Michigan Attorney General Investigates Alleged Mistreatment of Veterans

The Michigan Attorney General launched an investigation earlier this year as to the care being provided at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, after the Michigan Auditor General’s report criticized the facility for improper care. Among the allegations chronicled in the audit were staff members failing to check on residents who had fallen, failing to properly investigate claims of abuse and neglect by residents, and not filling residents’ prescriptions in a timely manner. As part of this investigation, the Attorney General is now calling on those who lived at or who had family members who resided at the facility over the last several years to disclose any behaviors that might constitute physical or financial abuse.

The state audit of the veterans’ home revealed surveillance video showing that staff members completed only about 57% of required room checks, and 67% of fall alarm checks, despite the fact that the home’s documentation showed that staff members had completed all of these checks. Supervisors also signed off on 17 out of 25 location check sheets for checks that simply did not occur.

Since the audit, a former judge has taken over management of the facility and has made significant strides toward changing the standards of care for residents who live in the veterans’ home. Each patient now has a comprehensive care plan, and there is a system in place to address residents’ complaints within 24 hours and fully resolve those complaints in a maximum of 72 hours. The home now also has five additional nursing positions.

The nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers of Bonner & Vaughan are experienced in ensuring that nursing homes and other elderly care facilities provide the appropriate levels of quality care for all of their residents. When a nursing facility fails to do so, and injury to or neglect of a resident occurs, the nursing facility may be liable for those injuries. We know how to investigate your case, assess your situation and determine whether you or your loved one has any potential claims against nursing home staff or the nursing home itself. Contact Boller & Vaughan today and learn how we can help you through this difficult situation.