Nursing homes are responsibly to take care of the elderly whose families are unable to do so themselves. These institutions are therefore expected to be safe, with patients receiving attention and supervision. Unfortunately, lapses in these duties of care occur. When nursing home neglect happens, victims can receive serious injuries. One such incident in Clermont, Florida is under investigation.

In Clermont Florida, a health and rehabilitation center is under investigation after police were called when an elderly patient was hospitalized with bedsores on his buttocks. In addition to the third-degree ulcers, the victim’s daughter claims the institution failed to remove her father’s dentures, which resulted in mouth sores. Injuries like these can become infected and lead to severe medical conditions and, in extreme cases, death.

Upon admission and routinely after, the nursing home staff is required to assess a resident’s risk of developing pressure ulcers. Medical conditions, the resident’s mobility, poor nutrition and whether the resident is continent are a few factors that these assessments are constructed upon. When a resident is determined to be a risk for developing a sore, it is mandatory that the nursing home staff develops and implements a plan to both avoid the pressure ulcer from occurring and to treat it at the early stages.

There are many common major risk factors a patient in a Michigan nursing home has for developing pressure ulcers. These major rick factors include:

• Degenerative neurologic disease
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Central nervous system (CNS) injury
• Depression
• Drugs that adversely affect alertness
• Neurologic disease/injury
• Fractures
• Pain
• Restraints (more…)

On January 9, a report of neglect and abuse at St. Louis-area nursing homes was released. After three years of inspections by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, findings include allegations of sexual assault, physical and verbal abuse, and neglect. In total, 513 nursing homes in Missouri were cited for inadequacies, with 99 out of this amount having “serious deficiencies.”

Specifically, the report showed that St. Louis-area nursing home facilities used lock-downs for punishment, did not notify physicians regarding a resident’s chest condition, have staff members that yell vulgarities at residents, did not protect residents from sexual abuse, and were lax in notifying police.

The results, however, are not exclusive to Missouri. In 2009, a congressional report indicated that one-third of all nursing homes on a national level were cited for abuse violations, including physical, sexual, and verbal.

As 2 million Americans live in long-term care facilities, and this amount is likely to grow, how do family members spot abuse or neglect?  

Common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect include asphyxiation, bed injuries, malnutrition or dehydration, emotional upset or withdraw, fall-related injuries, infections, and history of wandering off premises, bed sores, significant weight changes, unexplained injuries or death, unsanitary living conditions, and significant changes in behavior, such as isolation. (more…)

A Columbia Heights assisted-living center is being held accountable for the death of a patient who endured head injuries from a fall and received no medical attention for days afterward.

A state Health Department investigative report released last month says that Lighthouse of Columbia Heights “failed to report changes” in the resident’s condition to a nurse and “failed to seek medical attention in a timely manner” after the resident fell in November 2011 and developed a sizable bump on one side of her head and a smaller one on the other side.

The resident, who had a history of frequently attempting to get out of bed only to fall, was “semi-responsive” and was hospitalized three days later before dying on Dec. 5 of that year, the report continued. Her death certificate said the fall caused her death.

Falls among nursing home residents occur frequently and repeatedly.  About 1,800 older adults living in nursing homes die each year from fall-related injuries and those who survive falls frequently sustain hip fractures and head injuries that result in permanent disability and reduced quality of life. Fear of falling can cause further loss of function, depression, feelings of helplessness, and social isolation.

Why Do Resident Falls Occur So Frequently in Nursing Homes?

Falling can be a sign of other health problems. People in nursing homes are generally frailer than older adults able to live independently.  Nursing home patients are usually older, have more chronic conditions, and have more difficulty walking. They also tend to have memory problems, to have difficulty with activities of daily living, and to need help getting around or taking care of themselves.  All of these factors can increase the risk of falling in elderly residents. (more…)

A woman charged in June with abuse of a patient at a New Lisbon nursing home waived her right to the preliminary hearing.  Juneau County Circuit Judge, John Roemer, scheduled arraignment for March 5 for 50-year-old Ginger S. Newlun.

