Puyallup great-grandmother is dead, and Washington must shine more light on care homes
Fear of abuse or neglect is a waking nightmare for any adult child who has entrusted an aging parent to the care of a state-licensed facility, or who is wrestling with the decision to do so.
The nightmare recently became all too real in Puyallup, culminating in the death of a 95-year-old woman blessed with 45 grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Betty Torrey fell out of bed Nov. 13 and died 11 days later from complications of a broken leg she sustained in the fall. According to police reports, staff let her lay on the floor for 2 1/2 hours, ignoring her pleas for help as they came in and out of the room.
Able Care Adult Family Home was shut down last week, and Pierce County prosecutors brought criminal mistreatment charges against the husband, wife and adult daughter who own and operate it.
Washingtonians should be careful not to make broad assumptions from a single shocking incident in one of the state’s roughly 3,000 adult family homes. But more than ever they’re likely wondering: How can we ensure the safety of our loved ones?
Families certainly should do thorough research before finalizing a placement for elderly parents, and remain vigilant about their care. But there are limits to a family’s surveillance capabilities. Install a “nanny” cam? That didn’t stop the unthinkable from happening to Betty Torrey.
This appalling case is a grim reminder that state regulators and elected officials must never cease strengthening protections for vulnerable adults, whether they live in adult family homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes or other settings.
This year, lawmakers in Olympia are moving forward on a legislative package requested by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). It has several good elements and clear bipartisan support, passing the House last month without a single “no” vote.
But buried in the fine print of House Bill 1422 and its companion, Senate Bill 5338, are provisions that would keep information out of the public eye — information related to outside criminal investigations, like the one in Puyallup.
If the death of a Puyallup area great-grandmother and the closure of Able Care home have taught us anything, it’s that the public should know a lot more about these facilities and their staff — not less — and must be assured the government is providing rigorous oversight.
At no time has this been more essential, given the silver tsunami of Washington’s Baby Boom population and the related rise in at-risk seniors. In 2018, the state took more than 60,000 reports of vulnerable-adult abandonment, abuse, neglect, financial exploitation and self-neglect; that’s more than three times as many as in 2012.
Among other things, HB 1422 would clarify definitions of abuse in state law to cover actions that are intentional, knowing or reckless.
It would maintain a state registry of people found to have committed abuse, while granting an opportunity to be removed from the list after three years in some circumstances. (Don’t worry; there would be no leniency for abusers with multiple victims or those who caused grievous harm or death.)
The bill also would require more information sharing between DSHS, police and other state agencies. No longer would DSHS employees be barred from even acknowledging an open case of abuse.
Trouble is, the improved communication doesn’t extend to the general public or the news media. In fact, in cases where police agencies get involved, the bill calls for less transparency than current law does; it states that “information contained in reports and findings may not be further disseminated and is not subject to disclosure.”
That bodes poorly for educating the public about potential criminal misconduct that may quietly take place inside local care centers — the kind of information the TNT shared in its recent reports about Puyallup’s Able Care home.
A veil of secrecy already shrouds DSHS investigations. The agency doesn’t disclose many internal records, such as quality assurance reviews; it even keeps a lid on documents after a death (all files, reports, records, communications and working papers used to prepare a vulnerable adult fatality review).
We understand patient confidentiality must be protected. But at what point do broader public safety interests take precedence? Don’t community members have a right to know their frail, defenseless loved ones will be well cared for and not abused?
Of course they do.
The Legislature’s new package to protect vulnerable adults, though well intended and largely well received, is due for a few fixes in the fine print before it’s sent to the governor’s desk.
Washington needs to shine more light and build greater trust in its licensed care facilities. When adult children feel compelled to install nanny cams, it’s not a good sign.
RESOURCES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS
* State list of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family homes: www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/residential-care-services/long-term-care-residential-options
* Federal ratings and comparison data for nursing homes: www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/search.html
* State database of care providers and their credentials: fortress.wa.gov/doh/providercredentialsearch/