The patient care watchdog for bankrupt Cedar Haven has filed her second report with the Delaware bankruptcy court overseeing the proceedings. No major deficiencies were found through Dec. 16.
The watchdog, officially known as a “patient care ombudsman,” is Margaret Barajas of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office. Her first report covered nine weekly visits to the facility between Aug. 27 and Oct. 20 and found no major problems with patient care.
Read More: Cedar Haven Bankruptcy: Search for buyer continues, first patient care report filed
The latest report describes nine on-site visits by two ombudsman representatives between Oct. 21 and Dec. 16. Each visit was two to three hours long and included “interaction with an average of 30 different residents per visit.”
The former Lebanon County home was sold to a private company, Cedar Haven Acquisition, LLC, in 2014. CHALLC filed for bankruptcy relief in August. It has been searching for a buyer since. Bankruptcy court records through Dec. 20 give no indication that a buyer has been found.
Patient care reports are required by federal law in bankruptcies involving long-term care facilities.
Early in the bankruptcy, some worried that staffing and resident care would suffer, but the latest report suggests that CHALLC has kept up staffing and maintenance.
“All sections of the facility are clean and odor-free, with appropriate temperatures throughout,” the report states.
The ombudsman found “17 new hires [since the last report], including LPNs, nurse aides, and dietary aides. There is also a new Assistant Director of Nursing and Admissions Director.”
Elsewhere, the ombudsman says that “[v]endors continue to be cooperative throughout this process; none have discontinued service,” and “[r]ecent major maintenance included replacing a 24-foot span of drain in the kitchen.”
The census, comprised of mostly geriatric residents, is up. “The home has a capacity of 324 beds, of which 292 beds are currently occupied,” the report notes. “This is a slight increase from the last report.”
The latest report card wasn’t perfect though.
“Reports [from residents] reflect continued complaints specific to food-service quality and food temperature, however,” the ombudsman notes, “in general most residents report that the meal service has significantly improved throughout this reporting period.”
Generally, the ombudsman concludes, “[m]ost of the residents report that they are satisfied with their care. Of those with care concerns, the complaints pertain to the menu, variety of activities, and call-bell response time.”
Two specific complaints were noted:
- A female resident described “an incident of emotional abuse by staff but declined action at this time. [The ombudsman] made her aware of her rights and steps that could be taken at resident direction.”
- And, “[a] complaint was received by telephone pertaining to the caller’s family member who resides at Cedar Haven.” No further description was given.
Previous coverage
Cedar Haven Bankruptcy: Search for buyer continues, first patient care report filed (11/5/19)
Court appoints Cedar Haven patient care watchdog at bankruptcy hearing (9/6/19)
Bankrupt Cedar Haven owner seeks court permission for brokered sale (8/15/19)
Cedar Haven owner files for bankruptcy, citing millions in debt (8/6/19)
How do the Commissioners judge the Cedar Haven sale five years later? (7/25/19)
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