Raleigh Nursing Home Comes Under Fire

A troubled nursing home in Raleigh has a new name, different owners and a new inspection that turned up unsatisfactory conditions.

The facility in question is now called the Windsor House of Raleigh and is located at 8200 Litchford Road. Last year, under different ownership, it was known as Meadowbrook Terrace.

In 1996, the Health Care Finance Administration fined Meadowbrook Terrace $6,000 and suspended payments for new Medicaid and Medicare patients. The reason given was substandard care. Now under the new ownership a new state inspection conducted last week found some of the old problems still in existence.

North Carolina Chief of Licensure, Steve White, says conditions were substandard in the home.

The state has given the facility until August 14 to achieve what it calls "substantial compliance" with recommendations for improvement. If that does not occur, state officials will recommend that federal money for Medicare and Medicaid be cut off completely, even for existing residents.

There are several things you can do if you need to find a nursing home for a loved one. First, contact your local ombudsman at the state department on aging.

There are several important issues you should ask about, including survey results on the facility and complaints against the facility within the past year. You should also ask if there is anything else you need to know regarding your circumstances.

You can reach the deparment of aging at 733- 3983.