The resident, who reported being afraid of the aide, was bruised on the hands and wrists, the citation said. The aide was fired after the physical abuse was substantiated, the citation said.
Collette said Apple maintains a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.
“The care, safety and preservation of dignity are our primary focus,” she said. “All staff [at Watrous] received one-to-one education regarding our abuse policy and were required to sign off that they understood the policy and the ramifications for failure to comply.”
A third Apple home, Orchard Grove Specialty Care Center in the Uncasville section of Montville, was fined $1,740 on June 23 in connection with a resident who slid off a shower chair Jan. 13 and broke a hip.
DPH’s citation said an official at the home concluded that a nurse’s aide should have used a shower chair with foot supports and a seat belt.
Collette said all of the Apple homes have strict fall prevention programs.
“Policies and practices regarding fall prevention were reviewed [at Orchard Grove] and in-service education was administered to staff on all shifts,” she said.
On July 8, Talmadge Park Health Care of East Haven was fined $2,230 in connection with a resident who was cut on the head during a fall from a mechanical lift July 24, 2015, DPH’s citation said.
The home’s investigation found that two nurse’s aides should not have had a bed in its lowest position when moving the resident onto the bed from a wheelchair, the citation said. The aides also should have reported to a nurse that the resident was restless before the transfer was attempted, the citation said. The aides were retrained on making transfers with a lift.
The home was also cited in connection with a resident who was hospitalized after being fed 800 milliliters of nutrients through a tube instead of the 150 milliliters that a doctor had ordered, the citation said. The home found that a licensed practical nurse had connected the feeding tube incorrectly, the citation said.
Administrator Ted Vinci said the home has provided additional training for its staff. He added, “The facility strives to provide quality care to its residents and has taken appropriate disciplinary actions.”
RegalCare Prospect was fined $1,530 on July 18 in connection with a resident who fell from a wheelchair and broke a hip on June 4, the citation said.
Staff at the home failed to document that an assessment had been done of the resident before footrests were removed from the resident’s wheelchair, the citation said.
RegalCare’s administrator could not be reached for comment.
