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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Nursing Home Cleared Of Elder Neglect Accusation

   Officials with a local nursing home received notification last week that the institution has been cleared of a single accusation regarding possible elder neglect.

   The case came to light on Saturday, November 28, 2008, when an eighty-two-year-old resident of Countryside Healthcare and Rehabilitation, 3051 Buffalo Road, was transported for care at Maury Regional Hospital in neighboring Maury County.

   Shortly after the resident arrived at the hospital, authorities there began requesting that a Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy be dispatched to the facility in order to initiate an investigation. They reported that the man had mold growing around and inside his mouth, as well as an open wound on one leg.

   It was at this point that officials with Adult Protective Services and the Tennessee Department of Health became involved, conducting a thorough investigation into the matter.

   On Tuesday, January 6, Countryside officials received a letter from Regional Administrator Shirley Jones with the Tennessee Department of Health. Jones reported, “The West Tennessee Regional Office of Health Care Facilities completed a complaint investigation on December 22, 2008. This letter is to advise you that no deficiencies were cited as a result of the complaint investigation conducted by our professional staff of this office.”

   Countryside officials indicate that the resident in question was fond of eating hot sauce with his food, and feel that the constant ingestion of the product may have caused his mouth area to become stained. They indicated this was likely the source of the discoloration.

   Countryside Administrator Rod Fulmer stated during an interview Wednesday, “We hate it for the families, residents and employees here, having had to live through this period of time with a shadow cast over us that was not deserved. The care that is given here, we feel is good. There’s always room for improvement, but to have something like this alleged without any basis for it is really tragic.”

VIDEO: Countryside Administrator Rod Fulmer

  

 

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