Blog: Nursing Home Abuse - Page 2

Nursing homes rely on a number of staff members to provide care for both their long-term and their short-term residents. Many of these staff members are simply nurse’s aides or administrative staff members, but there is also a need for registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs). The differences are mostly in education and …

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services offer a website that compares nursing homes and gives them ratings so that loved ones can make informed decisions for the care of their elderly family members. However, those ratings might be a bit one-dimensional, as there is generally no differentiation between patients who are in long-term versus …

Among the elderly population, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries. The statistics are grim. An elderly American dies from injuries sustained in a fall every 19 minutes. Further, an elder adult is treated in emergency departments for falls every 11 seconds. This totals about 2.8 million injuries caused by falls …

The Center for Medicare Services (CMS) has a rating system that they use to help people decide upon the best nursing homes for their loved ones. Ratings from 1 to 5 stars are given based upon certain criteria, which includes inspections and reports of abuse or neglect. This might seem like a good system to …

Websites like the Centers for Medicare Services nursing home rating website previously relied on self-reported staffing levels for their rating. In accordance with the Affordable Care Act of 2007, CMS is supposed to use payroll proof to render their ratings. However, this has been slow to occur, particularly in California. Now that payroll records are dictating …

In some jurisdictions, state prosecutors are limited in being able to prosecute nursing homes. In some areas, they are only able to prosecute neglect, and then only when actual physical injuries can be proven. In other jurisdictions, state and local prosecutors have special teams set up to prosecute all forms of elder abuse. In one …

When we hear of someone being charged with the crime of elder abuse, it might conjure images of residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and those who are charged with their care. It might also conjure thoughts of a family member abusing or neglecting their elderly relatives. Depending on the jurisdiction, merely striking an …

Exploitation of an elderly adult is a kind of elder abuse that has been making headlines recently. From taking pictures of elderly patients in various stages of undress, or in embarrassing situations, to financial exploitation, this is a crime that may either be a felony or a misdemeanor in the state of Georgia. Many jurisdictions …

Quitting smoking is difficult, even for those who are suffering from lung disease and require oxygen. It goes without saying that oxygen and an open flame don’t mix and combining the two can lead to explosions and burn injuries. Still, some nursing homes allow patients to continue to smoke with supervision and in approved areas. …