New York Nursing Home Fulton Commons Care Center Cited for Sexual Abuse

Fulton Commons Care Center received 12 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on April 15, 2022. The East Meadows nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of six surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not adequately protect residents from abuse. Section 483.12 of the Federal Code provides nursing home residents the right to freedom from abuse. A January 2022 citation found that Fulton Commons Care Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically states that after one resident reported that a licensed practical nurse “inappropriately touched” them, the LPN continued working at the facility. Less than two weeks after the resident reported that alleged incident, another resident reported that the same LPN “exposed their genitals” to them. Both residents, according to the citation, had “intact cognition,” and both “reported being afraid and not feeling safe.” The citation states that the nursing home “failed to notify law enforcements and the New York State Department of Health within 2 hours.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the suspension and subsequent termination of the LPN, as well as the termination of the nursing supervisor “who failed to timely report” the first alleged incident.

2. The nursing home failed to report reasonable suspicion of a crime. Under Section 483.12 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must report reasonable suspicion of a crime against residents “not later than 2 hours after forming the suspicion.” A January 2022 found that Fulton Commons Care Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically states that in connection with the above-described allegations of inappropriate touching and exposure by a licensed practical nurse, the facility did not notify law enforcement or state health officials within two hours. In an interview, the facility’s Administrator said that the LPN was allowed to keep working after the alleged incidents “because the alleged incidents were not witnessed.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the review and revision of the facility’s Abuse, Neglect and Mistreatment policy.

3. The nursing home did not adequately protect residents from medication errors. Section 483.45 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to ensure “residents are free of any significant medication errors.” A July 2021 citation found that Fulton Commons Care Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically states that in connection with two residents, the nursing home “did not ensure significant medications were accurately transcribed from Hospital Discharge instructions.” The citation describes this deficiency as having the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the in-servicing or the nurses involved in the residents’ care.

Helping Victims of Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect in New York

The New York Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Lawyers at the Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC work diligently to protect the rights of nursing home residents.  Please contact us to discuss in the event you have a potential case involving neglect or abuse.