In recent Baltimore, Maryland nursing home news, the Ravenwood Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in downtown Baltimore closed its doors last week, moving 150 residents out of the center due to safety concerns—after the building’s air conditioning system malfunctioned, failing to keep residents cool in the city’s scorching heat.
Although many residents claimed that the malfunction occurred on Friday, July 2, it was determined by authorities to occur on Sunday. Many residents claimed that their complaints were not heard, until a Ravenwood resident called 911 on Monday for help. The temperature inside the building was reportedly 92 degrees at the time.
The center could reportedly face new environmental deficiencies, as it did not report the issues until a few days after the nursing home had been without air conditioning. Ravenwood is currently under investigation by the state Office of Health Care and Quality to make sure that the home followed proper procedure, to ensure the health and safety of the residents.
The Ravenwood staff claimed to do everything that they could to make sure that the residents were not in medical danger during the period of time without air conditioning. Many of the residents are vulnerable adults who need special medical attention, some of whom are under 65 and suffer from a variety of medical conditions, including amputation, HIV/AIDS, and paralysis.
According to WBALTV, Recent health inspections also found that the home failed to have policies and procedures in place to prevent nursing home abuse and neglect, mistreatment, nursing home health and safety, and theft of residents’ property. It also reportedly failed to properly screen nursing home staff to ensure that the members of the staff have no record or history of mistreatment, abuse or neglect. Upon further investigation, Ravenwood also failed to have licensed pharmacists check on the residents’ drugs programs once a month for safety.
State officials also reportedly moved 70 residents from Liberty Health and Rehabilitation Center last week, because the building’s air conditioning units started breaking down in the heat as well. The residents from both homes were moved to other facilities with air conditioning until the problems are fixed. The state reportedly hopes that the residents will be able to be moved back into the homes in 10 to 12 days.
If you are worried about the treatment, health and safety of a friend or loved one staying at a nursing home in Maryland or the Washington D.C. area, contact our nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at Lebowitz and Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. Call us at 1-800-654-1949.
Nursing Home Could Face Deficiencies for No A/C, WBALTV, July 12, 2010
Nursing Home Residents With No A/C to Move, WBALTV, July 6, 2010
Second Nursing Home Moves Its Residents, WBALTV, July 8, 2010
150 Residents Moved Out of Hot Md. Nursing Home, July 7, 2010
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