A Reader on "The War"/How Dumb Does Mitchell-Hollingsworth Think the Public?

We've had some very positive comments on Southern Son's blog...and we've had some which were not as complimentary. The following comment comes from a very erudite friend of ours. Our apologies for taking a few days to post:

When the Southern Son is not watching reruns of Gone With the Wind, binging on Fox News, or genuflecting to Donald Trump, he may wish to consider comments made by Alexander Stephens, Vice President of the Confederate States of America, when the new country was established. “Its (the Confederacy) cornerstone rest upon the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth.” There are plenty of other similar quotes from Southern leaders about the purpose of the War. I am confident, however, the Southern Son won’t be persuaded. He knows what he believes and no amount of evidence to the contrary will change it. 

Frustrated History Teacher

The above statement should give each of us something to consider. 

*****

*****

Now, let's take another look at Mitchell-Hollingsworth. That institution has issued statements to WAAY TV and Pen-N-Sword. The director is calling what has been reported as a patient rape an "incident."

As we understand it, even if the patient had consented to some sort of sex act with the male CNA, it would still have been rape since the patient was not mentally capable of consenting. The patient reportedly suffered a broken wrist and other injuries. Doesn't sound too consensual, does it?

We're sure there are some kind, caring, and proficient employees at Mitchell. The CNA who raped the patient Thursday night was obviously not one of them. Should he have been weeded out before now? We are hearing horror stories about the HR department at Mitchell. How has it come to this?

If we were the patient's family, we would soon own Mitchell-Hollingsworth and sell it to UNA for an addition (it abuts the campus on the west side). We would also be demanding to know how many other patients this CNA has abused/raped, either at Mitchell or his previous jobs.

Is there a criminal/deviant gene? When we hear of incidents like the one at Mitchell we have to believe there is.

Taking a Close Look at Mitchell-Hollingsworth Nursing Home

After World War II, family life changed in the United States. Life was more nomadic, and many had no time for older family members. Several across the country saw the handwriting on the wall and established nursing homes. One such home was built in Florence. When the owners, sometime in the early 1950s, saw the need to divest themselves of the project, Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital purchased the home. It was an ideal fit for the hospital and was dubbed Mitchell-Hollingsworth. 

Years passed, and in the early 2000s, the Coffee Health Group fell on hard financial times. The CHG sold Mitchell to private investors. Was it a good move or a bad move? Who exactly owns it now?

According to documents filed with the Alabama Secretary of State, Mitchell-Hollingsworth Nursing Home and Rehab Facility, LLC, is owned by James P. Walker Jr., Michael Ward, Sandra Keener, and Jerry Culberston. The owners list Centre, Alabama, as home base. Yes, that's pretty far afield from here, and you can bet monetary gain is the driving force behind any actions taken at the home. 

Mitchell with 222 beds is one of the largest homes in the Shoals area. Its rehab unit is indeed big business, with payment for services almost always assured by Medicare. It hasn't been without problems, and approximately two years ago its CNA training program was placed on suspension for one year. A source familiar with Alabama nursing home law tells us this was one step away from shutting down the whole facility which lacked appropriate oversight.

Does it all boil down to poor oversight, mismanagement, sub-par hiring practices? There are probably at least 20 reasons for Mitchell's poor performance, but they all add up to what most would call inferior patient care. 

Two months ago, a Facebook post exposed a patient left to lie in his own excrement...a patient who was paying 6,200.00 a month to live at the alleged poorly run facility. Now we're told there's been a reported sexual assault committed by a male CNA against a male patient. The patient suffered a broken wrist as a result, as well as other injuries. 

No, the alleged sexual assault won't be as easy to prove as the case of the overflowing ostomy bag which was documented in photos. A rape kit has been done, a CNA has been terminated, but no criminal charges have been filed as of Sunday night. 

What kind of man rapes an elderly invalid? While we're asking, let's also ask what kind of company hires a man who would rape an elderly invalid?

***** 

*****

Own property in Colbert County at least six years ago? Were your taxes fair? Let us hear from you.