Home health abuses targeted

By Jennifer Brown
The Denver Post
Abuses by home caregivers revealed in a new state report — including a woman left dying on a toilet and improper care that resulted in an amputated foot — are prodding lawmakers to seek more oversight of the industry.
Legislation filed this week would require agencies providing nursing, physical therapy and basic caregiving in patients' homes to be licensed by the state.

Colorado is one of just five states that do not license home health care providers, and the state health department says the inability to set minimum standards of care and perform inspections is resulting in increasing instances of deficiencies.

A not-yet-released report from the Department of Public Health and Environment, obtained by The Denver Post, cites some of the most egregious examples of neglect reported in the past three years: Read more...