July 1 - The Federal Occupational Health and Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into conditions at the ManorCare facility in Palmer Township, Pennsylvania, after at least three workers reportedly experienced breathing or other problems related to a renovation project in the first floor rehabilitation wing of the facility. 

Caregivers point to this as yet another example of Carlyle-ManorCare management failing to treat its workers fairly.  The OSHA investigation is expected to take about six months.

Read more about the incident in the Express-Times.

The legislation would require nursing homes to show they have the proper funding and insurance before the state grants operating licenses and increases disclosure requirements for proposed nursing home sales. Homes would have to notify residents of changes of ownership and make clear who is ultimately responsible for the quality of care.

The move comes following the Carlyle Group’s buyout of ManorCare nursing homes, one of the state’s largest nursing home chains. Lawmakers held hearings around Michigan to give constituents the opportunity to express concerns about the buyout, which ranged from difficulties knowing who is actually responsible for care to concerns about whether the buyout could increase pressure to cut staffing and other costs.

Representatives in the Michigan House held a press conference on Wednesday to outline their efforts to fix the state’s nursing homes. They promised to introduce legislation that would improve transparency, accountability, and quality in nursing home care.

The move comes following the Carlyle Group’s buyout of ManorCare nursing homes, one of the state’s largest nursing home chains. Lawmakers held hearings around Michigan to give constituents the opportunity to express concerns about the buyout, which ranged from difficulties knowing who is actually responsible for care to concerns about whether the buyout firm will cut staffing to increase profits.

"When private investors come to Michigan shopping for nursing homes, it is our parents, grandparents, family friends and loved ones who may be adversely affected. We want to make sure that doesn't happened here," said Representative Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo).

The legislation in the works would require nursing homes to show they have the proper funding, insurance, and quality record before the state grants operating licenses and increases disclosure requirements for proposed nursing home sales. Homes would have to notify residents of changes of ownership and make clear who is ultimately responsible for the quality of care.

PENNSYLVANIA –  The General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board concluded this week that ManorCare violated federal labor laws as charged by the Service Employees International Union.  The General Counsel filed a complaint against Manor Care after the company failed to remedy the violations voluntarily. 

The Labor Board's complaint charges that ManorCare unlawfully interrogated an employee about support for the union, unlawfully threatened an employee with job loss or reprisal because of the employee's support for the union, unlawfully confiscated union literature from an employee, and unlawfully issued a disciplinary warning to an employee in order to discourage membership in the union. 

Read the full Labor Board complaint and SEIU's complaint.

On Thursday, about 50 people picketed and chanted at Manor Care in Fairfax, VA, calling for better jobs and better care. Workers marched about 1/4 mile up to the facility as ManorCare management stood outside watching.  As they left the home, workers and family members paused to take literature and hear about the Carlyle buyout. Cars and trucks blew and yelled as they passed by, and community support for the action was high. 

The Fair Oaks facility has a history of patient care problems according to the most recent government survey data available.  The facility was cited for 16 patient care deficiencies in its most recent survey in 2007, more than twice the state average, and high-risk long-stay residents were 86% more likely to have pressure sores than similar residents in an average Virginia nursing home.  Workers left the action resolved to spread their message more broadly, taking it to the streets in the South.