State Sued in Nursing Home Probes
Relatives of two former nursing home residents and an advocacy group have sued the state for failing to investigate complaints against nursing homes promptly, alleging the delays exposed elderly patients to abuse and neglect. The suit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, comes after a California health official conceded in a July interview with The Times that the state has often been unable to respond to complaints filed against nursing homes within the 10 working days required by law. Over the last five years, the number of complaints against nursing homes has increased, from 9,650 in 2000 to 15,512 in 2004, according to the state. But the number of state citations has decreased, from 709 in 2000 to 464 in 2004.
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