Headlines

The Omaha World-Herald headline for May 21, 2020: “Nursing Home Where 5 Have Died Has Spotty Record.”

The subtitle was: “Five residents at Life Care Center of Elkhorn die, citied in the past for deficiencies.”

I trust that I am not speaking out defending a bad situation, but I was troubled by the headlines about this facility.  Again, I’m not in any way seeking to excuse any actions that jeopardized the residents there or that in any way unduly contributed to the death of the five and illnesses of many residents and staff.

But those headlines grabbed my attention.  Not for the deaths (my heart goes out to family, friends, and staff – may God give comfort and strength), nor for the raging virus besetting the facility (we all know older ones in care places that could be caught in the same trouble just as quickly).  No, what caught my attention was the reference to things in the past: that the facility was “cited” and “deficient” in the past made the headlines.  Why are those mentioned?  Do they help the situation or add fire to a fire?  

Some thoughts: 

First, do we not have state inspectors?  We do!  I have been doing chapels in the two long-term care facilities in Gretna for more than 20 years and every so often I step into a state inspection or audit happening where all are on edge.  Supposedly, inspectors catch deficiencies and see that they are fixed or the license is pulled and the facility closed. 

A second point: “A spotty record” and “citied in the past for deficiencies” carry little weight with me.  What facility has a perfect record?  There are always going to be things misplaced or forgotten or not addressed that are caught and marked.  What home has a spotless record?  If there is such, I’m suspicious that money under the table or friends in high places are in play. 

Third: Inspectors.  I have heard horror stories by many about inspectors (and I can name names).  One inspector comes in and flags a certain procedure or issue and gives 30 days for compliance.  The facility “complies” only to have another inspector write them up for what the previous inspector required.  Some write-ups are just inevitable for some inspectors just simply can’t be pleased.  They have a power need and gladly use it. 

Fourth: Residents, staff, family and friends have some responsibility as to where they place their loved ones and to visit and observe.  And if they see something – they need to say something!  Obviously, there are aspects that are hidden from view by most such as food prep – but there are staff working there.  The books and inspections are open to only a few – yet there are a few who should see and say.

Fifth:  Forgiving.  One of the problems with most of us is that we don’t forgive nor do we forget.  We can’t let it go (“love covers a multitude of sins”) and we sit on it waiting for yet another opportunity to bring it up and grind it into the other party’s face.  So a care home had deficiences in the past – are there deficiencies today?  So a home was cited in the past – it was in the past.  If there are issues today – then address them, but dredging up slime from days ago is simply dirty.

OK – I was troubled by the headlines for I see many of us doing the same.  We know of a past deficiency or a past citation and we are quick to bring it to the fore when the opportunity presents itself.  Stop it!  If there is a legitimate issue today, then fix it and be done with it!  This packing around a little black book with all the crud from years ago in order to have ammunition for an attack today is not Christian.  The paper’s headlines are troubling!