Trends in Long-Term Care - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

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Ms. HOPPER. About the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of 1971, I actually left the office
I had up there, and went down to Worth Street, so I did come back
now and then.
Congressman KocH. So after that date, you did not make physical
<strong>in</strong>spections?
Ms. HOPPER. I did occasionally when I was asked, but I was not <strong>in</strong>
charge of the unit, and did not operate it.
Co1ngress<strong>in</strong>an KOCH. I understand.
Now, can you tell us how many <strong>in</strong>spectors there were, when you were
actually operat<strong>in</strong>g as an <strong>in</strong>spector. howN many <strong>in</strong>spectors wvere employed
by the department of health, and how many homes did they have to
<strong>in</strong>spect?
Ms. HOPPER. You mean while I visited the department of health?
Congressman KocH. In 1971. when you made your <strong>in</strong>spection of the
Towers Nurs<strong>in</strong>g Home, how many homes were subject to <strong>in</strong>spection <strong>in</strong>
the city of Newv York, and how many <strong>in</strong>spectors were there who were
authorized to make these <strong>in</strong>spections?
Ms. HOPPER. Approximately 110.
Congressman Koctf. 110 what?
Ms. HOPPER. Nurs<strong>in</strong>g homes. The figures fluctuated, because some
would close, and new ones would open.
Congressman Koci-i. How many <strong>in</strong>spectors were available for this?
Ms. HOPPER. Approximately 24. Aga<strong>in</strong>, the number I am not sure of.
Congressman KOCH. In the regular course of your duties, -were you
required to make written reports of your <strong>in</strong>spections?
Ms. HOPPER. The <strong>in</strong>spectors were required to make written reports.
Sometimes I did, sometimes I did not. It would depend on the
persons. If I went out, the <strong>in</strong>spector might write the report. This
bus<strong>in</strong>ess, I made myself. because I avas a little upset.
Congressman Koc<strong>in</strong>. I understand.
Did you actually prepare a written report, which I believe you
have a copy of, which is dated February 9, 1971, concern<strong>in</strong>g the
Towers Nurs<strong>in</strong>g Home, and if you do. if you did that, do you have a
copy of that before you ?
Ms. HOPPER. Yes; I have.
Congressman Kocti. And will you turn to page 2 of that report,
and would you read the first 4 paragraphs.
Mr. LEwIN,. Misbht I ask the chairman, does this matter. s<strong>in</strong>ce it
refers to a particular home of my client. if the witness will be referr<strong>in</strong>g
to a document. and the Congressman is go<strong>in</strong>g to be referr<strong>in</strong>g to a
document, I th<strong>in</strong>k it is only m<strong>in</strong>imumi fairness that ewe have a copy
of that document.
Senator Moss. You are correct, although Ewe are not conduct<strong>in</strong>g
a trial.
You are entitled to a copy of that document. I th<strong>in</strong>k you have
been read<strong>in</strong>g from that earlier.
Congressman KocT. Would you read exactly, as you prepared it on
that date, <strong>in</strong> 1971.
Ms. HoPiER. I did not prenare it on that date. I prepared it nrobably
the day after I got back. I left the place at 6 o'clock <strong>in</strong> the afternoon.
On the third floor. beds were l<strong>in</strong>ed three deep <strong>in</strong> the hall allow<strong>in</strong>g
only a 2- to 3-foot passage. Fire exits. doors to roomis. et cetera, were
blocked by beds.