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

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Rooms that could be used-such as, the read<strong>in</strong>g room-were empty.
There were no provisions for car<strong>in</strong>g for these patients; they had no
bedside tables or equipment, medic<strong>in</strong>es, et cetera.
Ten bedpans were available for 40-odd patients. It was said the
nurses went to the unheated floor to pour medic<strong>in</strong>es and returned to
adm<strong>in</strong>ister them. It is improbable.
The bathrooms and toilet rooms were dirty and disorganized. Commode
pails were soak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a bathtub; toilet paper was strewn all
over the floor. Dirty equipment was scattered about, et cetera.
The dishwash<strong>in</strong>g mach<strong>in</strong>e room was a mess. Milk conta<strong>in</strong>ers, napk<strong>in</strong>s,
et cetera, were scattered about the floor. The floor was too wet
to walk across. "Clean" knives, spoons, et cetera, were scattered on
the table.
Although the gages on the dishwash<strong>in</strong>g mach<strong>in</strong>e registered 140
degrees and 170 degrees, the water was cold. Dishes and trays were
com<strong>in</strong>g out of the mach<strong>in</strong>e wet and cold.
The employees said they had no hot water. Mr. Loren stated paper
service would be used for supper. It was not. Revisit<strong>in</strong>g the kitchen
at 4 :30, I found the trays set up with the same dishes.
In spite of the cold, a cold supper was served. The menu called
for macaroni salad and egg salad. No one thought to change it to a
hot meal. A small portion of cream soup was <strong>in</strong>cluded. The patients
received a glass of milk-3 to 4 ounces each.
The directress of nurses had left the home before we arrived. "She
had worked late the day before."
The contractor assured me heat would be on with<strong>in</strong> the hour. At 9
p.m., Mr. Loren phoned me at home stat<strong>in</strong>g the build<strong>in</strong>g was warm.
Revisit by Miss Coe at 9 a.m., February 5, 1971, the build<strong>in</strong>g was
warm.
The outstand<strong>in</strong>g feature of this problem was the complete <strong>in</strong>difference
of the adm<strong>in</strong>istration and staff to the discomfort and actual
danger to the patients.
The adm<strong>in</strong>istrator did not provide extra blankets until told. Neither
of the licensees appeared.
Rabbi Bergman, husband of one of the licensees, came <strong>in</strong> about 3
p.m. He said he was send<strong>in</strong>g 100 more blankets from those on order
for Park Crescent. This after the heat had been off, or low for 5 days.
The staff were bundled up, but put no extra wraps on the patients.
No hot dr<strong>in</strong>ks were served. The patients were not checked for reactions.
Temperatures were not taken until suggested by us. There were
signs of smok<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> many areas. One patient was us<strong>in</strong>g a paper bag
for an ashtray, et cetera.
Congressman KocH. One more question.
Do any of the witnesses have any <strong>in</strong>formation as to who directed,
on the part of the city of New York, that there be only announced
visits, and that those visits only take place dur<strong>in</strong>g the afternoon? Does
anyone have any personal knowledge of the witnesses sitt<strong>in</strong>g at the
table with respect to that?
Ms. JARVIS. I don't know where it came from orig<strong>in</strong>ally, but it came
to the <strong>in</strong>spectors at a staff meet<strong>in</strong>g from our deputy commissioner.
Congressman KocH. When?
Ms. JARvIs. That is a hard question.
Congressman Komi. What year?