Acadiana Group Homes Accused of Neglecting Patients' Health
Astor and Mamou group homes are two of several facilities across the state the Advocacy Center says are doing a poor job at maintaining its facility and meeting patients needs. Starting with Astor Community Home in Jennings where representatives say patients weren't being monitored after taking behavior modification medicines. Also, reports say residents were not being seen by specialists despite doctor recommendations. " The residents didn't have the dental services they were suppose to have, this is according to the state. In 2011, they were cited for failure to comply with standards as it applies to nursing services. They didn't have a nurse on site," said Nell Hahn with the Advocacy Center.
As for the center in Mamou, the non-profit group says it's poorly lit, it needs a nurse on staff and patients are too sheltered because of the rural location. " If they were in a place that supported that, they would be in a grocery store and working in fast food places. Instead, they spend their days in a cinder block building that's next to their group home in Mamou."
The company that owns both group homes, Progressive Healthcare Providers, released a statement regarding the accusations. "Those two homes did receive citations in the normal process of certification, those citations were corrected and the homes were found to be in compliance with all state and federal regulations," said Progressive Healthcare Providers."There needs to be higher standards and it needs to be enforced," said Hahn.
The Advocacy Center has been conducting a three year investigation on group homes across the state. The statewide non-profit organization is designed to help seniors and those with disabilities.
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