Coronavirus Outbreak Invading Nursing Homes

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) — More than 80 patients were being evacuated from a nursing home in Riverside on Wednesday morning after employees of the facility “did not show up to care for sick patients two days in a row,” health officials said in a statement.

The 84 patients will be moved from Magnolia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, which has about 90 beds, to other health care locations throughout the county, the news release from the Riverside County Public Health Department said.

Riverside University Health System and Kaiser Permanente sent 33 licensed vocational nurses and registered nurses to care for the residents after only one of the facility’s nursing assistants showed up to work, according to the statement.

Coronavirus Outbreak Infects 50 Residents at a Nursing Home

Nursing homes are notoriously understaffed.  With the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, it is immoral to put profits before the health and safety of the elderly. See this article in the National Law Review highlighting the problem of “Staff Shortages Threaten Residents at Nursing Homes” Thursday, February 6, 2020.

Closer to home, Cedar Mountain Post Acute Rehabilitation in Yucaipa has been told to assume that all of its patients have the COVID-19 virus, San Bernardino County Department of Public Health Director Trudy Raymundo said. As of Tuesday, 51 residents and six staff members had tested positive. Two patients have died, including an 82-year-old woman who had existing health problems. The nursing home east of Los Angeles isn’t accepting new residents and the facility has been closed Fox News reported.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of nursing home residents by enforcing the standards required to help each resident attain or maintain their highest level of well-being. In light of the recent spread of COVID-19, it is providing additional guidance to nursing homes to help control and prevent the spread of the virus.  See more details below with the link provided. 

Our experienced attorneys can help you navigate the complex regulations to make sure your family and loved ones in nursing homes are properly cared for and protected.