Nursing home in settlement over sign language interpreter

The U.S. Attorney's office in Philadelphia on Wednesday announced an Americans with Disabilities Act settlement with a Doylestown nursing home over access to sign language interpreters for residents.

Briarleaf Nursing & Convalescent Inc., which has 178 beds, allegedly told the son of a prospective resident that it had no money in its budget for the sign language interpreter his mother would need if she transferred there from the hospital.

The woman died at the hospital before going to Briarleaf.

To resolve the complaint, Briarleaf agreed to have a contract with an interpreter service, to provide other aids for residents who need them, and to train employees on how to access residents' communications needs during the admission process.

Under a two-year agreement with the U.S. Attorney's office, which requires Briarleaf to file an annual report on its compliance efforts, Briarleaf did not admit liability.