Nursing-home problems to be discussed Elder-care advocates, nurses ...

WHITTIER -- Elder-care advocates will gather Friday to discuss inadequacies they say they have witnessed in area nursing-care facilities and to propose solutions.
Clergy and Laiety United for Economic Justice (CLUE) and Nursing Home Watch, a coalition of senior advocates, nursing-home workers, family members of patients, religious and political leaders organized by the Service Employees International Union, will host the forum in hopes pointing out to government officials alleged problems in the facilities.

In particular, the group is targeting San Juan Capistrano-based Ensign Group Inc., California's fourth-largest and fastest-growing nursing-home chain, which has taken over 27 California nursing homes since 1999.

The company's Web site says it "specializes in turning around under-performing, long-term care facilities." Locally, the firm took over the Royal Court and Whittier Hills health-care centers in Whittier in 2001 and also runs Arbor Glen Care Center in Glendora and Claremont Care Center in Pomona.

Jennifer Kelly, a spokeswoman for the SEIU and Nursing Home Watch, said the group wants Ensign, which has posted average profit margins about four times above the state average, to invest some of its profits in better patient care and staffing.

Ensign spokesman Greg Stapley said the company is being attacked simply because its employees did not unionize.

"The union was unable to organize our facilities in Southern California, so they've initiated a scorched-earth policy," said Stapley. "I don't see them going out and picking on the larger (unionized) facilities."

Bill Miller, a retired pastor now serving as vice president of the Whittier Area Interfaith Council, who is also involved with CLUE, said the group feels "uneasy about focusing on a particular business."

"But because they are a leader in the field," he added. "If they began to really work to improve their standards and do as good a job with patients as they do with their investors, they could really help the whole industry."

Kelly said NHW is focused on Ensign because it has the ability to effect change, but the forum will focus on other problems in the industry.

"Industry leaders lead the industry," she said. "Our concern is that this growing nursing-home chain, just like any corporation, as it becomes more widespread, the more influence it has over the rest of the industry."

Stapley refuted the claims, pointing to positive inspection results from the department of health at his company's local homes.

"There's really no substance to anything they've said," said Stapley. "These are really outstanding facilities that have improved since we took over each of them. This is really about a union hiding behind the name Nursing Home Watch to attack us because our employees won't play ball with them."

For More Information:

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,207~12026~2802785,00.html