Seeking Help from Connecticut's Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal

September 28, 2009

To: Attorney Richard Blumenthal
55 Elm Street, 7th Floor
Hartford, CT 06106

Re: Claire Ruggiero, Department of Public Health Investigation

Attorney Blumenthal, I write this letter in the hopes that my myself & my family receive your much needed assistance in reopening the investigating on Kindred Crossing Nursing Home in New London.

I originally received a letter dated July 1, 2009 from Janet M. Williams, RN/Public Health Services Manager, Facility Licensing and Investigation Section stating that an investigation was being put in place against Kindred Crossings. In the third paragraph of the letter it stated that during the investigational process, a representative of the Facility Licensing and Investigations Section would be contacting me. They said that this was to ascertain additional information.

Imagine my surprise, when after several weeks of no correspondence from the state, I was told by Margaret Sforza, Department of Public Health Investigator, that the state went into Kindred Crossings, looked at my mother’s file and deemed that everything seemed to be in order.

1. What happened to the state contacting and interviewing me?
2. Why didn’t the state contact , interview & review my mother’s file from
MasonicCare in Wallingford CT, where we were so fortunate to have had her transferred.
3. Why wasn’t I able to review my mother’s file from Kindred Crossing ?
(I was told by the Director of Nursing - Janice,
that the staff at Kindred was advised not to speak with me.
If I wanted, I could purchase my mother’s file at .98 cents a copy and that would be very costly for me because, according to Janice - my mother‘s file was very, very thick).

How are we not to feel that there is some sort of a cover up between Kindred Crossing and the State of Connecticut. To date, I STILL haven’t received a letter from the state outlining their findings. My self and my family beg of you to please look further into this matter. Alzheimer’s is a horrible disease that steals a person dignity .

I will have live for the rest of my life knowing that because of my decision, my mother was in the hands of an overworked and understaffed facility who’s bottom line WAS their profit margin and not to the safety and welfare their patients, my mom - who died on September 8, 2009.

Sincerely,

Ruggiero Swanson

NOTE: On October 8, 2009, I received a letter from Mr. Blumenthal thanking me for bringing these concerns and questions to his attention. He indicated that his staff will review my letter & documentations and will contact me as soon as possible. He hopes to help address these issues, and will do everything possible within their legal authority to assist me and my family.