Lakeview Neurorehabilitation Center

Fence with Institution's Sign on it reading "Lakeview Neurorehabilitation Center Main Entrance"

Lakeview Neurorehabilitation Center

In December of 2014, the Department of Health and Human Services review of Lakeview confirmed DRC-NH's findings of chronic and pervasive programmatic deficiencies which compromised the health, safety and well-being of its residents. Lakeview was eventually closed down.

The Investigation

DRC-NH conducted a full investigation into the 2012 death of a resident, J.D., a 22 year old man, at Lakeview Neurorehabilitation Center in Effingham, New Hampshire, and concluded that Lakeview’s actions and inactions constituted neglect and led to his death. The deficiencies noted in DRC’s investigation are not isolated occurrences. Prior to and during DRC-NH’s investigation into J.D.’s death, DRC-NH received reports of incidents of abuse, neglect and injury of additional Lakeview residents as well as other reported concerns regarding Lakeview’s operations and treatment of its residents. Because of the seriousness of the findings, DRC-NH conducted a review of police logs and public and news reports and information concerning deficiencies in Lakeview’s operations. DRC-NH found that pervasive deficiencies at Lakeview included a lack of professional oversight, training, coordination of care, inadequate staffing levels and lack of communication between and among Lakeview’s staff, residents’ families and guardians.

DRC-NH’s investigative and advocacy work on Lakeview was made possible in part due a grant from the New Hampshire Bar Foundation IOLTA Grants Program.

 


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NH Department of Health and Human Services Monitoring

In December of 2014, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) review of Lakeview confirmed DRC-NH’s findings of chronic and pervasive programmatic deficiencies which compromised the health, safety and well-being of its residents. DHHS’ review team recommendations included continuation of the moratorium on new admissions. Lakeview was required to submit a Plan of Correction addressing numerous recommendations from the review by December 31, 2014.


NH Department of Education Monitoring

Starting in 2014, the NH Department of Education (NHDOE) found multiple violations of education policies at Lakeview.  These violations included a lack of policies for restraint and seclusion and behavior management, as well as a  lack of protocols for reporting abuse and neglect. During its on-site visit, the NHDOE found unsupervised students wandering around the grounds. The NHDOE subsequently placed the Lakeview School on “provisional approval”. In its letter dated November 14, 2014, the DOE stated, “Lakeview School shall not accept any additional students, either students with disabilities from New Hampshire or any other state until the NHDOE removes the provisional approval.” This and other related NHDOE resources are available below: