| February 13, 2008 Government list ranks worst nursing homes
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(NECN - Wakefield, Mass.) - Jose Cueva thought Harborside Healthcare was the perfect place for his 97-year-old mother Petronila.
The elder Cueva had Alzheimer's and tended to wander off, but was placed on a secure floor at the rehabilitation and nursing center in Wakefield, Massachusetts. Her son says she was also fitted with a wander guard - an alarm that strapped around her ankle letting staff know if she got too close to a door.
On New Year's Day 2003, the slight-built woman with a walker, somehow managed to get through a heavy hallway door that was supposed to be set with a keypad alarm. She fell down a flight of stairs and a cleaning person found her but she died the next day.
Cueva says he was shocked to learn that Harborside is listed as one of the worst nursing homes in the country. The center for Medicare and Medicaid services released the 54 worst nursing homes in November, but homes that were showing signs of improvement were left off the list, including Harborside.
After bowing to pressure from Democratic lawmakers, the Feds have released the first full list. In that time, a resident at Harborside had a serious accident and the home has been moved to the worst of the worst list.
Also on the list of worst-ranked homes, is Cedar Hill Health Care Center in Randolph, Massachusetts. Newly on the list of problem facilities, is Piety Corner nursing home in Waltham.
David Hoey, Cueva's attorney, says it is obvious the public
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