Widow feels nursing home fines are a ‘slap on the wrist’

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – A widow tells WINK News the punishment given to the assisted living facility responsible for her husband’s death is not enough.

In August 2014, staff at the Aristocrat in North Naples left 90-year-old Robert Bernard outside in the heat for several hours. He went into cardiac arrest and died nine days later.

“It’s hard not having him here.” Frances Bernard tells only WINK News that $100,000 in fines is just a slap on the wrist.

“One time, they wouldn’t even let me in to see him when they were bandaging his legs and his arms.” Bernard said that’s because her husband was so badly burned from being left outside alone in the sun.

Three days after the incident, the federal government fined the nursing home more than $85,000. Now, the Agency for Health Care Administration has tacked on $15,000 in fines.

“There’s a lot of nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the State of Florida, obviously it has the largest elderly population in the United States, with that there is a breeding ground for less than satisfactory type places,” said Anthony Russo, Bernard’s attorney. “Places that cut corners and put profit before taking care of people.”

Russo and Bernard said the fines are a start but there is still a long way to go in protecting elders rights in nursing homes.

“Hopefully we get to a point where there’s enough exposure out here, and there’s enough awareness that these things won’t ever happen again,” said Russo.

Bernard tells WINK News she hopes her husband’s death helps others be more aware of what happens in nursing homes.

“Check it out real good to make sure it will be a good place for their loved one, that they’ll get good care and so they’ll be happy there,” said Bernard.

Russo said although the fines have no impact on their legal case, they are pleased some action was taken.

In addition to these fines, three employees were fired after the incident happened.