Extendicare Nursing Home Lawsuit Filed in Minnesota
Published: October 31st, 2008 • Comments: 3
Another class action lawsuit has been filed against Extendicare nursing homes, this time involving 10 facilities in Minnesota. The complaint indicates that Extendicare engaged in deceptive advertising by falsely claiming that the residents would be provided with the care that they needed.
The nursing home class action lawsuit was filed against Extendicare Health Services, Inc. and Extendicare Homes, Inc. on behalf of Laura Bernstein and all residents who lived at the 10 Minnesota Extendicare nursing homes between October 29, 2002, and October 29, 2008.
The suit alleges that Extendicare violated the Minnesota Prevention of Consumer Fraud Act by using false advertising to deceive elderly and sick individuals into believing that they would be provided with good quality nursing care. The complaint also claims that Extendicare’s brochures, websites and other promotional materials misrepresent the company’s facilities with the intention of cheating prospective residents.
A similar Extendicare nursing home lawsuit was filed on August 22, 2008 in Washington State on behalf of all individuals who resided at Extendicare facilities in the state between July 1, 2004 and July 1, 2008. That complaint also indicated that false and misleading advertising statements were made and that the inferior care provided at the facilities violated the rights of residents.
In response to each of the nursing home lawsuits, Extendicare has issued press releases stating that they plan to defend the cases in court, calling the allegations in the complaint “incorrect and misleading.”
Extendicare has been accused of engaging in a “Green Flag Policy” that qualifies patients with serious medical conditions for immediate admission without proper assessment of the facilities ability to meet the patient’s needs or the needs of those already residing at the nursing home. The Minnesota complaint claims that the “Green Flag Policy” and “24/7 Extendicare Admission Policy” show that Extendicare is more concerned with profits than people.
In addition to Minnesota and Washington, Extendicare nursing homes throughout the United States have been cited for serious violations of federal regulations, which could increase the risk of serious and potentially life threatening nursing home injury for residents.
According to a July 2008 report in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 20 out of the 26 Extendicare nursing homes in Wisconsin have been cited for at least one serious violation in care over the past three years and the nursing home operator has paid over $2.3 million to settle violations that led to the 2003 death of a resident.
Pingback by Another Extendicare Class Action Lawsuit Filed over Nursing Home Neglect in Wisconsin : AboutLawsuits.com on 17 November 2008:
[...] suit, this time filed on behalf of all residents of their nursing homes in Wisconsin. Similar Extendicare class action lawsuits have been filed in Washington and Minnesota, with all of the cases alleging that the company places [...]
Comment by Ladytopaz on 8 January 2010:
Unfortunately I work in an Extendicare facility but not in this state. What appals me is diabetic patients who ‘are not’ put on a diabetic diet!! Pancakes served with maple syrup and not sugar free? Lord, no wonder they are sick!! And yes, I stay because I care about the residents, the company on the other hand is another matter!!
Comment by Myra on 2 March 2010:
Just looking into Extendacare facilities since next month the facility in which my sister liveses is going to be under this company. I will be visiting more and be watching more since I find that this company seems to be in the business JUST for the MONEY. I am a CNA and MA and I know for what to watch. I letter was received by me stating that thngs would be about the same and not to worry. I have never worked in a facility that was taken over by another company and things did not change and usually not for the best. I will be watching.