Noteboom The Law Firm

Missouri Veteran Home Hid History of Abuse

June 14, 2010 - Veterans' homes are designed to take care of veterans when they can no longer take care of themselves. While the homes are certainly designed with such intentions, that isn't always the case. Missouri's Department of Health and Senior services launched an investigation into a University City nursing home for veterans and found what they had hoped they would not. Their investigation uncovered severe breaches of trust and care by discovering evidence of:

• Physical abuse;
• Sexual abuse; and
• Verbal abuse.

 As of April the state had been investigating the K.F. Jammer Manor, West facility. Their released report details how a resident made two allegations of rape to the staff but authorities were never alerted, as the law mandates. Eventually the resident called 911 and eventually made the claim she had also carried on a bisexual relationship with a housekeeper. The housekeeper was transferred to another location. According to the Director of Nursing (DON), she did not believe the rape happened so she did not alert the authorities.

In a totally separate incident, a text between two staffers detailed how the General Service Manager allegedly engaged in oral sex with a resident in exchange for $3.00. Again, the Director of Nursing failed to act in any way. The DON did not even talk to the resident or begin an investigation.

The same investigation looked into an incident where two residents were repeatedly referred to in racial and degrading terms. The final report details the behavior to which the residents were subjected:

• They were spat on;
• They had their hair pulled; and
• They had water thrown on them.

 As may be expected, the Director of Nursing no longer works at the home. Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) started moving residents out of the facility when the allegations were first reported, in April. Only 2 of the 36 residents living in the facility in April remain.