THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 12, 1996 TAG: 9607110173
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Pam Starr
LENGTH: 82 lines
A few weeks ago, I mentioned a new group called The Citizens Committee to Protect the Elderly. This nonprofit, all-volunteer organization was formed to address complaints and concerns of residents in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.
Judy Laster, public relations director for Lake Taylor Hospital in Norfolk, called me the day that column ran. She, and others in the aging field, were worried that readers would assume this new group is the only one in town dedicated to helping nursing home residents.
``The nursing home industry is highly regulated with thorough yearly inspections,'' Laster wrote in a subsequent letter. ``Nursing homes are also obligated to report certain complaints, such as residents abuse, neglect or theft. It seems to me that state and local regulators would be the best solution for families with concerns.''
Laster sent along a Residents Rights poster, which nursing homes either hang or give to family members upon admission. Here are some of the highlights:
``Nursing home residents have the right to be treated with respect and dignity; to be informed of your rights and responsibilities as a consumer; to make decisions about your care and finances; to privacy in your personal matters, visits and mail; to participate in social and religious activities of your choice; to make a complaint without fear of punishment or retaliation and to have your personal preferences reasonably accommodated.
``If you have a complaint or problem . . . attempt to resolve the problem. The best place to solve most complaints is right where you are - in the facility. The nursing facility has a grievance procedure for handling complaints.
Not all problems will be resolved through this procedure, Laster acknowledged. However, there are several governmental offices you can contact: The Office of Health Facilities Regulation at 1-800-955-1819, the Department for Rights of Virginians with Disabilities at 1-800-552-3962, office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-552-3402.
If you suspect fraud by a Medicaid provider, contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the Attorney General at (804) 786-1226. And if you are concerned about nursing home care that's covered by Medicare, call the Virginia Health Quality Center at 1-800-545-3814. All of these are in Richmond.
And that's not all. You can also file a complaint with the local department of social services, adult protective services program or a local long-term care ombudsman.
LOUISE GREENE suffers from arthritis but works in her vegetable garden every morning starting at 4 a.m.
Holding a cane in her left hand and a hoe in her right, Greene, 74, tends to the rows of string beans, butter beans, cocktail tomatoes, potatoes, onions, lettuce, squash and cucumbers that line her property on Princess Anne Road close to the municipal center.
It's the neighborhood's community garden, she said. And there's no charge for the vegetables.
``I plant them and pick them for my friends and neighbors,'' said Greene, who has lived in the same brick house since 1943. ``I give it all away - my mother was like that, too.''
She's even giving away her prized Burpless cucumbers, even though they're a whopping 18 inches or more in length. This is the first year her cucumbers have been that long. Greene's secret?
``I use nitrous soil fertilizer and 3-10-10 food,'' she said. ``I planted them in May. I didn't know they would get so big.''
Gardening and cooking has kept Greene busy for more than 50 years, especially since husband Herbert died in 1993. Retired from her job at the Norfolk Naval Base, Greene has been teaching Sunday school at Mt. Zion AME Church for 55 years and has been involved with the Girl Scouts for half a century. She has two children, Herbert Jr. and Delores Young, one grandchild and two great-grandchildren.
``I try to encourage the young that they don't have to be on welfare,'' Greene said, slowly walking around her gardens. ``They can work if they want to work. I go to bed early and get up early to garden. You'll feel better working in God's soil.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Louise Greene, 74, is known for working in her vegetable garden near
the municipal center, carrying a cane in her left hand and a hoe in
her right. Along with her vegetables, she hands out advice to the
young people in the neighborhood.
KEYWORDS: NURSING HOME by CNB