Nursing Home Visits Are Likely Awkward For You & Your Loved One.... But It's Ok
After visiting several family members in nursing homes over the past few years, I frequently find myself a bit anxious; before, during and after our visit. Part of me feels guilty that I'm talking about my busy life in the outside world while my family member likely spends their days bored and depressed. Yet, another part of me finds myself asking "is that what I have to look forward to?" Though probably not discussed as much as it should be, nursing home visits are an important part of the lives of both patient and their friends and family. I recently...
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Nursing Home Patients Take Backseat In Priorities For Iowa Legislators
Recent budget cuts imposed by Iowa's Governor Terry Branstad have almost immediately cut the number of nursing home inspectors in the state by 25%. Now, just 28 inspectors will be responsible for investigating patient complaints and facility compliance with federal and state regulations at the state's 442 facilities. Axing the ten nursing home inspectors will save the state and estimated $125,000 as the bulk of the inspectors salaries is derived from federal funding. While there are other employees in the state's Department of Inspection and Appeals that are technically licensed to conduct the work of the terminated employees, I...
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Decubitus Ulcers Remain A Significant Problem For Nursing Home Patients
Despite increased publicity and laws requiring nursing homes to implement preventative measures, decubitus ulcers--- also referred to as: bed sores, pressure sores or pressure ulcers remain a significant threat to the health of patients in nursing homes. From the time that the decubitus ulcers develop, some nursing homes begin to shift the responsibility for the development of the wounds onto the patient and family. However, a closer look at the care-- or lack thereof-- provided to the patient during their admission to the facility generally reveals that the facilities failure to properly care for the patient was the real...
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Avoid Hospitals In July
We've all heard about how it may be in your best interest to avoid a hospitalization on a holiday or during a weekend, when senior staff tend to be off. However, a new study suggests that you may want to avoid a trip to the hospital completely during the month of July. As recently reported by Julie Deardorff of the Chicago Tribune, a study from the Journal of Internal Medicine determined that the patient death rate from medication errors was 10% higher in July than in other months. Perhaps the most reasonable explanation for the spike in medication errors at...
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Pressure Sores Are A Problem Facing All Nursing Home Patients .... Yet, They Remain Generally Preventable
It appears even in idyllic Idaho, pressure sores are a tremendous problem facing nursing home patients. As attorney John Kormanik discusses in his recent Nursing Home Abuse Advocate Blog entry, Idaho Facilities Cited For Failing To Prevent Pressure Sores, a staggering 40.5% of Idaho Nursing Homes were cited for violations relating to improper patient care. As John points out, pressure sores or decubitus ulcers / pressure ulcers / pressure sores can be prevented with relatively simple techniques such as turning patients on a regular basis to reduce the formation of pressure on the body. David Terry and I will address...
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