Antelope Valley Personal Injury Lawyer - Nursing Home & Elder Abuse - Most Popular

Preventing & Reporting Elder Abuse

Rick Patterson — Fri, 25 May 2007 15:02:20 GMT

A study that was conducted in 2004 by the Adult Protective Services showed that there was a 19.7-percent increase in the combined total reports of elder and vulnerable adult abuse. For example, in Fauquier County alone, there were 141 cases reported in between June 2006 and May 2007, according to Mittie Wallace who is a program manager for the elderly and disabled for the Fauquier County Department of Social Services.

It seems that many of the reports stem from self neglect such as personal hygiene. However, care giver neglect is also an issue. The Department of Social Services investigates reports. However, if the family of the elderly person does not cooperate with a home investigation, the state can move to gain guardianship of the senior in question. Another problem is, there is also a shortage of beds in nursing homes. The sad truth is that even when there are available beds many who seniors who are referred to nursing homes but who can't afford private facilities are sent to homes in other areas within the state, which further isolates them from their families.

The elderly are an extremely vulnerable part of our society, and they need to be protected by members of their community. According to the Virginia Department of Social Services, some signs of abuse to watch for are:

1) Dehydration
2) Malnutrition
3) Scratches
4) Bruises
5) Forced isolation
6) Inappropriate language or sexual contact
7) Anxiety
8) Depression
9) Hesitance to communicate

Don't turn a blind eye. Remember, most everyone strives to make it to old age.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

Camden Police Officers Indicted for Fraud

Rick Patterson — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 20:12:23 GMT

It is believed that 1 in 20 of our elderly are victims of nursing home abuse, according to the National Center for Elder Abuse. In fact as many as 57% of nursing aids have admitted witnessing abuse. Some have evan participated in the abuse. The report sites problems in the industry such as chronic understaffing and inadequate pay for workers.
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Two hearings were held yesterday. Committees from both the House of Representatives and the Senate took up the nursing home abuse issue, and now Congress will consider legislation to deal with this serious problem. Senators are working on legislation to stiffen penalties for nursing home abuse. More power would be given to U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees state inspections. Something must be done. The number of elderly in nursing home is expected to more than double in the next decade.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

Long-term Care in Nursing Homes

Rick Patterson — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:41:12 GMT

An overhaul of Tennessee's state services to the elderly and disabled may not be in the too distant future. A long-term care study committee will be drafting recommendations to overhaul the current system. The state could pay Tennesseans to take care of relatives and friends rather than sending them to nursing homes. "Govenor Phil Bredesen said he will work with lawmakers to "fundamentally restructure" the long-term care system, and he included $12 million in new state money in his budget plan to begin the process."

It is believed that there are many benefits to having family and friends care for the elderly. It provides dignity to the elderly, while reducing costs to the state. On the flip side, there is no question that there can be pit-falls to giving someone a monthly check and saying "Go out there and hire your own caregivers" according to Ron Taylor, executive director of the Tennessee Health Care Association. It is easy to see there is a real potential for abuse. Many safeguards would have to be implemented to make such a system work. It remains to be seen whether Oregon is ready for these changes in the near future. If and when the system is implemented, Oregon will be a model state for such a system.

Additional Information Pertaining to Nursing Home and Elder Abuse

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

Woman Dies in Nursing Home Due to Lack of Care

Rick Patterson — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:35:09 GMT

Nursing home care has long been a concern. Families leave their loved ones in the care of others and many times that care falls short of what one would expect. Recently a nursing home known as Pacific Coast Manor was issued the most severe citation under state law. In addition to the citation, they were fined $100,000 after a state investigation concluded inadequate care led to the death of a female resident at that nursing home.

Apparently Pacific Coast Manor failed to monitor the elderly woman's drug intake and combination of drugs. As a result, she died. The nursing home has since filed an appeal. Nursing homes are a huge businesses in the United States, and there are many big chains out there. Pacific Coast Manor is owned by Covenant Care of Aliso Viejo.

To find out more information on wrongful death, please visit our site.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

Dorset Nursing Home Accused of Elder Neglect

Rick Patterson — Thu, 17 May 2007 14:58:55 GMT

Serious concerns have been raised by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) after inspecting Marlborough House, a 52-bed nursing home in Dorset, South West England. Concerns raised, which were much the same as concerns raised here in substandard U. S facilities, include standards of health, shortfalls in nutrition and poorly trained staff.

