Michigan Nursing Homes Receive Failing Grade from Watchdog Organization

Families for Better Care, a non-profit citizen advocacy group dedicated to keeping tabs on the quality of nursing homes and long-term care facilities in the United States, recently released a state-by-state nursing home report card. Michigan was ranked 44th, nearly at the bottom of the list, for quality of care, and received an overall “F” grade.

According to a recent article in the Battle Creek Enquirer, nine nursing homes in Calhoun County, Michigan, have a history of numerous deficiency citations. Two of the nursing homes, Evergreen Manor and MagnumCare of Albion, have been named as defendants in lawsuits filed by Olsman, Mueller, Wallace & MacKenzie, on behalf of elderly residents who were injured due to negligent care.

The article lists the number of deficiencies and the resulting fines of those nine nursing homes:

  • MagnumCare of Albion was cited for nine severe deficiencies and 11 enforcement actions and is facing more than $250,000 in fines.
  • The Laurels of Bedford had six severe deficiencies, faced fines of $92,756.
  • Evergreen Manor Senior Care had seven severe deficiencies, faced fines of $11,115.
  • The Oaks at NorthPointe Woods had three severe deficiencies, faced fines of $43,328.
  • Calhoun County Medical Care Facility, was inspected September 20, had four severe deficiencies, and faced fines of $30,746 last year.
  • Manor of Battle Creek Skilled Nursing and Rehab had two severe deficiencies, faces fines of $25,773.
  • Heartland Health Care Center-Battle Creek had one severe deficiency, no fines.
  • Marshall Nursing and Rehabilitation Community had three severe deficiencies, faced fines of $14,560
  • Tendercare Marshall had two severe deficiencies, faced fines of $1,950.

Our Justice for Seniors blog details the complaints we have filed against these, and other, Michigan nursing homes that have treated their residents negligently and abusively.  To view violations against specific nursing homes, use the “search citations” box.

Families for Better Care’s executive director Brian Lee said, “Michigan represents what’s terribly wrong with nursing home care and oversight in America.  State officials and industry representatives should be ashamed of their abysmal nursing home record.”

Three key areas were used in the report card grading system; staffing data, inspection data from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Nursing Home Compare website, and long-term care ombudsman complaint data.

Nearly every nursing home in Michigan (98.83%) had deficiencies for violating state or federal laws among eight categories; mistreatment, quality care, resident assessment, residents rights, nutrition and dietary, pharmacy, environmental, and administration.

Michigan also has the nation’s highest percentage of severe deficiencies (51.76%) in which a resident is found to be in immediate jeopardy, or there were actual harm violations due to injury, abuse, neglect, or death of a resident.

Mediocre nursing staff levels also contributed to Michigan’s failing nursing home grade.

This video, from the Battle Creek Enquirer report, tells the story of one resident’s personal experience at The Oaks at NorthPointe Woods.