Investigation

In Rare Sanction, State Faults Former Roanoke Nursing Home Head After Pandemic-Era Death

The rare sanction involving Raleigh Court Health and Rehabilitation highlighted the difficulties at long-term care centers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Jeff Sturgeon

Dec 10, 2024 • 8 min read

In a rare case that highlighted the difficulties at long-term care centers during the 2020 pandemic, the Virginia Board of Long-Term Care Administrators placed the license of the then-administrator of Raleigh Court Health and Rehabilitation Center, seen above, on probation for two years and ordered he undergo additional training in the areas of administrator responsibilities, record keeping and other topics. PHOTO BY NATALEE WATERS FOR THE ROANOKE RAMBLER

RICHMOND — Lillian Gregory of Moneta broke her leg dancing in her living room when she tripped on the edge of the fireplace hearth.

Helped up and taken to a hospital, she underwent surgery to repair the right thigh bone. Sidelined from her active lifestyle but still in good spirits, she foresaw returning to her home at Smith Mountain Lake with physical therapy and time to recuperate in a nursing facility.

“All she wanted to do was to get back to the lake,” said her son, Jim Gregory.

But the 86-year-old widow languished in an understaffed Roanoke nursing home run by a freshman administrator where, authorities alleged, providers neglected to care for her.