A nursing home closed for business and abandoned is still causing a threat to past residents. The facility is a biohazard and holds confidential records that are accessible to anyone who would choose to walk in the door. The home is not locked, nor does it have surveillance.

One state  working towards nursing home reform voiced complaints at an assembly oversight hearing recently. The executive director for Nursing Home Reform commented that the state was “extraordinarily unresponsive and has a long history of noncompliance.” The investigations office for caregiver abuse also spoke of abuse complaint backlogs upwards of 700 people. However, the executive director said it was closer to 10,000 complaints.

A nursing home will close leaving 130 residents looking for a new facility. The home has been inspected over 13 visits. Findings concluded major safety violations for residents.

As the need for nursing homes arises, so does the need for surveillance. A recent study found that there were 27 cases of negligence or abuse towards patients in nursing homes. The answer for some is “granny cams” placed in rooms unbeknownst to nursing home administrators to keep an eye on patient treatment.

An alleged illegal kickback scheme has led to a payback settlement in the amount of $30 million. Two therapy companies made an agreement to refer work to each other by paying an upfront sum of $400,000-$600,000 in exchange for referrals and a percentage of revenue from the patients referred. The companies are also restructuring their business arrangements.

A nursing home owner was arrested for theft of one of the residents at his facility. The home was licensed to care for up to 10 residents.  One of the patient’s family member noticed suspicious activity and asked the police to investigate. Upon investigation, the police found that the man had opened an account in the patient’s name and charged $2,500 to it.