Nursing home lady dies

The Belknap County Nursing Home resident whose condition triggered a second threat to the facility's license to operate in as many months has died. County Commission Chairman Philip "Bud" Daigneault confirmed yesterday that the elderly woman passed away over the weekend.

On April 28, the nursing home received its second "initial notice of immediate jeopardy" from the state Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Administrators have been given until May 21 to correct the deficiencies documented during a late April spot inspection.

The visit was triggered by the hospitalization of the now deceased resident on April 23. Daigneault has explained the woman was suffering from constipation and after failing to respond to an over-the-counter remedy, developed an irregular heartbeat. She was taken to Lake Region General Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a fecal impaction.

The woman was released from the hospital on April 25 and nursing home officials followed protocol in notifying HHS of her situation.

HHS Commissioner John Stephen yesterday revealed that late last week he received a phone call from a granddaughter of the woman who was hospitalized, telling him her grandmother was dying and that blame for her condition could be placed on the level of care she received at that home. The granddaughter made similar calls to area newspapers, including The Daily Sun, about the same time.

Stephen said he had since spoken to the daughter of the former resident and that she had told him she was grateful for the "excellent care" her mother had received at the county home.

Daigneault and fellow Commissioner Christopher Boothby also yesterday acknowledged they were aware of the accusations that were leveled by the woman's granddaughter. Both men indicated that close family members had repudiated those accusations and offered their thanks for the overall level of care and comfort received.