Nursing Home Abuse: Hidden Camera Catches Nurse Yanking The Wheelchair Of A Disabled Patient
If you think 'nursing home abuse' is simply a term of art, thrown into headlines for the purpose of getting attention-- think again. Below is an actual video of a nurse seemingly intentionally yanking the wheelchair of a disabled nursing home patient. The yanking of the chair caused the patient to fall to the floor and fracture her hip. Should there be any question regarding the intent of the nurse, I think the fact the that nurse lets the patient lay on the ground as she seemingly goes about her tasks certainly reinforces the fact that she has little regard...
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Court Determines Nursing Home Corporation Can't Be Criminally Prosecuted For Employees' Negligent Conduct
The collective negligence of multiple nursing home employees does not impute criminal conduct on the part of the corporate owner according to a recent ruling made the Supreme Judicial Court-- the highest court in Massachusetts. The decision stems from the death of a 74-year-old patient at a MA nursing home owned by Life Care Centers of America. Despite the patient's extensive history with respect to wandering from the facility, the facility failed to take basic precautionary measures that would likely prevented the wheelchair-bound patient from falling down a set of stairs to her death. An investigation into the patient's death...
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Nursing Home Injury Laws Establishes Itself As A Trusted Resource For Families Seeking Information Regarding Their Legal Rights
Since its inception, Nursing Home Injury Laws has become a trusted resource for caregivers and families seeking reliable information in a time of need. Nursing home injury laws provides a comprehensive compilation of state-by-state nursing home contacts, a glossary for common legal terms, resources and legal information should the need arise. In addition to important links to important developments within each state, Nursing Home Injury Laws provides has important information on the following commonly encountered nursing home injuries: Bed sores / decubitus ulcers / pressure ulcers / pressure sores Falls Medication errors Neglect Sexual abuse Wandering Wrongful death Physical abuse Nursing...
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Ohio Supreme Court Uphold Nursing Home Arbitration Agreement In Negligence Case
Thanks to Sarah Cole at the ADR Blog for addressing the Ohio Supreme Court's decision in Hayes v. Oakridge Home, (slip opinion No. 2009-Ohio-2054). I believe this decision represents a major setback for the rights of nursing home residents who sustained injuries due to the negligence of the facility. In Hayes, a 95-year-old woman signed an arbitration agreement at the the time she was admitted to Oakridge Home, a Cleveland nursing home. The arbitration agreement stated that disputes (injuries) between the parties were to be resolved via binding arbitration as opposed to jury trail. Further, the arbitration clause stated that Hayes...
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Nursing Home Patient With Broken Hip Sits In Pain. Why Federal Law Requires Staff To Administer Pain Medication
I guess when it comes to elder care, many problems encountered by residents in U.S. nursing homes sadly seem to make their way across the border to our friends in Canada. The recent news report of an elderly Canadian nursing home resident who fell and fractured her hip-- yet sat for days without medical attention or adequate pain medication is an unfortunate story unnecessarily repeated on a daily basis at nursing homes across the world. In the U.S., upon learning of a fall or other injury, the nursing home staff must conduct an assessment to ensure no injury was sustained....
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Nursing Home Spotlight: Clearbrook East in Rolling Meadows, Illinois Fined For Violations Involving Neglect
As we reported in a recent blog entry, thirty-two nursing homes made it onto the first-quarter 2009 “violator list” published by Illinois Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) in March. Today we shine a spotlight on one of those facilities: Clearbrook East. Clearbrook East is a 92-bed, non-profit nursing home facility, located at 3802 South Old Wilke Road in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, that serves adults with developmental disabilities. Its website proclaims that it is committed to “creating innovative opportunities, services and support for persons with disabilities.” Regrettably, the IDPH report suggests that Clearbrook East fails to do all that it should...
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Jury Awards Woman $1.3M After Fall At Elder-Care Facility
A California jury awarded $1.3 million in damages to a resident who fell at Leisure Palms, an elder-care facility. In October, 2006 Elaine Stinson was admitted to Leisure Palms by her husband so the facility could provide care to Elaine-- who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and was recovering from hip surgery. On December 31, 2006, Elaine fell at Leisure Palms and sustained a closed-head injury, broken ribs, and a punctured lung. Despite the injuries, staff at the facility placed her in bed--but never notified her physician or husband. On January 1st, Elaine's family found her non-responsive and took her to...
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Hours After Admission To Illinois Nursing Home For 'Respite Care', Resident Fractures Hip
Even the most dedicated caregivers need relief. Personal time for them to relax, and focus on their own well being is important not just for their personal needs, but also so they may provide the best care possible for their loved one. In this situation, 'respite care' or temporary care can be useful or downright necessary. Despite its prevalence, I've noticed a troubling trend: new admitees to nursing homes (for short-term stays of 5, 10 or 15 days) tend to suffer serious injuries shortly after their admission. When a new resident is brought into a new environment, it is difficult...
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Nursing Home Waits 19 Hours To Provide Medical Treatment To Resident Who Fractured Her Hip During Sabina Lift Transfer
A recently disclosed Minnesota Department of Public Health report concluded the Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea was guilty of 'neglect' due to its delay in providing medical treatment to a resident who fell during a transfer from her bed to her wheelchair. The episode took place on November 21st when a worker at the facility improperly used a Sabina lift to move a resident with dementia into a wheelchair. During the transfer, the resident fell and fractured her hip. A 'care plan' specifically stated that the resident was to wear shoes or gripper socks during transfers. At the...
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Broken Door Alarm Cited In Investigation Of Nursing Home Residents Death
On February 2nd, Carrie 'Christine' Evans wandered from Primrose Villa Nursing Home just a few hundred yards to her death. Officials from the North Carolina Medical Examiner's office concluded that Ms. Evans' death was due to a closed head injury after a fall. The incident occurred less than 1/5 of a mile from the North Carolina nursing home. There were similar episodes where Ms. Evans' wandered from the facility prior to this incident. The investigation into Evans' death also confirmed the following: Primrose Villa had been visited by state inspectors 28 times in the past two years despite the fact...
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