Bluffs Rehabilitation Center Responds to Abuse, Neglect Allegations

VICKSBURG, Miss. – A post in a local crime and discussion page this weekend has made numerous allegations about misconduct and neglect at the Bluffs Rehabilitation Center, 2850 Porters Chapel Road. The original post was made by a new Facebook account claiming to be the Bluffs Rehab Center, and has since been taken down.

According to screenshots of the original post, the allegations list multiple instances of abuse, neglect, and inappropriate behavior by staff, below is a list of the complaints:

Resident Neglect

• Residents are left soaked in feces and urine until lunchtime.
• Residents are sometimes left sitting in wet or soiled bedding due to double-briefing and staff frustration.
• Residents are allegedly mistreated, with claims that one resident suffered a black eye after being physically assaulted by a worker.
• Residents are left in unsanitary conditions with little cleaning performed in their rooms.

Inappropriate Behavior by Staff

• Staff members engage in sexual activity with each other during work hours.
• Inappropriate touching and harassment occur in front of residents.
• Staff smoke marijuana during shifts and leave residents unattended.
• Staff are accused of eating in unsanitary conditions, surrounded by garbage and roach feces.

Misuse of Resident and Facility Funds

• Money stolen by administrators from the residents and facility.
• Allegations claim that stolen funds are used for personal expenses at home.

Facility Hygiene Issues

• Roaches are present in the kitchen, dining room, and resident rooms.
• Dining and kitchen areas are dirty, with roach feces inside refrigerators, on appliances, and on microwave doors.
• Workers eat meals in areas contaminated with garbage and filth.

Supplies and Equipment Shortages

• Lack of linen, wipes, underpads, and briefs to care for residents.
• Privacy curtains are missing from many resident rooms, resulting in a lack of resident privacy.

Poor Staff Accountability and Oversight

• No disciplinary action or accountability for staff misconduct.
• Allegations of “under-the-table” deals and complicity among employees to protect one another from being reported.
• Corporate management allegedly fails to act, fearing employee loss due to understaffing issues.

Unsanitary Workspaces

• Workers avoid using the employee microwave due to its filthy condition.
• Staff leave garbage and waste on tables and in work areas.

Neglect of Medical Care

• Allegations of residents repeatedly contracting urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to poor hygiene and improper cleaning.

The Vicksburg Daily News contacted Nexion-Health, the parent company of the Bluffs Rehabilitation for a statement. Below is there statement:

Nexion Health Responds to Postings about Conditions at Bluffs Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

(VICKSBURG, MS, December 16, 2024) – Nexion Health, Inc., a leading skilled nursing operator serving the Southern region of the United States, today responded to a Facebook page making various allegations about the Bluffs Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. The company issued the following statement:

“We are deeply concerned about issues raised on a Facebook page about the Bluffs Rehabilitation and
Healthcare Center, inappropriately using our facility logo. We take all concerns seriously and are committed to ensuring the safety, comfort, and well-being of all our residents. The anonymous posting prevents us from the direct interaction we would prefer with the complainant. We suggest using our compliance hotline number 1-866- NEX-IONU.

“All photos posted to social media sites, in this instance and in general, are point-in-time moments that
do not necessarily reflect ongoing conditions. For example, if a photo of dirty microwave is taken after one person’s use, it may be just a few minutes later that the person comes back with a towel and disinfectant spray.

Similarly, items left on a bathroom floor are typically a temporary condition at nearly everyone’s residence at one time or another. Open lockers in the employees’ break room does not signal any breach in our commitment to the care of residents, nor are trays left on a dining table, which a few minutes later were likely carried away. None of those instances rise to a level of criminal activity, such as the posting page suggests.

“Our team will actively investigate and take immediate action to address any chronic issues. We are
dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of care and will continue to work diligently to improve our facilities and services to the satisfaction of our residents.”

“Out of respect for the privacy of residents, and to comport with federal laws, facility protocols prohibit
the media from entering the facility.”

About Nexion Health Nexion Health, Inc. affiliates operate 54 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas and two assisted living facilities in Louisiana. Each affiliate skilled nursing and assisted living campus offers a home-like setting influenced by its own unique regional culture. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our positive clinical outcomes, resident and family member testimonials, satisfaction reports and AHCA Quality Awards.