Nursing Homes Fined After Resident’s Death, Care Lapses

State health officials have fined five nursing homes at least $1,500 each in connection with residents who were abused or injured and one who died in July after being outside in sweltering heat for hours. On Aug. 10, Gardner Heights Health Care Center in Shelton was fined $3,000 in connection with a resident who died after being outside in a garden for more than three hours on July 27 in 95-degree weather, according to the state Department of Public Health (DPH) citation. The resident, who frequently sat in the garden, was in good condition at 2:30 p.m. that day but at 5 p.m., was found to be unresponsive and died about 40 minutes later, the citation said. A review of video at the home could not substantiate that the resident had been checked by staff between 2:30 and 5 p.m., the citation said.

Medication Errors, Falls Result In Nursing Home Fines

Seven nursing homes have been fined by the state Department of Public Health in connection with medication errors or residents who fell or sustained broken bones. On Feb. 5, two fines totaling $2,740 were imposed on the Golden Hill Health Care Center in Milford in connection with an incident July 31 in which a resident broke a leg. The resident was diagnosed with a broken leg and bruises on Aug. 1, DPH records show.