Closing of facility crushes advocates

By Kathleen Heren



I want to share with you the sadness of a nursing home closure. Pawtuxet Village, located at 270 Post Road, Warwick, is closing its doors. The facility has been an icon in the Warwick community for many years. Pawtuxet is conveniently located on a bus line and is also within walking distance for many family members who live in the vicinity of the home but do not drive.  Pawtuxet Village was built by the Buonaiuto family in 1969, and along with its sister home, Greenwood Care, delivered impeccable care under Gus Buonaiuto.

Biased coverage damages facilities

By Kathleen Heren



There has been so much negative press in the past month on nursing homes in our state. It is important to separate the hype from the facts. Newspapers have published articles based on information reporters have confirmed, but I cannot say the same about television coverage. The sole purpose of the coverage by one television news reporter was to create sensationalism. That resulted in frightening families with loved ones in nursing homes and most unfortunately the residents of long-term care facilities.

Sebelius should end observation status

By Kathleen Heren



On Feb. 13, WPRI Channel 12 News broke a story on Rhode Island Hospital having to reimburse Medicare, Medicaid and the federal government $5.3 million for medically unnecessary overnight stays for ap-proximately 260 patients who underwent stereotactic radiosurgery, otherwise known as Gamma Knife treatment. According to government officials, investigators found that the stays were ordered from Jan. 1, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2009.

Oral hygiene is a link to maintaining health

By Kathleen Heren



Members of Rhode Island’s Long-Term Care Council recently discussed oral hygiene in relationship to the elderly. Two mobile dental providers explained their company’s role in providing dental services for elderly residents of long-term care facilities whose payment source is Medicaid. For people who have family members an assisted living setting, the difficulty of finding dentists who accept Medicaid can be quite challenging, if not impossible. To learn that there are services available was very promising. 

Federal program helps people get home care

By Kathleen Heren



Happy new year to all of you. My first column of 2012 will explain a program that originated in the Section 6071 of the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The name of the program is Money Follows the Person (MFTP). 

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