Thanks in part to investigations by KVUE News, an ABC affiliate in Austin, TX, the Texas Sunset Commission approved a “three strike rule” that requires the Department of Aging and Disability Services to close down repeat offenders in Texas’ increasing nursing home negligence epidemic.
A nursing home facility would lose their license if cited three or more times within 24 months, according to a KVUE report.
Instances of negligence and inappropriate administering of drugs in Texas has increased since 2011. More than 1,000 cases were cited in 2013 alone.
“This is about protecting our parents and grandparents that resident in nursing homes making sure that we get rid of the bad actors, repeated bad actors,” said Schwertner.
The KVUE investigation highlighted Paul Trevino, whose family says was neglected by his nursing home and not properly treated for his Parkinson’s disease. Trevino died at the age of 82.
“It’s sad that there were numerous elderly people who died in the care of nursing homes and its taken this long,” Sandy Martinez, Trevino’s daughter, told KVUE.
The state legislature must approve the commission’s recommendations.
The Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm represents clients in cases involving catastrophic injury caused by nursing homes and other care facilities that fail to provide proper care, including medication abuse and errors. If you believe your loved one has been harmed due neglect or abuse in a nursing home, take action and contact the Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm online or call us toll-free at (877) 552-2873 to set up a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
