Liberty Health and Wellness
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
- Last Modified:
- May 1, 2024
People entering nursing homes expect these facilities to attend to their basic needs and follow all federal and state care and facility maintenance requirements. It is critical to research before choosing a facility and to seek legal help if a nursing home facility is negligent in its care.
Liberty Health and Wellness has an extremely poor care record based on complaint records, inspection reports, and reviews. It receives poor marks in nutrition, patient safety, and other areas and is currently part of a federal government program that oversees troubled nursing homes.
If you or a loved one were harmed due to negligent care at Liberty Health and Wellness or another facility, our experienced legal team at Brown & Crouppen can pursue compensation on your behalf. Call (314) 501-9510 or reach out online to schedule a free consultation.
Complaints and Ratings of Liberty Health and Wellness
Liberty Health and Wellness is a for-profit nursing home located at 2201 Glenn Hendren Drive, Liberty, MO 64068. The government has flagged the facility due to a history of serious quality control issues. Associated complaints and inspection results are alarming. State and federal data and Liberty Health and Wellness reviews reveal problems in several areas.
Detailed Insights on Health and Safety Deficiencies
Liberty Health and Wellness has a concerning history of fire safety and emergency preparedness violations. An October 2023 inspection found four serious fire safety code violations. These violations included improper fire alarm maintenance, fire drill procedures, and electrical and gas equipment concerns.
A May 2023 inspection revealed several other Liberty nursing home fire code violations and a violation for failing to develop and implement adequate emergency preparedness procedures. This inspection followed one in December 2022, which also noted a failure to annually test the facility’s emergency preparedness.
These reports detail additional health and safety problems, such as keeping the nursing home free from hazards and providing adequate supervision to prevent accidents. The May 2023 report cited the facility for not providing residents with a clean, safe, and comfortable environment, as well as not providing treatment and necessary support.
Staffing Levels and Quality of Care
According to the Liberty Health and Wellness profile on Medicare.gov, its nursing staff levels fall short in several areas, including:
- Nurse staffing hours per resident per day – 2 hours and 7 minutes, compared to the Missouri average of 3 hours and 19 minutes and the national average of 3 hours and 37 minutes.
- Registered nurse hours per resident per day – 15 minutes, compared to the Missouri average of 26 minutes and the national average of 39 minutes.
- Nurse aide hours per resident per day – 1 hour and 19 minutes, compared to the Missouri average of 2 hours and 11 minutes and the national average of 3 hours and 10 minutes.
The facility scores better on some Medicare quality of care measures. For short-stay residents, Liberty Nursing Home has lower than state and national averages for residents who are re-hospitalized or undergo emergency room visits. However, the percentage of short-term residents with new or worsened pressure ulcers was 7.7 percent, compared to the national average of 2.4 percent.
The number of long-term residents hospitalized was higher than the Missouri and national averages. The percentage of outpatient emergency room visits was lower. The percentage of long-term residents with pressure ulcers was 8.5 percent, on par with the Missouri average but above the national average of 7.8 percent.
According to Medicare, flu and pneumonia prevention measures at Liberty Health were lacking for short-stay residents. Only 52.9 percent who needed a flu shot got one, compared to the Missouri average of 63.8 percent and the national average of 76.2 percent.
The percentage of short-stay residents who needed and received a pneumonia vaccine was 45.1 percent, compared to the Missouri average of 68.8 percent and the national average of 79.7 percent. Long-term residents of Liberty Health and Wellness received flu and pneumonia shots at levels equal to or higher than state and local rates.
Health Inspection Reports and Penalties
Liberty Health and Wellness inspection reports highlight ongoing quality of care and infection control deficiencies. In just the past three years, the facility had 110 deficiencies in care and 13 infection-related deficiencies. Some of the problems included:
- Failure to honor residents’ rights to a dignified existence, self-determination, and communication
- Failure to honor residents’ rights to self-organize and join resident and family groups
- Improper pharmaceutical services and medication errors
- Poor nutrition and diet care
- Failure to provide complete care plans with timetables and quality-control metrics
- Failure to ensure minimal competency among staff
- Failure to provide appropriate care for residents with bowel or bladder problems
- Failure to monitor antibiotic use
- Failure to provide and implement infection control and prevention measures
Over three years, the facility incurred fines totaling $263,000. Three of these fines resulted in a suspension of Medicare payments. Fines against a nursing home are serious red flags, as they indicate significant health and fire safety violations and long-term failure to rectify deficiencies.
Ratings and Their Implications
Carefully evaluate nursing home ratings before deciding to entrust a facility with your loved one’s care and well-being. As of April 2024, Medicare.gov does not use its five-star rating system for Liberty Health and Wellness because the facility is now part of the Special Focus Facility Initiative.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services moved the facility to the SFF list based on its poor compliance history. As an SFF, it is subject to more inspections and harsher penalties. Without significant changes, it may lose its ability to receive government funds altogether. As of March 2024, Liberty has been in the SFF program for 23 months. To graduate from the program, a facility must have two successful inspections.
Remember, there are many other options for people seeking nursing homes in the area. For example, nearby Pleasant Valley Manor Care Center has three stars, and Norterre has four. Linden Woods Village in nearby Gladstone has five stars. Unfortunately, Avalon View Health and Wellness has only one star and should be avoided.
Get Help Today With Brown & Crouppen
There are several steps you can take if you suspect nursing home neglect or abuse. First, make a report to facility administrators and state officials. Further, if your loved one was harmed at a nursing home, contact our skilled nursing home abuse lawyers as soon as possible. We will advise you of your legal options and have the resources to conduct a thorough investigation.
With over four decades of experience, our firm has helped thousands of people secure justice and compensation from negligent defendants. We’ve received numerous accolades and awards for our dedication to providing excellent legal representation to our clients. Our case results speak for themselves. We have secured over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts.
Our Successful Nursing Home Abuse Settlements
- $1 million wrongful death settlement after a client’s mother suffered burns from an altercation at the care facility, resulting in hospitalization and later death.
- $500,000 wrongful death settlement after a client’s mother received negligent care by facility staff, causing severe pain and suffering due to stage 4 bedsores. Our client had to make the painful decision to terminate life support.
- $200,000 patient neglect settlement after a care facility failed to treat a bed bug infestation, resulting in the patient suffering significant discomfort and injuries.
We are honored when clients entrust us with their cases. As members of a service-oriented profession, we are also committed to giving back to our community. If you need knowledgeable and compassionate legal guidance to combat nursing home abuse or neglect, call (314) 501-9510 or reach out online to schedule a free consultation today.
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- Last Modified:
- May 1, 2024
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