Georgia Personal Injury Blog - Nursing Home

Patient Went Missing in Georgia Nursing Home

Jessica Smagacz — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:09:25 GMT

Yesterday a patient at the Meadowbrook Nursing Home went missing in the morning. The patient was a 65 year old with Alzheimer’s.

Darden, last seen around 8:30 a.m. was eventually found after 3 p.m. Dekalb Police Spokesman Officer Jason Gagnon, said that Darden was hiding in the nursing home.

Tom Collins, one of the nurses on duty says that Darden is safe and sound now.

Do you know how to find a suitable nursing home for your parent? From our past blog:

The first step is to evaluate what type of nursing home your parent should be placed in. If your parent has a type of medical condition requiring continuous monitoring, a skilled nursing home is suitable. However, if your parent’s needs are for help with activities of daily living, an intermediate facility is suitable. There are some facilities that have both of these options. If you are unsure of exactly what your parent needs, each of these places have people who can evaluate your parent and his or her specific needs to “find the right level of care.”

After determining your parent’s needs, then you want to narrow down the nursing homes choices.

Then you want to check the nursing home’s reports—those that you have narrowed down. Every nursing home should have copies of state licensing reports on-site because they are required to keep copies and show them upon request.

You may also consider spending time with your parent at the nursing home before making it permanent.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

Studies Show Non-Profit Nursing Homes Provide Better Quality Care

Jessica Smagacz — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:17:20 GMT

Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently published an article on non-profit nursing homes. According to Canadian researchers, non-profit nursing homes provide better care than for-profit nursing homes.

They reviewed the results of 82 studies from 1965 to 2003. The results showed that forty studies found non-profit nursing facilities provided better quality care and three studies found that for-profit homes delivered better care.

These studies, for the most part, were performed in Canada and the United States.

“The review authors calculated that if all nursing homes were non-profit, nursing home residents in the United States would receive 500,000 more hours of nursing care per day, while those in Canada would receive 42,000 more hours of nursing care per day.

More results from this study showed that of 7,000 cases of pressure ulcers in Canada, 600 were directly linked to for-profit ownership of nursing facilities and 7,000 of 80,000 pressure ulcer cases occurred in the United States.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

Do you know how to find a suitable Nursing Home for your Parent?

Jessica Smagacz — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 02:04:20 GMT

There comes a time when many of us will need to evaluate the living needs of our parents. In some situations, our parents will need to be placed in a nursing home.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution offers advice from Caring.com on a beginner’s guide to nursing homes.

After determining your parent’s needs, then you want to narrow down the nursing homes choices.

You may also consider spending time with your parent at the nursing home before making it permanent.

For additional advice, check out the website.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

Stage 4 Bed Sore (Decubitus Ulcer)

M. Brandon Smith — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:09:55 GMT

The final stage in the bed sore classification system is stage 4. In a stage 4 bed sore, the most serious and advanced stage, almost all skin has been lost in the affected area and a very deep wound has occurred. The would itself has extended through the muscles, tendons, organs, and/or bones. Stage 4 bed sores, also termed decubitus ulcers, almost always require surgical intervention to remove the decayed and necrotic tissue. The infection status in a stage 4 bed sore is very serious and can lead to extremity amputation and/or death if not treated properly. A stage 4 bed sore is only seen in the most egregious circumstances of neglect and improper care. In the hospital or nursing home setting, a stage 4 bed sore should NEVER occur. Sadly for thousands of residents and patients each year, however it does time and time again.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith

Stage 3 Bed Sore

M. Brandon Smith — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:05:14 GMT

A stage 3 bedsore is typically denoted by a serious break down of the skin in which the wound itself protrudes all levels of the skin including the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin) and the dermis (inner most or deep part of the skin). A stage 3 bed sore usually involves a crater like wound where immense tissue damage and infection has occurred. A stage 3 bed sore demands prompt attention to correct the problem from developing into a stage 4 bed sore and can take upward of a year or longer to properly heal. A stage 3 bed sore is serious sign of prolonged neglect that could ultimately lead to serious health issues and/or death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith

