Anyone watching the news on NBC 10 may have seen an investigative report this afternoon uncovering nursing home abuses and violations across Rhode Island but in particular at the Pawtuxet Village Care and Rehabilitation Center in Warwick. The investigation began with news that the Rhode Island Department of Health was investigating an allegation that one of the residents may have been overdosed at Pawtuxet Village.
Once the investigation began, it was quickly discovered that there were dozens of complaints of patient violations at Pawtuxet Village, many of which were related to improper medication and dosing and improper transfer of patients. Some of the complaints also dealt with abuse and involuntary seclusion of patients.
For the meantime, the Rhode Island Department of Health has ordered Pawtuxet Village to stop admitting new clients. Inspectors said they found several quality-of-care issues at the facility, including problems with pain management, fall prevention, pressure ulcers, and range-of-motion issues.
These are very serious allegations. Unfortunately, all of these problems are classic examples of nursing home abuse and neglect. Overmedication, the primary complaint in NBC 10’s investigation, is a serious problem in nursing homes because it is means by which they keep the patients “quiet” and “under control.” A sedated and overmedicated patient is unlikely to complain or require much attention. Instead the become like “zombies” – the same term that the family who lodged the initial complaint against Pawtuxet Village used for the condition of their father.
Senior care centers and retirement homes have a major responsibility to care for the health and wellbeing of our elderly. Unfortunately, many of them ignore this responsibility because too many patients do not have actively involved families to speak out about these injustices and because too many patients are too sick of body or mind to be able to speak up for themselves.
Contact my office right away for a free consultation if a member of your family was abused or neglected at Pawtuxet Village or any other nursing home. There is no fee unless we are able to obtain money for the injured party.