General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Some retirees are rethinking Florida after Irma [View all]Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Money's always involved, of course, of course. This facility had no backup generator for the cooling system. According to what I read, Medicare paid part of the cost for one for another 300-bed facility, that owner saying cost was no excuse for this facility's lack.
The owner of this facility operates within a web of regulations that requires many expenses be met as a matter of course. Our son owns a company that installs and maintains such things as electronic door systems so residents can't wander off, and facilities are typically in contact immediately when they have a problem. It's the law.
Mundane as it is, I'll put bad management at the top of the list -- bad judgement, inadequate disaster plan, and especially failure of individuals there to act in proportion to the increasing emergency.
And definitely inadequate government regulations, which are supposed to make sure greed and incompetence don't rule. They were also supposed to be improved after Katrina, so why no requirement for a backup generator? Obviously, various failures contributed to this.
Sun Sentinel:
FPL refused to confirm or deny the nursing homes claims. But Gov. Rick Scotts office released a statement late Friday afternoon disputing the nursing homes account, saying at no time did the facility report that conditions had become dangerous or that the health and safety of their patients was at risk.
Gee, the staffer on the phone didn't use the right words? Was a clueless amateur who didn't know how to ask the right questions on the other end also?