You asked how an individual could challenge a nursing home’s evaluation of a patient, particularly when a nursing home staff member evaluates a patient as combative and abusive, which could make it more difficult for the person to transfer to another facility closer to home.

If the patient or family believes the evaluation is incorrect, they should first discuss it with the nursing home’s director of nurses or social worker. Problems can sometimes be resolved internally at that level. They could also ask for an opinion from an outside psychologist.

Another option is to contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s Office representative for the nursing home. The ombudsman’s purpose is to help nursing home patients resolve problems and to advocate for them. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s Office, headed by Teresa Cusano, has a central office in Hartford and a number of regional offices that serve nursing homes in their area. The program’s central toll-free number is 1-866-388-1888 and other relevant phone numbers should be posted visibly in the home. Its website is at: http: //www. ltcop. state. ct. us/. The site also gives general advice on using care planning to resolve problems at: http: //www. ltcop. state. ct. us/rights_frm. htm

They could also complain to the Department of Public Health (DPH) by calling (860) 509-7400 or sending a written complaint to:

Complaint / Compliance Unit
Division of Health Systems Regulation
Connecticut Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Ave. , MS#12HSR
Hartford, CT 06134-0308

DPH’s consumer guide to their complaint and hearing process is enclosed and also available at: http: //www. dph. state. ct. us/Publications/BRS/HSR/consumer. pdf.

An evaluation of combativeness and abusiveness could makie it more difficult to transfer to another facility, depending on the situation. For instance, one such notation would likely have less of an effect than multiple instances. Also, another facility where the patient wishes to transfer may rely to a large extent on the staff’s verbal report or it may send its own admissions coordinator to interview the patient, according to DPH.

HN: ro