Articles Posted in Nursing Home Neglect

According to an article on LancasterOnline.com, Village Vista Manor in Manor Township, Lancaster County, has been closed by state and federal authorities because of problems with the quality of care. Its last resident left on April 21.

In early April, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid broke off its relationship with Village Vista. As a result, the nursing home could no longer care of Medicare or Medicaid patients.

State inspectors found multiple problems at the facility over the past year. According to state records, some problems included residents who complained the bathing water was too cold and that hot water had to be warmed in the microwave; reports of bruises that were not investigated; failure to provide ongoing activities for residents; a report that the home had operated without a dietitian for several years; and failure to investigate and prevent falls from beds and wheelchairs.

The American Health Care Association has named this week National Nursing Home Week. The theme is “Enriching Every Day.” This will be celebrated in nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities nationwide. This year’s theme honors those in the health care field who add value to the lives of those in nursing homes and who help older Americans to overcome the infirmities of age and disability.

According to the American Health Care Association’s website, a supportive and caring nursing home environment provides enrichment for residents and families to continue growing, learning, and teaching in various ways. The week also provides an opportunity to honor all those who contribute to our nation’s nursing homes, including residents, family members, employees, and volunteers.

When acts of caring, kindness, and respect are the norm in long-term care environments, residents experience better physical care and healing, as well as enrichment of the mind, heart, and spirit.

An article posted yesterday on McKnights.com says that a large percent of visits to emergency rooms by nursing home residents are preventable, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Based on data collected for the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey, the CDC estimates that about 40% of ER visits by nursing home residents are preventable.

Researchers found that some conditions, like urinary tract infections, could be dealt with in the nursing home. They found the number one reason for ER visits by nursing home patients was because of falls. According to the report, these types of visits could be avoided by efforts to prevent falls in nursing homes.

In an effort to be as responsive to our clients’ needs as possible, the law office of O’Connor Law has added a live chat feature to our website (www.oconnorlaw.com). Now if you have a question at any time of the day, you’ll be able to reach us through a simple click of the mouse. Let the experienced attorney team at O’Connor Law get you the justice you deserve.

According to an article on the StandardSpeaker.com, Carbon County, PA commissioners announced that they have signed a letter of intent to sell the county-owned Weatherwood Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center to Guardian Health Care of Jefferson County.

The sale is expected to be closed on July 1. Once negotiations on the sales contract are completed, the terms of the deal, including the sale price, will be disclosed.

Raymond L. Calhoun, chairman of the board for Guardian, is quoted in the article as saying, “In talking with the county officials, we found we have the same values. We come from a rural area. We thought we were a good fit with Weatherwood, with the way we are used to doing business.”

On March 17, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that $5 million in punitive damages was awarded to the widow of a man who suffered fatal bedsores stemming from care he received in Jeanes Hospital in Northeast Philadelphia and the Hillcrest Convalescent Home in Wyncote.

According to the article, the elderly man was admitted to Jeanes in May of 2006 after it was thought that he suffered a stroke. A urinary tract infection, undiagnosed by doctors, became worse and left the man susceptible to bedsores.

After about a week at Jeanes, the man was transferred to Hillcrest where he stayed for two weeks. When his condition worsened, he was sent back to Jeanes. He was released to go home from Jeanes after three days.

According to an update on 6ABC.com, Adelphia Personal Care Home in West Philadelphia has been shut down. Residents and medical equipment were removed after the PA State Dept. of Public Welfare stated that conditions in the home posed “an immediate and serious danger to the lives and health” of the residents. To read the full article, click on the link below:

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7324327

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According to an article on the News-Sentinel.com, the Indianapolis Star made some startling discoveries when it reported that 35 out of 52 of Indiana’s for-profit nursing home chains rank as the state’s most poorly performing homes.

The Star analyzed documents and data compiled by regulators and found that many of Indiana’s nursing homes employ fewer critical staff members than are needed to care for residents and that staffing levels are low at for-profit nursing homes.

In August, federal officials said the state has the most poor-quality nursing homes of any state in the U.S. The investigation by the Star showed that the number of most critical caregivers is low in Indiana nursing homes and that the amount of time certified nursing assistants (CNAs)spend with residents is also low. The Star also found that understaffing is the norm in many Indiana nursing homes where CNAs spend less than 15 hours a week with each resident, compared to the national average of 17 hours a week.

The Boston Globe recently reported that 28 percent of Massachusetts nursing home residents were given antipsychotic medication in 2009, according to data collected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. However, of that group, more than one out of every five did not have a medical condition that warranted the use of antipsychotic medication.

According to the article, drugs are often given to patients with dementia. But these drugs put them at risk for serious side effects, including death.

An official representing Massachusetts nursing homes has agreed that the number is high and acknowledges that more training is needed.

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According to EchoPress.com, of Alexandria, MN, the Minnesota Department of Health reported that three Minnesota nursing home residents were neglected when they were given the wrong medication, leading to the death of one resident.

A report released by the Department of Health on the incidents at Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena noted, “the preponderance of the evidence indicated that neglect did occur when medications were given in error.” The report also stated that other “significant medical errors” were made during that time.

On June 1, 2009, a resident who was admitted to Fair Oaks due to advancing Alzheimer’s disease was given medication meant for another patient. The Fair Oaks employee realized the error about 10 minutes later and notified the hospital emergency department physician. The resident died on June 7.

On June 12, 2009, a second resident was given medication meant for another patient. That resident was taken to the emergency room and did recover.
A third case occurred when a resident was given medication too close together. The resident was taken to the hospital’s emergency room and also recovered.

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