Connecticut State Ombudsman, Mairead Painter, Interviewed on Nursing Home Care

January 15, 2023

Connecticut State Ombudsman, Mairead Painter, was interviewed by the CT Mirror on investigations in Athena nursing homes, one of the biggest providers in the state. From October 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2022, Connecticut’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s office received 518 complaints about conditions in Athena nursing homes.

“We have had ongoing, significant concerns related to this chain,” Long-Term Care Ombudsman Mairead Painter told the CT Mirror. “We have reported them to other state agencies due to the level of concern and the number of complaints we’re getting, in particular, related to staffing.”

The Ombudsman program is concerned about the mounting complaints from families and residents, whether it’s someone stuck in bed, medications not being distributed, or meals being missed. The most common complaint is lack of access to care, typically stemming from understaffing.

Read the full article.