Nursing Home Neglect Blog
Legal News & Updates Blawg regarding issues surrounding the quality of nursing home care and elder abuse. >> REQUEST A FREE CLAIM EVALUATION
Recent posts by the nursing home lawyers at Saiontz, Kirk & Miles, P.A. regarding legal issues surrounding elder care and nursing home rights.
Mothers day campaign for better care at ManorCare Nursing Homes
On Sunday, when families throughout the United States went to visit their mother’s in ManorCare nursing homes for Mother’s Day, they were greeted with a carnation and information calling them to take action to help improve the quality of nursing home care. ManorCare, which was recently purchased by a private equity fund, has failed to fulfill promises made last year to provide quality care and has seen sharp increases in the number of care deficiencies at many of their homes.
>>INFORMATION: Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Federal nursing home information site to include identification of worst performing facilities
The federal government has now made it easier for families to identify some of the worst nursing homes in American while they are researching which facility should be trusted to care for their loved one. Last year, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) compiled a list of the worst performing nursing homes in the United States, based on inspection results. This nursing home information will now be integrated into a searchable database on a federal website.
Nursing home abuse at the hands of residents who are prior sex offenders
NBC’s Today Show featured a report last week about a disturbing reality in many nursing homes. Sexual offenders and other elderly residents are often placed together in nursing homes, with no additional monitoring, warning or separation to help reduce the risk of abuse. The Today Show highlighted the story of an elderly woman who was raped in a nursing home by a man with a long record of sexual abuse.
Nursing home restraints could create more problems than they solve.
The use of nursing home restraints is a common practice at many nursing homes throughout the United States. However, some facilities excessively use restraining devices not only to prevent residents from injuring themselves, but also as a form of punishment or as a matter of convenience. Due to concerns about the physical and emotional injuries which can be caused by nursing home restraints, the use has declined 40% in recent years, and many believe it should drop even further with better methods being implemented to protect residents.
>>INFORMATION: Nursing Home Restraint Injuries
Nursing home falls pose substantial risk of injury
According to U.S. health officials, about a third of all falls involving seniors result in an injury, and many of these injuries can have a devastating long term impact on their quality of life. In nursing homes, falls can often be prevented if proper precautions are taken.
>>INFORMATION: Nursing home falls
Elder abuse at the hands of nurse’s aid
In another disturbing display of elder abuse, a Michigan nurse’s aid has been arrested on charges of urinating in a female patient’s hair and pouring liquid soap on her husband’s head. The abuse occurred at the couple’s Muskegon, Michigan home, and the aid currently faces criminal charges which could result in up to 15 years in prison.
Simple strategies can help prevent nursing home bedsores
It has been estimated that as many as two million Americans each year suffer from bedsores in nursing homes and hospitals. In many cases, these bedsores lead to infections, resulting in serious injury or even death. With simple preventative strategies and proper care, the risk of hospital and nursing home bedsores can be substantially reduced.
>>INFORMATION: Identifying Nursing Home Bedsores
Nursing home abuse charges filed against employee who may have assaulted 100 patients
A troubling story about a case of nursing home abuse in Ohio highlights the importance of facilities investigating reports of suspicious behavior by their employees. Former nursing home worker John Riems has been charged with raping and assaulting a paralyzed male patient, and according to police he indicates that he may have assaulted as many as 100 patients. Former co-workers report that he was known to spend extended periods of time in residents rooms with the doors closed and was also known to have a temper and verbally abused patients.
>>INFORMATION: Nursing Home Sexual Abuse
Complete list of bad nursing homes should be made public according to U.S. Senators
In November 2007, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a list of the 54 worst nursing homes in America. The list of the poorest performing homes was pulled from a complete report containing 128 “special focus facilities,” which are subject to more frequent inspections and scrutiny by regulators due to their history of bad care. However, the government has refused to release the full list despite criticism from nursing home advocates and several U.S. Senators.
>>PRIOR POST 12/10/2007: Bad Nursing Home List
Worst nursing homes identified throughout U.S.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have released a report identifying the worst nursing homes in America. Fifty four nursing homes from 34 different states were identified as the worst facilities out of 120 homes designated as a “special focus facility.” Poor performance reviews and violations of safety standards are often an indicator that a resident may face a high risk for an injury caused by nursing home neglect.
