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Sentinel Project

Sentinel Project

Sentinel Project

  • Sentinel Project logo

    Designed to Protect Vulnerable Adults

    The Sentinel Project lives within the Health Care Fraud Division (HCFD). The project follows the division’s mission of combatting abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults in long-term care settings.

    Long-term care settings include:

    • Skilled nursing facilities;
    • Assisted living facilities; and
    • Adult foster care homes.

    Specially trained investigators look for evidence of abuse or neglect. They develop a case and follow it through to trial.

    The team collaborates with:

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The process, complaint received, recommendation, refer complaints, visits occur, investigation, refer to LARA, or closed.

The Process and Impact

The Sentinel Project is alerting the nursing home industry of the Attorney General’s focus. And, of the legal penalties that may come for failing to care for our elderly.

Most staff are doing their best to provide the greatest care. However, some facilities may still have challenges that could lead to regulatory and/or criminal violations.

Our goal is four-fold.

  1. Ensure facilities improve their operations and quality of care.
  2. Bring awareness and educate facilities about gaps in care.
  3. Prevent adverse events from happening.
  4. Improve the physical and mental well-being of residents.

This ensures our loved ones receive the best care possible now and in the future!

  • Wound care dressing set on stainless steel plate. Cotton ball with alcohol, cotton stick with povidone-iodine, forceps and conform bandage.

    Positive Practices

    • HCFD providing education to staff on vulnerable adult financial exploitation, abuse, and neglect;
    • Actively work to increase staff satisfaction and morale;
      • Staff are honored for their good work through an Employee of the Month program which may be done by hanging their picture near the facility entrance, choosing a gift or receiving a gift card.
      • Daycare is available within the facility for staff making it easier for parents to balance work/life balance as they can interact with their children while on breaks.
    • Provide stimulating activities for the residents to allow them to stay engaged with family and friends; and
      • Various themed festivals are held throughout the year where special activities are scheduled that may include costume parties, family water balloon fights on the patio, cookouts, or movie nights with special treats.
      • If daycare is provided within the facility residents are able to interact with the children by reading them books or participating in games or activities.
    • Residents are allowed the opportunity to have an active role in solutions to an identified concern.
      • Audits were completed by residents when long call light wait times were identified, residents reported feeling as though they had a little control over their care.
  • Support, nurse and holding hands with senior patient for hope, empathy and healthcare.

    Concerns

    • Wound treatments not being completed as prescribed;
    • Medication not being available;
    • Medication being administered incorrectly;
    • Briefs not being changed for a long time;
    • Hygiene care not occurring on a regular basis;
    • Long call light wait times;
    • Inadequate staffing, especially during evening, night, and weekend hours;
    • Facility maintenance issues that could lead to injuries;
    • Staff not completing jobs assigned to them;
    • Lapsed nursing licenses or certified nursing assistant certifications;
    • Improper documentation of controlled substances being administered;
    • Resident to resident verbal, physical, and sexual assaults;
    • Staff to resident verbal and physical assaults; and
    • Lack of ongoing education on resident care procedures for nursing staff.

Department of Attorney General seal

Report nursing facility abuse or neglect by phone or online:

800-242-2873

800-24-ABUSE

File a complaint online