Julieann Stapleton
Jul 2026
I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding the care provided to a resident at Chapin Home for the Aging. I respectfully request an immediate investigation into the medical treatment, medication management, sanitation, and overall quality of care provided by this facility. The resident was admitted for rehabilitation following spinal surgery. Throughout the stay, there were repeated instances of what appeared to be negligence, poor communication, and unsafe medical practices that ultimately caused the resident to lose confidence in the facility and discharge herself. My concerns include the following: 1. Physicians at the facility altered the resident's treatment plan without ever personally evaluating or speaking with the patient. These changes appeared to contradict the recommendations and treatment plan established by the resident's specialists for treating several chronic conditions outside of the spinal surgery that brought them to the facility. 2. Facility staff repeatedly demonstrated that they were unfamiliar with the resident's medical condition and reason for admission. On multiple occasions, when asked why the resident was at the facility, staff members could not answer. This raises serious concerns that the patient's medical chart was not being reviewed before care was provided. 3. Despite the resident being admitted following spinal surgery, staff never inspected the incision. They only changed the bandage the night before the appointment with the surgeon. The treatment plan indicated that no bandage should be applied at that point. 4. The resident was frequently instructed or expected to stand without appropriate assistance despite her recent spinal surgery and limited mobility. This unnecessarily increased her risk of falling and further injury. 5. The facility appeared unsanitary. There were repeated observations of mice and insects within the building, creating concerns regarding infection control and the overall safety of residents. 6. On June 28 at approximately 1:00 a.m., family members were forced to come to the facility because the resident was experiencing severe pain. Staff refused to administer pain medication, claiming there were no physician orders authorizing it. Upon their arrival, they demanded to review the patient’s medical chart. The chart clearly documented active physician orders for pain medication, contradicting what staff had represented. The resident was therefore left to suffer unnecessarily despite having prescribed medication available. 7. There were additional concerns regarding medication management. Based on the pattern of prescribing, administration, and documentation, we became concerned that medications were being ordered or managed inappropriately. The patient was not receiving medication on time and the staff chose not to administer medication based on arbitrary parameters and in contradiction with previous standing orders. Taken together, these incidents demonstrate what appears to be a troubling pattern of inadequate medical oversight, poor communication among staff, failure to review patient records before providing care, disregard for physician orders, inadequate pain management, and unsafe conditions within the facility. I respectfully request that the appropriate Our elderly population deserves safe, competent, and compassionate care. The circumstances described above raise serious concerns about whether that standard is being met at this facility. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and request written confirmation that this complaint has been received and will be investigated.
