Nursing Home & Elder Abuse

• The Nursing Home Industry is Buying Tennessee

  Dan Frith | March 20, 2008 6:13 AM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  Why does the state of Tennessee spend $1.2 billion for long-term care? That amount is 98 percent of the Tenncare (Tennessee's equivalent of Medicaid) budget, which ranks Tennessee last nationally in its funding mix of nursing homes versus home and community-based care, according to the TennCare Bureau. Why? Do you think money could be at the root of such spending?How did Tennessee get on the...

• FALLS

  Lauren Ellerman | March 11, 2008 11:35 AM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  In 2 years, I have read about, or known families who have suffered the following:Loved one falls and breaks neck while in shower room, unattendedLoved one falls down two flights of stairs, while strapped into wheelchairLoved one falls while eloping from nursing home, out front door, and to the parking lotLoved one falls down back stairs of nursing home, after leaving "locked" exterior doorLoved...

• Over medicating dementia residents~!

  Lauren Ellerman | March 10, 2008 11:20 AM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  We hear about it all the time - over medicating dementia patients. Why? To curb combative behavior? Make them easier to control? It is a sad state when an elderly person is given anti-psychotic medications, before an exam is done to determine what other problems would cause aggressive behavior.In Minnesota, nearly 8 percent of people 80 and older are given anti psychotic drugs -- six times the...

• Nursing Homes and Chemical Restraints

  Dan Frith | March 02, 2008 6:55 AM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  Most people are familiar with physical restraints. These safety devices include bed rails, lap buddies, Geri-chairs, and wrist restraints. These devices are used to prevent injury to the resident or others. But what about "chemical restraints?" Have you ever heard of them?Chemical restraints are medications used by the nursing home to "control" active residents. They are psychotropic...

• Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act

  Dan Frith | February 25, 2008 10:24 AM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  A controversial new law endorsed by Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley and Democrat Sen. Herb Kohl seeks to force nursing homes to provide more information about ownership and accountability. The Act would force nursing homes to file paperwork clearly stating ownership--something that has become increasingly complicated for outsiders to figure out, as private investment groups have bought up...

• CONFUSED? Ask for policies

  Lauren Ellerman | February 21, 2008 1:51 PM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  Not sure how often the nursing home physician is supposed to come by?What about medications - is that the job of the CNA, MedTech or Nurse?Want to know who to complain to, and how to do it?ASK FOR THE FACILITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. Ask for all of them, and then, remind the staff of what needs to be done according to their own policies.Policies are usually pretty good - have a whole bunch of...

• Want to Rate a Nursing Home?

  Dan Frith | February 16, 2008 6:34 AM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  We deal with calls all the time from ordinary people who do not know which nursing home is best for their loved one. We try to spend time with each caller and provide a checklist of items to consider. Those important items include: 1. Staffing ratios - does the nursing home have enough nurses and aids to take care of its residents? 2. What is the facility's history of violations of health...

• I can hardly believe how awful this one is!

  Lauren Ellerman | February 15, 2008 2:13 PM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  If I hadn't read medical records from the victim of sexual assault in a long term care facility, I wouldn't believe it possible. Out of Ohio, staff assaults residents - physically and sexually, and other staff do nothing about it! "Nursing home worker John Riems had a temper and spent long periods in patients' rooms with the doors closed, neighbors and former co-workers say, troubling...

• Complain and compare online!

  Lauren Ellerman | February 14, 2008 2:18 PM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  There is a new website at www.seniordecision.com where consumers can rate and review senior care and housing. May be a source of some useful information on defendant facilities. Sounds good to me - hop on there friends, and get to posting!

• Over 4,000 Nursing Homes Identified as Subtandard

  Dan Frith | February 07, 2008 10:37 AM | 0 CommentsRoanoke, VA

  The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today named 4,037 nursing homes whose pressure sore and/or restraint rates it says have targeted them for improvement. Although CMS officials maintain these are "not the worst nursing homes in the country," it says their quality measures in at least one of two areas -- physical restraints among long-stay residents and pressure ulcers among...