Newlun faces felony counts of abuse of a patient and aggravated battery for alleged incidents at Crest View Nursing Home in New Lisbon.  A nursing home employee told authorities that two certified nursing assistants at the home had reported that Newlun had been abusing an 86-year-old resident.  One of the two certified nursing assistants told police that she had seen Newlun verbally and physically abuses the resident.  A second nursing assistant told authorities she had seen Newlun abuse the resident over a period of months and reported overhearing Newlun threaten to break the resident’s fingers, among other things.

Elder abuse is all too common in nursing home facilities.  When a nursing home facility does not treat their elderly patients at a practical standard, which is expected, they are commenting elder abuse.  Elder abuse can cause patients to suffer dangerous injuries.

Different Types of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse can occur in many different ways. Below are the most common types of elder abuse.

• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Neglect
• Exploitation
• Emotional Abuse
• Abandonment
• Self-neglect (more…)

Nursing home negligence lawsuit was pending in Cook County, IL.  The lawsuit was initiated by the family of a 77 year old resident who resided at Evergreen Health Care Center for rehabilitation. She was admitted after she experienced a stroke that left her dependent upon the facility for her care.

During regular visits, the family was despaired to find soiled linens numerous times. This condition was unacceptable and eventually led to the death of this elderly patient. Unfortunately, the unsanitary conditions contributed to the breakdown of her skin and the eventual development of bed sores on her body.

According to reports, in Evergreen Park Patch, the troubling conditions that the family saw from their observations were also emblematic of internal problems at the facility, which resulted in multiple code violations and sanctions from officials with the State of Illinois Department of Health.

Bed sores, or pressure sores, are sores caused by prolonged pressure on an area of the body. These sores commonly develop among the sick, elderly, disabled, and others who have difficultly moving themselves. The pressure from prolonged amount of time sitting or lying in the same position begins to cut off the supply of blood to an area of the body. The sores start as red irritations (stage 1), but can develop into blisters or ulcers (stage 2) and will eventually form a crater (stage 3) which indicates damage to the tissue below the skin.

Preventative Measures Nursing Homes Should Take

• Maintain personal hygiene
• Try to assure adequate nutrition and hydration
• Evaluate and manage urinary and fecal incontinence
• Position to alleviate pressure over boney prominences and shearing forces over the heels and elbows, base of head and ears
• Try to reposition every two hours when in bed and every hours when in a chair
• Use appropriate positioning devices and foam padding; do not use donut-shaped devices.
• Try and avoid placing the patient on his or her trochanters or directly on the wound.
• Maintain the lowest head elevation possible.
• Use lifting devices such as draw sheets or a trapeze.
• Try to prevent contractures.
• Do not massage reddened areas over bony prominences.

Families Can Sue Michigan Nursing Home For Neglect

Patients who suffer bed sores or pressure ulcers at a nursing home or in other medical care facilities do have legal rights. These injuries and conditions are completely preventable with proper nursing practices and medical supervision. Victims, or their family members, should contact our office immediately to discuss their case! Call our office now at (800) 606-1717 to speak with one of our experienced Michigan nursing home neglect lawyers about your case. We will represent you under our No Fee Promise, meaning you do not pay any legal fees until we win or settle your case.

Our Michigan Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Can Help You!

If your family member suffered from a pressure ulcer or bed sore due to the Michigan nursing homes failure to manage the situation, contact the Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. office now at (800) 606-1717. Our experienced expert nursing home lawyers specialize in these types of cases and have a successful track record of obtaining sizeable settlements against Michigan nursing homes for their failure to properly manage and prevent pressure ulcers and bed sores to residents. Call today for your free consultation and to learn your legal rights! We will start working on your case immediately gathering all the evidence and witness statements to prove and win your case.