Daughter Questions Nursing Home Death

Report shows no ambulance called; no CPR performed.

Daughter questions nursing home death: woodtv.com

WAYLAND, Mich. (WOOD) – A daughter’s grief over her mother’s death is prompting an investigation into Laurels of Sandy Creek Nursing Home in Wayland.

Doris Robbins, 80, had a host of medical issues, but a zest for life. She made it clear in writing she wanted doctors to do everything they could to keep her alive.

But a report by state investigators for the federal government found that someone — or perhaps many people — dropped the ball.

“Her death is a tragedy and it’s a horror show for me personally because I have a tremendous sense of guilt,” said Robbins’s daughter Patricia Slomski.

She said she feels guilt about putting her mother in a place she thought she could trust.

Slomski said nursing home officials told her that her mom took a nap in her room on May 6 and never woke up.

“I was told that my mother had took an early afternoon nap, and that when they went to her room, they couldn’t revive her,” said Slomski.

Whether it was daughter’s intuition or a sixth sense, Slomski said something didn’t seem right.

“They left me on hold for an inordinant amount of time, and told me that I had to talk to this lawyer. They wouldn’t communicate with me, and that’s when the bells rang,” said Slomski.

She asked for an investigation. The report confirmed her fears.

“It was like my mother had died all over again,” said Slomski.

The report suggests a confusing series of events that day.

Robbins showed signs of medical distress as early as 10 a.m. While nurses ordered some procedures, the report said no one ever called the doctor in charge. Her condition improved slightly.

But at about 3:45 p.m., Robbins was found dead in her bed.

Despite her written wish that she be kept alive, the state found nurses never performed CPR. They never called an ambulance, and they never notified police of her death.

Now, Slomski wants answers.

“It’s not just about my mother,” said Slomski. “Because there’s people like her that have a face, that are in jepardy when rules and regulations aren’t followed.”

The nursing home declined to comment when Target 8 showed up for answers.

“I’m sorry, we have no comment at this time,” said Vice President of Operations for Laurel Health Care Company Barbara Lombardi.

The nursing home did release a statement, which said in part that medical privacy laws prevent them from discussing the case.

“The report that you had with you represents the findings of the State Survey team and we have an opportunity to respond and to dispute those findings and we are currently in that process. We have had findings overturned 50% in a recent survey cycle. We would suggest and request that you do not prematurely report findings that have not been reviewed,” the statement reads in part. “This will only put undue concerns in our family’s minds. The Laurels of Sandy Creek is very proud of the dedicated, caring staff that serves our residents, families and the community of Wayland.”

Laurels of Sandy Creek Nursing Home was also recently placed on a federal watch list — the Special Focus Facilities List. Put together by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the SFF list shows nursing homes with a history of what it calls “serious issues.”

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/CertificationandComplianc/downloads/SFFList.pdf

State inspections of nursing homes are public record and available for review at each nursing home.

Full statement from Laurels of Sandy Creek:

We are very sorry for the family’s loss and understand these are difficult times for them. We are not trying to withhold information however, as you know, HIPAA privacy act will not allow us to discuss our residents. The report that you had with you represents the findings of the State Survey team and we have an opportunity to respond and to dispute those findings and we are currently in that process. We have had findings overturned 50% in a recent survey cycle. We would suggest and request that you do not prematurely report findings that have not been reviewed. This will only put undue concerns in our family’s minds. The Laurels of Sandy Creek is very proud of the dedicated, caring staff that serves our residents, families and the community of Wayland. We provide quality care to our resident and have high customer satisfaction rating.

Source: Joe LaFurgey for woodtv.com