. The interim administrator did not elaborate or provide any additional information as to the role of the administrator as it pertained to instilling an effective positive culture to ensure all residents attained/maintained their highest level of well-being.”
“This deficiency represents non-compliance under Complaint Number OH001444503
Follow up to staff stealing food dictated in 7-25-2023 survey.
Astoria Place of Cincinnati, Ohio Survey Date 9-21-2023 (Refer to page 10)
“Observation on 9-18-2023 at 8:40 am, revealed there was a very low supply of food items necessary to provide the lunch and dinner meals on 9-18-2023 and the breakfast meal on 9-19-2023.”

Ensuring Oversight and Accountability
Please take a proactive approach to determine if licensed medical professionals mentioned in surveys are following Ohio Administrative Code 4723-4 standards relating to competent practice as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. The Ohio Board of Nursing examines the Scope of Practice for Nurses and the Board of Executives of LTC Services has the authority to examine the actions of Administrators.
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Based on decades of nursing experience, there is very little accountability for licensed professionals working in LTC which precipitated the “change in the culture,” and continues to contribute to staffing shortages post covid.
The Ohio Department of Health maintains a registry of CNAs and STNAs and unlicensed employees with a finding against them for abuse/neglect/misappropriation preventing them from working in LTC. The registry does not include licensed professionals.
The Ohio Department of Health should have an equal responsibility to protect residents from nurses and administrators making decisions contrary to acceptable standards of practice causing an escalation of harm and injury to residents. A suspension or revocation of a medical professional’s license would be a definite deterrent to substandard care and abuse.
State surveyors are also mandated reporters of abuse and neglect under Ohio Revised Code 5101.63. How often are surveyors reporting a nurse or ADM involved in neglect and abuse of a resident to prospective licensing agencies for investigation when they substantiate a complaint during the course of a survey? Certainly, no one would expect a facility to self-report their Director of Nurses or Administrator to a licensing board since surveys indicate resident injuries and abuse are not always self-reported as required by law.
Review of Ohio Administrative Code 3701-64-02 Chapter 3701-64 Abuse or Neglect in Long-Term Care Facilities the role of the Director of Health is very clear.
(A) The director of health shall receive, review, and investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a resident, or misappropriation of the property of a resident by any individual used by a long-term care facility or a residential care facility to provide services to residents.
(B) Allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or misappropriation may be presented orally or in writing to the Ohio Department of Health’s Bureau of Survey and Certification or Bureau of Regulatory Operations.
According to The Ohio Department of Health Guide To Filing a Complaint Against a Health Care Facility (Page 6) What Other Agencies May ODH Also Refer My Complaint To?
“ODH, under the authority of CMS, may also refer a complaint to the Ohio Nursing Board, CMS, Attorney General, Inspector General, etc.”
Please offer evidence-based data of occurrence to Task Force Members to determine if a stronger emphasis placed on this code would have a greater impact on protecting residents.

Empowering Residents
Ombudsman Programs help mediate and resolve problems as they occur. We are hearing from families the program is having a greater impact due to Governor DeWine’s Task Force adding additional resources.
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Please focus on adopting inclusionary plans of action that strengthen employee advocacy efforts to protect residents. Many residents understand how they should be properly cared for but are unable to advocate for themselves. There is no one in the facility willing to help them since it could make the facility liable for civil actions or guilty of crimes committed against residents.
During the pandemic, when I attempted to protect residents, I was told by the ADM, that I was not a mandated reporter since I was employed in Life Enrichment, not as a RN. Apparently, every manager felt the same way as the ADM since they all walked right by a frail elderly woman who was forced to live and sleep on a filthy tiled floor and crawl 20 feet to reach her hand out the door to beg for help as staff walked by. Sadly, she was not in any position to advocate for herself. During my testimony for Esther’s Law, a State Representative asked me why they made her stay on the floor. My answer was, “Because you can’t fall off the floor.”
Staff are all mandated reporters required to attend Resident Rights in-services yearly. Many staff, residents, and families feel Resident Rights are not worth the paper they are printed on. Caring staff need additional support/legal advice from the ODH and Dept of Aging when reporting neglect and abuse if there is ever any chance of truly empowering residents.
I have devoted hours to researching Ohio Law and Administrative Codes. Residents are entitled by law to be protected and staff are mandated to report but advocates believe there is an undeniable flaw at this point in the system.
The Nursing Home Industry has legal firms protecting their interest. If an employee becomes vocal in trying to protect resident’s rights that are being violated there is a definite possibility of termination. I have witnessed management circumvent retaliation laws by insisting a scheduler reduce a staff member’s hours which causes loss of insurance benefits or changing a schedule to an undesirable shift. This practice intimidates employees who even hint toward advocacy efforts on behalf of a resident.
We understand retaliation laws exist to protect us but when it happens attorneys aren’t interested in taking our case.
In many surveys I am currently reviewing from 2022 and 2023 nursing home management will investigate “incidents” and determine they are "unsubstantiated" which does not require them to self-report incidents in cases of injury/abuse as mandated by the ODH. I am seeing several of these unprofessional behavior patterns repeated in surveys benefiting facilities in many ways. This needs to be addressed. Unlawful discharges and transfers are another issue families are constantly facing causing tremendous unnecessary stress.
Guidance for staff from attorneys working with the ODH and Dept of Aging would be such a huge deterrent to poor care residents continue to receive. Help educate and instruct staff how to document what we see but know isn’t documented in a resident’s medical record. Instruct staff on what documentation is legal to procure: For Example: Can staff take photos of abuse and

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neglect? Should we also BCC: emails to the state regarding memos that we send informing management which residents are being neglected and abused? Can we copy grievance reports (which are not permitted according to the Company Policy Handbook) enabling surveyors to substantiate complaints that contradict evidence not supported by the facility? Can an employee record staff verbally abusing a resident? Could I have recorded my administrator and a corporate human resource person telling me “There is a doctor’s order for her to be on the floor, it is care planned, and it is her choice to be on the floor”?
Many residents are cognitively unable to be interviewed by a surveyor. Yet some residents can report incidents to a family member who will not have any evidence other than what they “know” happened to support their complaint investigation.

Important Update: On 3-29-24 at 12:35 pm I had a very informative phone conversation with a complaint intake specialist at ODH. I asked if I could take a photo of a resident’s injuries that were not documented in the medical record. I was told I would need to get the resident’s or family’s permission. I informed the specialist, the resident was unable to answer (cognitively impaired). I told her the family was unaware of the abuse. She stated that I could photograph and send them the photo. I asked how I would do that. She replied, “Upload the photos and email it.” I asked if I could record a conversation with the Director of Nurses denying the abuse occurred. She advised me, “Ohio is a one-consent law state.” I asked her if my complaint was substantiated by the state would the surveyor report the Director of Nursing to anyone? She directed me to speak with The Ohio Board of Nursing.
In fact, on March 26, 2024, I sent an email to the Ohio Board of Nursing and received this reply from *** * **** Chief Legal Counsel:
“The Ohio Board of Nursing does not record or track violations. We maintain our files by the name of the licensee and have no way to produce a record that is responsive to your request. You may be able to find some information by searching the Ohio Dept of Health Nurse Aid Registry a list of non-aide personnel with findings that prohibit their work within a LTC facility.” She provided me with the link to the Ohio Dept of Health webpage. She forgot to mention the list of non-aide personnel does not include licensed professionals.
There is a saying nurses and doctors are taught “If it isn’t charted, it did not happen.” This was originally meant to teach all medical professionals to document accurately to protect our actions. Sadly, it is now often being overused with a much different mentality and purpose. It is used to protect unethical practices by some management in LTC. This is why on page 2 of this letter the ADM told the LPN not to chart. If documentation is nonexistent staff and families have no means to authenticate the truth. This is why dedicated caregivers seldom report. It is as simple as that.

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Consumer Input
I have noticed Administrator names have been removed from some yearly and complaint surveys. Tracking a licensed Administrator with a record of poor compliance performance is in the best interest of the public, especially if they were the main contributing factor to a facility being placed on the Special Focus Facility list.

The Ohio Dept of Health Guide To Filing A Complaint Against A Nursing Home has not been revised since 11-4-2015. Many online Nursing Home Litigation Attorneys are offering excellent advice on their websites on how to protect the elderly which could be very helpful for consumers in Ohio.
Review Ohio’s current Complaint Form:
Section V (Narrative Description)
Provide a narrative description of your complaint which should include the date, time, and location of the incident. Include the name and phone number of any witnesses(es) if applicable.*
No further instruction if the complainant has additional evidence to support the complaint or how to upload evidence like photos, video recordings, audio recordings, contradicting documentation by other agencies such as hospice services, private care nursing agencies, hospital records, written statements by other family members or copies of emails/correspondence to staff/management, etc.
Researching to write this letter I recently discovered The Department of Aging offers more genuine help for the abused and neglected than the ODH. The ODA offers detailed descriptions of types of abuse, signs of abuse, additional agencies and resources to contact (US Department of Elder Justice website,) lists who are mandatory reporters, offers a detailed elder abuse checklist, extensive documentation forms, how to take photos of abuse, documenting bedsores, etc. These agencies need to merge to protect seniors residing in nursing homes.
Facilities are often repeat offenders of neglect and abuse, even immediate jeopardy incidents are repeated since there are few consequences to fear. This is why I used surveys as an example, words and promises are not effective as a deterrent to poor care.
By all indications from surveys and testimonies from residents and families, seniors living outside in communities are more protected by laws against neglect and abuse. This is not how Ohio should be caring for our most vulnerable population in 2024.
You will receive another letter from **** **** who also spoke during the hearing for Esther’s Law. Cindy’s 16 years of experience with her parents in LTC will substantiate my suggestions.

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Please see the urgency in updating the guide as soon as possible. Consumer input would be very advantageous.
Complaint investigations are often unsubstantiated. There will be no indication on the survey form why surveyors were sent to investigate the facility if the survey fails to substantiate a complaint. This does not empower consumers during a tour. A facility is required by law to post surveys in a place so consumers can view them. Consumers need some type of useful information entered on the complaint survey form. Site a Federal Regulation that was investigated to determine evidence (or lack) of an alleged complaint.
Was the complaint survey conducted due to an allegation of: Immediate Access to Residents, Right To Be Free From Abuse and Neglect, Reporting of Alleged Violations, Investigate /Prevent/Correct Alleged Violation, Sufficient Nursing Staff, Safe /Clean/Comfortable/Homelike Environment
This educates consumers much more than “Complaint Unsubstantiated” and at the same time protects anonymous reporters. If I would see multiple investigations alleging Abuse and Neglect it would tell me I need to look elsewhere immediately. As a nurse, that information also tells me more than a Star Rating or Resident/Family Satisfaction Survey which can be manipulated to benefit a facility. Staff and family do not misuse the system of reporting violations. They take it very seriously since it is their only way to attempt to protect a loved one.
Private Pay Facilities should be required by the Ohio Department of Health to have their surveys viewed online by the public. In 2020, this was not a consideration even after numerous communications with Ricky Hoover, ODH Survey Operations Administrator, and Christine Allen, Health Information Administrator at ODH. I also spoke with Ombudsman Specialist, Jimmy Gillespie who stated he “could not locate any citations or any survey results for that matter.” It took 9 months of persistence on my part to receive surveys from the private pay facility where I reported numerous violations. I have surveys dating back to 2019. When you look at the Navigator Tool under Health Inspection Summary for this particular facility you see inspection results dated 9-22-22 and 9-30-21.
The next column reads:
“Previous inspection results for this nursing home do not exist.” Yet, I have 18 surveys in my possession that tell quite a different story! Unfortunately for residents and their family, years of blind referrals were being made by hospitals and various agencies unable able to view those surveys. That valuable information should have been available also for ombudsman since in 2019 an incident of sexual abuse was substantiated in the survey dated 6-20-2019 Complaint Number OH00105026 .
The facility was granted Medicare and Medicaid assignment in 2021. Those 18 surveys do exist and the results should be available for public viewing. This oversight also allows the facility to advertise online “Multiple Perfect State Surveys, (Ohio Department of Health)” This egregious oversight needs immediate scrutiny.
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Staff are trying any means possible to warn families and consumers about facilities. Sadly, our only way to accomplish this is to write Google and Yelp reviews when possible.
There is no incentive to change if there are no substantial consequences. A written plan of correction is nothing more than a “band-aid” on a gaping, festering wound that never heals as evidenced at Astoria Place of Cincinnati.
If a family exercises due diligence and researches the Navigation Tool and finds a satisfactory facility to meet their needs but there are no beds available, they are forced to choose a facility that may have numerous problems.
Astoria Place of Cincinnati was given notice on March 21, 2024, that CMS terminated the agreement between the Secretary of Health and Human Services as a skilled nursing facility in the Medicare Program. In addition, as authorized by the Ohio Department of Medicaid notice is given that the provider’s agreement as a nursing facility in the Medicaid program will be terminated effective March 21, 2024. An agreement was reached within days with CMS rescinding the termination of payments. You must review the findings in the survey from 1-23-24 to understand how ludicrous that is. The facility should be closed.
I researched the Navigation Tool to see where these residents might be placed if the facility was shut down, which CMS had the legal authority to do. Many facilities in close proximity are also 1-2 Star Rated, but not on the SFF list or have a citation of abuse.
Many residents have no say where they are forced to live. You have the ultimate authority to improve facilities for them to live and die with dignity in quality care environments.
Continuing to allow families and residents to share their experiences is a powerful advocacy tool to implement new strategies to support your goals.
Empowering staff is a viable solution for improvements in the quality of care offered to nursing home residents. Staff detest what they witness happening in LTC facilities and that is the main reason there are continued staffing shortages now. Many licensed medical professionals do not want to be associated with facilities offering poor care. Unfortunately, many CNAs and STNAs are forced into working in undesirable facilities due to situations beyond their control.

Just 1 out of 24 cases of elder abuse are reported
Now you know why


Respectfully,
SK RN (Retired)