Mediocre Marks

The Danto nursing care facility has improved since its last inspection,
but quality of care is still a concern.

June, Grossman-Funds said the resi-
private paying. The cost to the latter
dents came to the home "highly com-')
for living at Danto is $60,000 to
promised." She said they've always been
$70,000 annually.
treated for pressure sores, but sores
During
the
days
the
state
inspected
s it celebrates its first year in
tend to heal and recur.
Danto,
two
staffers
were
out
for
per-
operation, the Marvin and
In the report, state inspectors noted
sonal reasons, leaving management staff
Betty Danto Family Health
that the residents were left in one posi-
to do direct patient care, Grossman-
Care Center continues to
tion for hours at a time.
Funds said.
draw fire from the state for everything
Another citation pointed to improp-
The state inspectors were alarmed by
from lack of staff to poor patient care.
erly high temperatures in a refrigerator
the substitutions, noting that on one
Yet, compared to the last state
that stores medications, insulin and flu
day there were no nurse aides to dis-
inspection of the 165-bed kosher nurs-
vaccines.
Grossman-Funds said the '-
tribute
meal
trays
on
two
wings
of
the
ing home, which is located on the
thermometer
happened to be on the
building.
Maple/Drake Jewish Community
door
rather
than
inside the refrigerator
"Lack
of
staff
was
observed
to
be
the
Campus, the latest is rather benign,
at the time of the inspection, so it reg-
contributing factor to residents receiv-
Administrator Linda Grossman-Funds
istered higher temperatures. It has since
ing food that was unpalatable and at
pointed out.
been placed further inside the refrigera-
improper temperatures," the report said.
The survey, done between Oct. 28-
tor and the medicines that were inside
On the same day, state inspectors
31, resulted in 13 negative citations —
that day have been destroyed.
noticed
that
one
nurse
on
the
subacute
three for quality of life; five for quality
Danto, one of seven nursing
care
unit
was
passing
out
medications
1
of care; one for lack of nursing staff;
homes
in the metro area that is, owned
1/2
hours
after
they
were
ordered
to
be
two for dietary services; one for phar-
and operated by the Toledo-based
given. A review found that only one
macy services; and one for infection
nurse aide tech had come in for the day Health Care & Retirement
control. The state found that one resi-
Corporation (HCR),
shift.
dent was not getting medication need-
opened on Dec. 16
Despite Grossman-
ed to control a schizophrenic condi-
last year amid much
tiofirresidents_naeals were cold; pres—_ _ Funds' contention, resi-
fanfare in the commu-
I
-
ns
council
members,
sure sores weren't-being_treated;_patient -
nity. The last Jewish
in
meetings
from
care plans were either not followed or
Federation-owned
March
to
September,
were not complete; and not enough
l ure tv.treat ressure
nursing home, Prentis
complained about
staff was on duty.
res.
Manor, had just
understaffing, as did
The previous inspection, completed
closed, leaving the area
in January, resulted in 29 citations, over staff during interviews
with
only one private
with state inspectors in
half of them for quality of care issues.
kosher
nursing home,
October.
"It lacks the overwhelming number
Menorah
House.
"Staffing
is
always
of examples - the initial report had, but
While the Jewish
going to be an ongoing
there are still serious issues," said Mike
Federation neither
issue at Danto and any
Connors, director of Citizens for Better
owns nor operates the
other nursing center,"
Care, a Detroit-based advocacy agency
home, it provides cul-
Grossman-Funds
that monitors the state's nursing care
tural and religious pro-
acknowledged.
industry. "This report suggests that,
gramming to residents.
However,
"We
cannot
notwithstanding whatever efforts we or
Linda
Blumberg,
head of the
provide
a
one-on-one
staff,
and
many
the facility may be making, the facility
Commission
on
Jewish
Eldercare
of
our
residents
are
extremely
has underlying problems that haven't
Services (COJES), a consortium of
demanding and they feel they need
been resolved."
Federation agencies that serves the
one caregiver to themselves. When res-
Grossman-Funds said Danto is for-
elderly, said Danto does have the best
ident council meetings take place, we
mally challenging only one finding in
interests of the community in mind.
address all their concerns, and it could
the report — that it doesn't have ade-
"They have invested a lot in the
be
just
one
or
two
who
feel
we
don't
quate nursing staff She said staffing at
Danto
center and do want to provide
have
enough
staff,
because
they
need
a
the home exceeds state minimums,
the
quality
care, and they want to serve
person
in
their
room
immediately.
which require one caregiver to eight
the Jewish community the best they a
"It is a perception, and it is a diffi-
residents during the day and one care-
can," she said.
cult area to correct, but we do have
giver to 12 residents on the evening
The state's Department of
adequate staffing," she said.
shift. Danto's ratio is over two care-
Consumer & Industry Services will
The most severe citation in the
givers, including licensed staff, to a resi-
return for a follow-up inspection with-
report stemmed from the facility's fail-
dent per day, Grossman-Funds said.
in
90 days of Oct. 31. Inspections of
ure
to
treat
pressure
sores
in
three
resi-
There are 107 residents at Danto:
nursing
homes are made every nine to
dents.
Although
one
of
those
residents
22 receive Medicaid, 45 receive
15
months.
❑
was
admitted
in
April
and
another
in
Medicare, and the remaining 40 are

JULIE EDGAR
News Editor

A

271 West Maple
Downtown B irmingham
248.258.0212

Monday—Saturday 10-6 • Thursday 10-9

Your

Comfort

Shoe

Headquarters

EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS

12/19
1997

18

WEST BLOOMFIELD (248) 626-3362
SOUTHFIELD (248) 559 7818

-