The First Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a plaintiff’s pre-mortem pain and suffering claim that was initially dismissed by the district court. The claim is part of a 2014 case involving a woman who had been transferred to a New York City nursing home after hospitalization for severe respiratory distress and pneumonia, where she eventually died of cardiac arrest due to severe septic shock. The claim is dependent on evidence of the decedent’s mental state prior to her death.… Read the rest
Tag: Nursing Home Abuse
How to Identify Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
When people place their loved ones in the care of a nursing home, they do so with the hope and expectation that their loved ones will be properly cared for. Indeed, the law requires that nursing homes provide their residents with a level of care that will safeguard their health and make them as comfortable as possible. However, not every nursing home meets this standard, and it is essential that you recognize the possible signs that your loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse or neglect.… Read the rest
Health Code Violations Found In Nursing Home Kitchens
According to a report by the nonprofit news organization FairWarning, nursing homes across the country have been found to operate kitchens with major health code violations. Over the course of five months, the reporters investigated conditions in nursing home kitchens across the country and found major failures of hygiene. This has been found to be an issue across the country, with unsanitary conditions apparently being common throughout the nursing home industry.… Read the rest
Physical Abuse in Nursing Homes
Elder abuse is a growing problem in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2008, one in 10 elders have reported emotional, physical, or sexual abuse or potential neglect in the last year. Elder abuse frequently occurs in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Today, as many as 3 million people are living in nursing home institutions in the U.S. One of the most prevalent forms of nursing home abuse is physical abuse.… Read the rest
New York Has the Highest Rate of Patients with Bedsores
According to the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade (LHSG) report, there are thousands of people that die each year as a result of bedsores. In light of this, LHSG rated hospitals based on frequent incidents of life-threatening bedsores developing in patients. Coney Island Hospital had the worst rating in the United States with 1.35 patients in every 1,000 patients discharged having a life-threatening bedsore.… Read the rest
Nursing Home Residents May Be a Victim of Improper Care
Bedsores or pressure wounds often develop in patients that are stationary for extended periods of time, due to a lack of blood flow to a specific area of the body. Unfortunately, bedsores are one of the first signs of neglect. Usually, bedsores are located in areas such as the back, tailbone, and shoulders. The constant pressure placed on these areas constricts blood flow and causes a wound, which may expose muscle and bone. These wounds can lead to a life-threatening infection if they are not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.… Read the rest
Bedsores May Be Fatal
According to Law 360, a recent lawsuit filed on behalf of Alfonzer Patrick against Virtua Health, Care One LLC and Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation, alleges that the center caused or contributed to his death when he developed severe bedsores that caused him to go into septic shock. According to the lawsuit, Mr. Patrick had undergone spinal surgery at Marlton Rehabilitation Hospital and was then transferred to different facilities where staff failed to provide adequate and aggressive treatment for his bedsores.… Read the rest
Bedsores In Nursing And Assisted Living Facilities
With the elderly population continuing to grow, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are playing a more vital role in today’s society. Many elderly residents have medical problems ranging from long-term illnesses to cognitive impairments. Oftentimes, the staff members in these facilities fail to provide proper care to the patients for ailments such as bedsores.… Read the rest
Understaffing May Contribute to Nursing Home Neglect
NBC recently reported that a family filed a nursing home neglect lawsuit on behalf of their elderly loved one against Woodcrest Health Center in New Milford, New Jersey and its parent company, Care One. The claimants released graphic photos alleging that the nursing home staff ignored the elder’s calls to use the restroom, so the resident — who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease — used her hands to wipe herself, inadvertently smearing excrement on her face, body, bed and tray of food. The family cites understaffing as a contributing factor in the elderly resident’s neglect. The family also claims that there … Read the rest
Overmedication of Nursing Home Residents: What You Need to Know
nursiAs many as 1.4 million American seniors are residents of nursing homes, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although the vast majority assisted living facilities are committed to providing optimal care for their patients, others subject their residents to abuse and neglect. Many may be surprised to learn that 30 percent of all nursing homes are the site of some form of resident abuse. Nursing home abuse can include, but is not limited to, malnutrition, physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological distress, neglect and exploitation. One of the most prevalent forms of nursing home abuse that occurs … Read the rest
