As Hurricane Sandy approaches land, we urge our families, staff, clients, and neighbors to prepare and plan for the worst.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett has declared a statewide disaster emergency so that state, county, and municipal governments can respond. Here are some additional recommendations to ride out the storm:
Remain inside your home during harsh conditions. If you need to leave your home, follow posted road warnings to keep yourself and others safe.
A wrongful death lawsuit against Friendship Ridge Nursing Home in Beaver County, PA and six individuals has been tranferred to U.S. District Court because it alleges civil rights violations.
According to an article on TimesOnline.com, a 40-year-old man who was severely mentally disabled was committed to Friendship Ridge because of his need for treatment at an in-patient facility. Although he suffered from sleep apnea and required a CPAP machine, he did not have the machine when he was admitted to the facility and no machine was made available to him.
The night that he was admitted, he was given a prescription meant for another patient. A short time later he was given more prescriptions that were meant for him. The drugs he was given are known to suppress the central nervous system, which compromised his ability to breath, according to the lawsuit.
According to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Medicare’s skilled nursing benefits might need to be updated to include palliative care or hospice care services.
The study reports that about 30% orf Medicare beneficiaries spend their last days in skilled nursing facilities rather than in hospice care, even if the facilities aren’t properly equipped for end-of-life care. What’s disturbing is the fact that this could be due to Medicare’s reimbursement system.
An article on SeniorHousingCare.com notes that nursing homes more often provide short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, but aren’t always equipped for treating and preventing pain, which is the service provided in palliative or hospice care. As a result, some patients who may be better suited with hospice care are instead placed in nursing homes because it can be less expensive.
Concern is growing in Warren County as efforts are underway to privatize some of the services at Warren Haven, the county’s nursing home.
According to an article on LehighValleyLive.com, a cost-cutting plan has been proposed that would allow a private company to take over tasks such as laundry, housekeeping, and food service operations. But that plan could mean eliminating over 30 union jobs.
These possible changes are due to the $3.5 million loss, a lowered Medicare reimbursement rate, and state cap laws that the facility faced this year.
Attorneys and staff of O’Connor Law helped to celebrate with residents of Berks County during the 9th Annual Latin Festival held at the First Energy Stadium in Reading, held on Sat., Sept. 29.
The law firm’s booth, located next to the stage, provided a perfect view of the event while handing out free t-shirts, pens, and other giveaways to festival attendees.
Ana Cruz was the big winner of the day, leaving with a 32″ LCD high definition TV compliments of O’Connor Law. Jaime Diaz won a backpack filled with school supplies. Another lucky attendee won a Michael J.O’Connor Law umbrella.
This month, long-term care facilities across the country are celebrating Residents’ Rights Month, bringing awareness to and celebrating the dignity, respect, and value of each individual resident.This year’s theme is “My Voice, My Vote, My Right” which encourages residents to vote and participate in the political process.
Residents’ Right Month is celebrated annually each October and is designated by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (also known as the “Consumer Voice”). According to the Consumer Voice website, it is a time to reflect on the importance of the Nursing Home Reform Law of 1987 that promises quality of life, quality of care, and rights for each resident.
During this month, residents are encouraged to think about and respond to questions such as:
In November of 2011, an 80-year-old resident of Warner’s Home for the Aged in Altoona died 12 days after being admitted to the facility. As a result, the home’s owner and two aides are facing neglect charges in the resident’s death.
According to an article on WRTA.com, a doctor told a grand jury that the resident had numerous unattended sores and that this was the worst case of neglect that he had seen in 30 years.
The operator of Warner’s Home and the two aides have been charged wtih one count each of neglect of a care-dependent person, which is considered a misdemeanor. Preliminary hearings for all three will be held in early October.
During a public meeting this week, the Schuylkill County commissioners approved the transfer of over $72,000 from the county’s general fund to the county’s nursing home, Rest Haven in Schuylkill Haven. The amount covered a retroactive payment of a 2 percent wage increase in 2011 for nursing home employees.
According to an article on the RepublicanHerald.com, the previous union contract with Rest Haven was for three years and had a wage re-opener clause in 2011, the last year of the contract. The clause allowed for the readjustment of wages due to economic conditions.
Right now, there is no new contract in place for the county-owned facility, but renegotiations are in process.
An article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News is reporting that lawmakers have introduced a proposal that would require skilled nursing facilities to conduct a drug regimen review process as well as provide monthly reports on the use of antipsychotics in facilities.
Called the Improving Dementia Care Treatment in Older Adults Act, the new legislation would require nursing homes to standardize the process for getting informed consent from a resident or their legally designated representative, so that residents are made aware of any risks or side effects of the medication. The legislation will also create education programs and campaigns to promote non-drug treatments for aggressive dementia partients.
In the article, Sen. Herb Kohl, chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, said, “Our legislation provides some straightforward and commonsense steps that will help decrease the improper, dangerous and costly use of antipsychotics and accelerate the shift toward the broader use of safer alternatives.”
In November of 2011, an 80-year-old resident of Warner’s Home for the Aged in Altoona died 12 days after being admitted to the facility. As a result, the home’s owner and two aides are facing neglect charges in the resident’s death.
According to an article on WRTA.com, a doctor told a grand jury that the resident had numerous unattended sores and that this was the worst case of neglect that he had seen in 30 years.
The operator of Warner’s Home and the two aides have been charged with one count each of neglect of a care-dependent person, which is considered a misdemeanor. Preliminary hearings for all three will be held in early October.
Pennsylvania Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