Stage 2 Bed Sore

M. Brandon Smith — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:44:42 GMT

As previously noted, bed sores or pressure sores as they are often called, are classified in one of four stages. A stage 2 bed sore is usually denotes that some form of skin loss has occurred and presents as an open would in the skin. A stage two bed sore is typically described as a blister or abrasion in the skin that has become infected due to prolonged pressure on that specific part of the body. Fortunately, as with a stage 1 bed sore, the stage 2 bed sore can often times be successfully treated and prevented from evolving into a stage 3.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith

Stage 1 Bed Sore

M. Brandon Smith — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:35:16 GMT

Bed sores are generally defined by one of four stages. A stage 1 bed sore is the most common form of bed sore and can be usually be resolved by relieving the pressure on the affected area. A stage 1 bed sore usually appears as a red or pink area on the skin that remains that color even when pressed with a finger or hand. The skin is still completely intact, but is generally painful, itchy or tender to the touch. Typically a stage 1 bed sore marks the beginning of a problem with that specific area of the body and denotes that preventative measures should be instituted to prevent it from becoming a stage 2, stage 3, and/or stage 4 bed sore.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith

Bed Sore Prevention

M. Brandon Smith — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:11:19 GMT

Bed sores, in most all cases, are preventable. Bed sores only arise after the blood supply is cut off on a specific part of the body for an extended period of time. Because bed sores only occur when the proper measures and treatments have not been followed, no one should develop a bedsore, especially a nursing home or hospital patient. In order to prevent a bed sore, the following things at a minimum should be done: 1) keep the skin in suspect areas dry and clean; 2) reposition and turn the patient frequently to prevent prolonged pressure on any one body part; and 3) use extra padding for the bed and wheelchair utilized in order to help reduce the potential for pressure build up.

There are other methods and recommendations for the prevention of bedsores as well.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith

What Is A Bed Sore?

M. Brandon Smith — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:47:41 GMT

A bed sore is an area of skin and tissue that has been damaged due to prolonged pressure on a specific area of the body. A bed sore is an area of skin and tissue that has been damaged due to prolonged pressure on a specific area of the body. Typically bed sores, or pressure sores as they are sometimes called, result in situations where a person is in a seated or still position for an extended period of time. Bed sores are often found in people who are either bed ridden, immobile, and/or wheelchair bound. The bed sore occurs because the stationary positioning creates immense pressure on a specific body part that eventually cuts off the blood supply to the affected area. When the skin dies off from the cut off blood supply, the affected area becomes very red, painful to the touch, and infected. In most patients, bed sores occur on the buttocks, back, and/or heels of the feet. Bed sores are commonly found in residents of nursing homes and extended stay hospital patients. Generally there are four stages of a bed sore: stage 1; stage 2; stage 3; and stage 4. Although bed sores will generally resolve themselves with the proper treatment, they generally take weeks, if not months, to completely heal. Depending on the circumstances, bed sores generally denote improper care or neglect. In ordinary situations with the proper attention and method of turning, bed sores can and should be prevented.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith

Selecting The Right Nursing Home-It Can Make A Big Difference

M. Brandon Smith — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 12:25:25 GMT

Deciding whether to place a family member or a loved one in a nursing home or long term care facility can be a very stressful time if you do not know where to find all the information you need to make the best possible decision. Many people simply rely on what other people say and think about specific nursing homes when making their decision to place a loved one there. While this may be a good start it is by no means the only steps one should take in determining which nursing home is best for your particular family member. You need to know what questions to ask, what to look for, and most importantly, you need check on the nursing homes history of compliance with federal and state regulations. As a Georgia nursing home lawyer, I can not tell how much a difference asking the right questions and taking these little steps can be in making your family members transition to nursing home a pleasant and safe one. With the consistent rise of nursing home abuse and neglect throughout Georgia, it is the least anyone can and should do. After doing these things you unquestionably will feel better about your ultimate selection and can also help ensure your loved one or family member will receive the care and attention they deserve.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith