An ongoing water issue has forced the evacuation of a senior care home. The Pennsylvania home experienced a water line break, and dozens of people were removed to a safer environment. The location had previous citations for nursing home neglect. A recent news story gives the latest updates about the water line break and the history of problems at the facility.
The nursing home had already been placed on a provisional license, the first step in a four-step process that can result in a home's license being revoked. The provisional license stemmed from an inspection that found water leaking through a cracked window, as well as discovering that residents were not receiving prescribed medications. This was the agency's second provisional license within the span of one year.
Most recently, sixty to seventy residents were evacuated from the home, again due to water issues. An apparent water line break caused several inches of water to fill the rooms, and residents were forced to move either to an unaffected wing of the same facility or to another nearby rehabilitation facility. The home declined to answer questions about the incident, but the fire chief indicated that residents were moved by ambulance over a period of time.
The water line break follows a string of nursing home neglect charges. Officials are aware of the issues and are attempting to take steps to address the problems. Residents of the care center are left in limbo. Any resident of a Pennsylvania nursing home who experiences abuse or neglect has the right to file a claim for harm suffered as a result of agency negligence. Many victims choose to use the services of an elder law attorney for assistance in filing legal claims.
Source: lancasteronline.com, "Columbia nursing home was under sanctions before evacuation caused by water leak", HEATHER STAUFFER, July 30, 2017