COLUMBIA, Tenn. – An elderly woman was taken to a local hospital earlier this month after falling at a Columbia nursing home. According to family members, it wasn't the first time the woman has fallen while at the facility.
Lucy Spears is the daughter of 87-year-old Pauline Holt.
She told Nashville's News 2 Investigates her mother was taken to Maury Regional Hospital on July 3 after she fell at the Life Care Center of Columbia.
According to hospital documents obtained by Nashville's News 2 Investigates, Holt sustained a gash to her forehead and swelling to her eye.
Spears said her mother fell during an attempt to go to the bathroom.
"She was wet and tried to go to the bathroom and she fell out of bed and busted her head. [She needed] five stitches over her eye," she explained.
Spears said that her mother is in frail health and relies on caregivers at the nursing home since she no longer walk.
"If they kept her dry and checked her more she would not be agitated and have no reason to get up," she said, adding, "She says she is wet and she is not going to lie in a wet bed."
On Monday, Spears met with facility administrators and demanded to see recent incident reports involving her mother.
According to Spears, the nursing home admitted that from August 2010 until July 2011, Holt has fallen 10 times.
"I don't want a dime. I just want my mom taken care of," she said, adding, "If they dried her on a regular basis she would have no reason to get up."
Nashville's News 2 Investigates has spoken to the facility director multiple times but due to HIPAA regulations she could not discuss the specifics of the case.
Executive Director Andrea Craig Roberson did say she has been in regular contact and released the following statement:
Residents are our highest priority here at the Life Center of Columbia. Our goal is to do everything in our power to make sure their safety and well being is being preserved.
Recently we've had inquiries about the care and well being of one of our residents in our building. Out of respect of this resident, we will not discuss any details of his or her life here.
However, the associates at our facility pride themselves on treating each resident like they would a family member and we work to ensure that every resident receives the same quality care.
Nashville's News 2 Investigates checked with the state health department which indicated the most recent annual inspection of the facility was last July.
According to the state there were "no immediate jeopardy level deficiencies. The facility was cited for a lower deficiency for infection control related to linens."
Spears said since Nashville's News 2 Investigates began looking into the incident, much more attention has been focused on her mother and she has been in contact with investigators from the state health department.
Concerns about loved ones living at nursing homes should be directed to the Tennessee Department of Health or the Tennessee Ombudsman Program for Senior Care by calling 615-741-0013.
Pauline Holt, 87, had to receive five stitches after falling earlier this month.