The original report was made in January of this year. If the home is closed, it would be considered "deregistered" which is the equivalent of a doctor having his license to practice pulled. Although the home is currently open, it is being closely monitored and further action is currently being contemplated. I wonder if the individuals who are guilty of giving such substandard care ever think about the fact that one day, which will be sooner than they probably realize, they may very well find themselves as victims of nursing home neglect.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

Nursing Home Workers Charged with Neglect

Greg Owen — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:02:54 GMT

The Price Hill Police Department received a call on Monday at approximately 1:45 a.m. from a nursing home resident inside the home saying that he had been left alone. Since then, 3 employees at the Price Hill Nursing Home located at 584 Elberon Avenue, Price Hill, have been terminated after being charged with neglect of the patients placed in their care.

Those employees include Lanetra Smith, 22, of Sunset Avenue, Price Hill; Lamonica Duckworth, 26, of Hawaiian Terrace Mount Airy; Barbara Briggs, 35, of Lakeview Drive Westwood. They were each were each arrested on Tuesday afternoon.

The charges range from obstructing official business to gross patient neglect. In a statement the nursing home officials said that they were shocked and appalled. They added that the health and safety of the residents is their primary concern.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Owen

Nursing Home Resident Found Dead

Rick Patterson — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:28:40 GMT

On April 17, 2004, 74-year-old Julia McCauley died at the hands of the care takers that she put her trust in. The facility, Life Care Centers of America Inc., was charged with manslaughter, abuse, neglect and making a false Medicaid Claim in connection with the elderly resident's death.

They now face what amounts to a slap on the hand:

A maximum of $16,000 in fines:
$1,000 on the manslaughter charge,
$5,000 on the abuse and neglect charge; and
$10,000 on the Medicaid fraud charge.

Julia's body was found in her overturned wheelchair at the bottom of the front stairway of the nursing home facility in Acton. Since 1999, a physician had ordered Julia McCauley to wear a device known as WanderGuard. The device is designed to set off an alarm should the elderly resident wander towards any door in the facility. In the event she did approach a door it would automatically lock to protect her.

Although the staff are required to check the devise on a daily basis, records show that it had been more than two months since the need for the devise had been transcribed on her chart. As a result of daily errors that went on for months, Julia was able to go through the doors and down the stairs to her death.

If you need more information on injuries related to this subject matter, please refer to our section on Wrongful Death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

Lewis County Nursing Facility Cited

Rick Patterson — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 14:36:54 GMT

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services imposed fines on a Lewis County Nursing Facility as a result of resident-on-resident sexual abuse and deficiencies in the quality of care, nutrition and errors in medication.

Initially the fine was $4,050 per day starting on November 17, 2006. However, since November 20, 2006 the fine has been $150 daily. A 38-page report was obtained by NewsWatch50. The following were among the incidents detailed in the report:

"On April 10, 2006, nursing notes reported the resident was seen in the dining room with his hand in a female resident's shirt, rubbing her breasts." "On May 5, 2006 . . . the resident was found with another female resident on the couch with his hand down her pants."

Regarding a female who apparently has Alzheimer's and dementia, the following were among her alleged actions:

Removing her clothing in front of other residents. "On August 14, 2006 . . . the resident was found in lounge area after breakfast, with her hand in a male resident's pants."

Karl Reutling, the President of the facility's Board of Managers said "It will all be taken care of to everyone's satisfaction."

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

More Nursing Home Abuse-Drugs Missing

Rick Patterson — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:27:58 GMT

In Florida, the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit began investigating two female nurses after receiving an abuse report from the Florida Department of Children and Families in October 2006. The accused, Ashley Dawn Fralick, 27, and Melissa Elaine Bowen, 30, worked for Suwannee County nursing facility.

They have been arrested on several counts of neglect. "Knowing that elderly patients were denied essential medications is heartbreaking," Attorney General Bill McCollum said in a statement. "These victims rightly deserved and expected care and attention, but instead received neglect and abuse."

The nursing home abuse investigation revealed that more than 70 doses of medication were unaccounted for. The missing drugs were supposed to treat the elderly patients for pain, depression and high-blood pressure. If convicted, Fralick faces up to 80 years in prison and a fine of $80,000. While Bowen faces up to 50 years in prison and a fine of $50,000, which should allow them plenty of time for reflection.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

Nurse's Aid Admits to Elder Abuse

Rick Patterson — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:37:58 GMT

On March 22, 2007, Yolette Joseph, 49, will be sentenced for violating Public Health Law by committing elder abuse. She faces up to one year in jail. Joseph, a former certified nurse's aid, admitted to hitting a patient who is 69-years-old, wheelchair-bound and suffers from dementia.

The incident took place on July 20, 2006. It seems that Joseph was arguing with the patient. As the argument escalated, she eventually slapped the 69-year-old in the face. The patient suffered from swelling and bruising as a result of the abuse. Joseph made a false report and initially attempted to cover up her actions, but was forced to come forward after the injuries became obvious.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson