Given problems with nursing home neglect and elder abuse which plague many facilities that provide care to the elderly, many families do whatever they can to help keep their aging relatives out of a nursing home. This not only requires "hands on" care and assistance, but… Read More
A study which evaluated nearly 200 residents at 17 Alabama nursing homes, found that when basic eye care is provided to elderly residents it can have a significant and positive effect on their quality of life. Unfortunately, many nursing homes and caregivers do not provide mentally… Read More
U.S. Senators indicated yesterday that they intend to introduce legislation which will provide stiffer fines for bad nursing home care and require clear ownership information when nursing homes are purchased by private equity firms. The move comes in response to recent reports about problems which often… Read More
Last week two congressional committees announced that they intend to investigate nursing homes which are privately owned by investment firms and review their business practices. Private equity firms are known for reducing the quality of nursing home care by cutting costs and reducing the number of… Read More
Yesterday, the FDA announced that a black box warning will be added to CellCept, indicating that the drug could increase the risk of miscarriages and birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy. CellCept is commonly given following organ transplants to keep the body from attacking… Read More
The latest Census data released by the U.S. government indicates that fewer seniors are living in nursing homes. There has been a steady decline in the percentage of elderly who require nursing home care since 1990, as many are opting for in-home care or assisted-living facilities. … Read More
Many drugs on the market today should not be taken by women who are or may become pregnant. The side effect of these medicines on an unborn baby can be devastating, and yet research shows that many women taking these drugs are unaware of the danger.… Read More
According to a report last week published by the New York Times, the risk of nursing home abuse and neglect may increase after a facility is purchased by a private investment firm. These private groups often make cutbacks to maximize revenue, even at the expense of… Read More
According to a study published in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, repeated courses of corticosteriods given to pregnant women at risk for premature labor may increase the chances that the infant will develop cerebral palsy. Use of only one course of… Read More
A study published in the current issue of Health Affairs indicates that black residents of nursing homes may be more likely to receive poor care than whites. Approximately 60% of black nursing home residents in the United States are in under 10% of the facilities, and… Read More
