Part 1 of an update on the abuse and neglect at Lakeview Neurorehabilitation Center.
Lakeview Neurorehabilitation Center
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.
Array ( [0] => Array ( [resource] =>Press Release dated Sept. 30, 2014: Disability Rights Center – NH Issues Two Reports, Calls for Action on Abuse and Neglect at Lakeview Neurorehabilitation Center
) [1] => Array ( [resource] =>
Full Report: Isolated, Segregated and Vulnerable – A Report and Call to Action Concerning Lakeview Neurorehabilitation Center
) [2] => Array ( [resource] =>Report Summary:Isolated, Segregated and Vulnerable – A Report and Call to Action Concerning Lakeview Neurorehabilitation Center
) [3] => Array ( [resource] =>Executive Summary of J.D. Investigation
) [4] => Array ( [resource] =>Executive Summary of J.D. Investigation
) [5] => Array ( [resource] =>JD Investigation Report: Appendix D (note: Appendices A through C have been omitted per instructions from the NH Chief Medical Examiner)
) [6] => Array ( [resource] =>JD Investigation Report: Appendix E
) [7] => Array ( [resource] =>JD Investigation Report: Appendix F
) [8] => Array ( [resource] =>JD Investigation Report: Appendix G
) [9] => Array ( [resource] =>JD Investigation Report: Appendix H
) [10] => Array ( [resource] =>Report dated Nov. 2011: Investigation Report, Findings, and Recommendations Regarding Alleged Excessive Use-Of-Force During the Course of a Restraint Against L.B., a Resident of Lakeview Neurorehabilitation Center, on March 4, 2010
) )
Disability Rights Center Reports
Press Release dated Sept. 30, 2014: Disability Rights Center – NH Issues Two Reports, Calls for Action on Abuse and Neglect at Lakeview Neurorehabilitation Center
JD Investigation Report: Appendix D (note: Appendices A through C have been omitted per instructions from the NH Chief Medical Examiner)
Array ( [0] => Array ( [resource] =>DHHS’ Press Release, Licensing Report, and other documents concerning the report
) [1] => Array ( [resource] =>DHHS Review of Lakeview dated December 2014
) [2] => Array ( [resource] =>Lakeview Plan of Corrective Action dated February 2015
) [3] => Array ( [resource] =>DRC-NH response to DHHS approval of Lakeview Corrective Action Plan dated March 2015
) )
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.
Array ( [0] => Array ( [resource] =>NHDOE letter dated Nov. 14, 2014: Special Monitoring (RSA 186-C: 5) Findings of Noncompliance
) [1] => Array ( [resource] => ) [2] => Array ( [resource] => ) [3] => Array ( [resource] => ) )
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:
Array ( [0] => Array ( [resource] => ) [1] => Array ( [resource] =>Sept. 24, 2015: Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Lakeview
) [2] => Array ( [resource] =>August 13, 2015: Lakeview Is Latest In Long History Of Shuttered N.H. Institutions
) [3] => Array ( [resource] =>August 13, 2015: From ‘Religious Excitement’ to Class-Action Suits: A History of NH’s Mental Health & Disability Care
) [4] => Array ( [resource] =>May 14, 2015: As Lakeview Closes, A Small Town Grapples With Group Homes
) [5] => Array ( [resource] =>May 20, 2015: Lakeview CEO Says Facility Will Shut Down
) [6] => Array ( [resource] =>May 8, 2015: Lakeview Appeals State Decision To Shut Down Special Ed School
) [7] => Array ( [resource] =>April 24, 2015: Lakeview Reports Cite Worsening Conditions, State Oversight Failures
) [8] => Array ( [resource] =>March 17, 2015: Lakeview Special Ed School On Tight Deadline to Comply With State Regulations
) [9] => Array ( [resource] =>March 5, 2015: N.H. Regulators Missed Warning Signs Of Abuse And Neglect At Lakeview
) [10] => Array ( [resource] =>March 5, 2015: The Exchange: Assessing N.H.’s Support System For People With Disabilities
) [11] => Array ( [resource] =>March 4, 2015: Incidents Of Abuse And Neglect Plague New Hampshire’s Lakeview Rehab Center
) [12] => Array ( [resource] =>December 16, 2014: Brain Center Needs Fix Now, But Can State Prevent Future Problems?
) )
New Hampshire Public Radio Reports
Sept. 24, 2015: Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Lakeview
August 13, 2015: Lakeview Is Latest In Long History Of Shuttered N.H. Institutions
May 20, 2015: Lakeview CEO Says Facility Will Shut Down
December 16, 2014: Brain Center Needs Fix Now, But Can State Prevent Future Problems?