Using Public Records To Investigate Nursing Home Employees Prevents Abuse Cases

"Families turn to nursing homes to give the elderlyeven before dad passed she was the one you took
the care and attention they need, but a congressionalyour problems, any problems to first. She was the
report out Monday says 1,600 U.S. nursing homes -one who found shoes, and managed to always know
nearly one-third - have been cited for abuse." This inwhen and what you were hungry for, many times
a report from CBS News Correspondent Bill Whitaker.before you did. Now the rock is crumbling around the
Some 5,283 nursing homes were cited for abuseedges and I just can't leave her alone anymore. Mom
violations, according to a review of state inspectionhas always been independent and has never needed
records requested by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif.to depend on others for her daily needs; she is the
These homes were cited for nearly 9,000 abuseone everyone depended on and so I made good use
violations from January 1999 to January 2001.of online background check services when I finally
"We found examples of residents being punched,decided on a Nursing home for her.
choked or kicked by staff members or otherI made it a deal breaker to get a list of the nurses
residents," Waxman said.and nurses aides that would be attending my mother,
It was indeed a sad day when the time came aroundthe management objected softly but in the end I got
to place my mother in a nursing home. Even thoughmy way, and a good thing too. In the first attempt
the director was understanding and explained thatat being an from home detective I found 4 nurses
almost everyone that was forced into sitting in heraides with criminal records at the home, 2 had
office and having the conversation we were havingfelonies, one for assault. I took this to the managers
felt the same way. I could not help thinking about theof moms home and threatened to sue if something
first day of school when I cried and wailed and justwasn't done. They now do intensive background
wanted to go home with mother as she headedchecks on all employees. So if you really love your
down the hallway and out to the parking lot. I knowloved one, I advise you to join a background check
that I couldn't hear her footfalls over my own crying,website the cost is very affordable. My service gave
but to this day it seems somehow that I could. I stillme a 3 year unlimited search membership for only
remember the look on her face clearly now some$29, it has proven its worth several times already. I
40+ years later. I imagine my face looked a bit likecan also use it to check license plat numbers and
that as I sat listening to the practiced monologue oftelephone numbers even teachers and new
the nursing home director. A mix between mindneighbors, anybody. It is proving to be the best 20
numbing guilt and stoic determination.dollars I have ever invested.
My mother has always been the rock of our family,