Four New Mexico Nursing Homes Fail Surprise Inspection

Last month, state workers in New Mexico paid surprise visits to 91 long-term care facilities. Only 11 of the facilities inspected were given a perfect score. Other facilities visited did not fare as well, with 88 percent of the facilities inspected failing some elements of the unplanned visit. Four of the facilities inspected failed.

Are you worried that your loved one is receiving substandard care in his or her New Mexico nursing home? If so, PKSD encourages you to bring your concerns to nursing home administrators. You should also submit a complaint with the details of your concerns to the state ombudsman program to ensure action will be taken to investigate and resolve any issues.

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Why the State Conducted Surprise Visits

The surprise visits conducted by the state last month follow a similar chain of visits that occurred in 2023. Health secretary, Patrick Allen said they learned from those initial round of visits, which focused on facilities for developmentally disabled individuals. Ultimately, they discovered that having teams go and personally “lay eyes on facilities and people” significantly helped to improve issues within the system.

Facilities That Failed the State’s Surprise Visit

Of the 91 facilities visited, four failed. Those facilities included:

Morada Albuquerque

When state workers visited this facility, they observed one family walking around the hallways. They were having difficulties locating a relative they had come to visit. When they did finally find her, she was a mile away from the facility. That kind of discovery is an alarming experience to anyone thinking their loved one is being properly cared for and being kept safe.

Las Palomas Center

State workers spoke to a woman at Las Palomas who had recently undergone surgery and was still recovering. At the time, she was sitting in one of the hospital gown. She was also still wearing a soiled diaper that was from the night before and had not been changed for 12 hours. Her own day clothes had somehow gotten lost in the facility’s laundry.

Bonney Home and Red Rocks Care Center

According to a recent news article, both of these facilities, which are in Gallup, New Mexico, failed to meet acceptable standards of care during the visit. These two facilities were referred for further follow-up and oversight.

A fifth facility, also in Albuquerque, was flagged for further observation due to having an outbreak of COVID at the time of the visit.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said the surprise visit revealed some widespread concerns. Overall, Gov. Grisham said that “…by and large, New Mexico does not meet that standard.” The standard the governor referred to is the level of care required by the federal government.

What New Mexico Nursing Homes Should Expect Going Forward

Gov. Grisham promised that the state will be doing “a lot more” to better ensure facilities meet acceptable care standards. In a recent news conference last Wednesday, the governor also said that facilities not meeting care standards currently should see these visits as a warning of what is to come.

What Is the Purpose of a Surprise Visit?

Surprising facilities with an unplanned visit is far more effective at revealing issues than if facilities are notified in advance. Patrick Allen said the purpose was to see more clearly what families see. Surprise visits provide clearer insight about the level of care and interaction with residents. Gov. Grisham says these visits will continue.

Need a Nursing Home Injury Lawyer? Call PKSD Today

At PKSD, we are committed to protecting elderly residents in nursing homes who are unable to care for themselves.

If a nursing home is not meeting the acceptable standards of care and it causes a resident to suffer harm, we are prepared to hold the responsible party accountable.

Contact our law offices anytime, night or day to discuss your situation and learn whether you may have legal options for recovering compensation.

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