California Elder Law Attorney Blog

There are several factors that have been acknowledged as things that put a person more at risk of developing pressure sores, bedsores also known as Decubitus Ulcers.

As soon as a person is spotted as a high-risk individual, certain measures have to be taken to reduce or eliminate the risk of him or her developing bedsores, pressure sores and decubitus ulcers.

It is imperative that the care provider, whether it is a nurse or a family member, is knowledgeable about these risk factors in order to be able to prevent the unnecessary and painful development of pressure sores, bedsores and decubitus ulcers.

The risk factors will vary according to the patient's specific circumstances; nevertheless, this is a list of the 5 most common risk factors:

Being confined to a bed, chair, or wheelchair:
Individuals who are confined to a bed, a chair, or a wheelchair, and who are not able to move by themselves, are at high risk of developing pressure sores extremely fast; in as little as a couple of hours, if the pressure is not relieved regularly.

Being unable to change positions without assistance:
Persons who are in a coma, who are paralyzed, and who are recovering from a hip fracture or other injury that limits mobility, are extremely prone to bed sores.

These patients must be moved consistently at regular intervals, and this is very difficult on caregivers, reason why it is imperative to get a pressure mattress to help both the patient and the caretaker.

Losing bowel or bladder control:
People who have to remain in bed for long periods of time or permanently and lose the capacity to control their bladder or bowels are in danger of getting bedsores because the continuous moisture on the skin due to urine, stool, or perspiration can irritate and weaken it.

Eating poorly, having an imbalanced diet and/or dehydration:
Pressure sores develop more easily when the body and skin of people who have lost most of their mobility are not adequately nurtured.

Losing mental awareness:
A person who is losing mental awareness may not have enough sensory perception or capacity to take action to prevent the development of pressure sores.

Continue reading "What Are The Factors That Put A Person More At Risk for Bedsores, Pressure Sores and Decubitus Ulcers?" »

In recent years, Assisted Living facilities have evolved by providing a new "resort-style "quality of independent living standard for seniors. Hence, bedsores, or the medical term, decubitus ulcer, isn't exactly a topic you think of when considering the dream facility for yourself or a loved one.

Many assisted living facilities however have special care units on premise that provide Alzheimer, Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitative and Hospice care services. Their residents have access to specialized, skilled nursing and other services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, laboratory services, and use of other health-related equipment. These on premise units offer care for the less ambulatory residents and those with serious illnesses.

Bedsores owe their name to the observation that patients, who were bedridden and not properly repositioned, would often develop ulcerations or sores on their skin, typically over bony prominences.

Decubitus Ulcers are localized areas of tissue injury that develop when soft tissue is compressed between a bony prominence, (a hip for example) and an external surface for prolonged periods. The external surface may be a mattress, a chair or wheelchair, or even other parts of the body.

The soft tissues of the body, such as skin and muscle, depend upon blood vessels to carry nutrients to the tissues, and to remove waste products. Bedsores result when prolonged pressure prevents sufficient blood flow to supply the tissues with nutrients. The resulting bedsore represents the death of the involved soft tissues.

Continue reading "Bed Sores Are More Likely To Occur With Bedridden Less Ambulatory Elders" »

Here is a list of warning signs that your loved one may be the victim of nursing home negligence, neglect, or abuse:

Bedsores, Pressure Sores;or decubitus ulcers:

Unexplained bruises or injuries Inappropriate use of restraints:

Failure to turn patients in bed or move them from wheelchairs, causingDecubitus ulcers, Pressure Sores or bedsores:

Slip and fall accidents due to staff inattention Malnutrition Dehydration:

Unexplained injury such as fracture Failure to use bedrails, resulting in falls Medication Errors

Needless to say, nursing home neglect is a dangerous situation that should be addressed as quickly as possible. Put your nursing home negligence case in the steady and caring hands of California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven C. Peck. The firm has years of experience with California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect nursing home law. We also experienced in handling wrongful death actions against nursing homes.

Continue reading "Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect" »

Here is a list of warning signs that your loved one may be the victim of nursing home negligence, neglect, or abuse:

Bedsores, Pressure Sores;or decubitus ulcers:

Unexplained bruises or injuries Inappropriate use of restraints:

Failure to turn patients in bed or move them from wheelchairs, causingDecubitus ulcers, Pressure Sores or bedsores:

Slip and fall accidents due to staff inattention Malnutrition Dehydration:

Unexplained injury such as fracture Failure to use bedrails, resulting in falls Medication Errors

Needless to say, nursing home neglect is a dangerous situation that should be addressed as quickly as possible. Put your nursing home negligence case in the steady and caring hands of California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven C. Peck. The firm has years of experience with California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect nursing home law. We also experienced in handling wrongful death actions against nursing homes.

Continue reading "Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect" »

Pressure sores are referred to as bed sores and pressure ulcers. Pressure sores are common, particularly in those with mobility issues, but everything ought to be done to avoid them as they can be dangerous and terribly uncomfortable for sufferers.
Pressure ulcers are caused when skin and underlying tissue is damaged. In the worst cases, underlying bone and muscle will be damaged as well. Bed sores sometimes have an effect on folks who have limited mobility and can't easily move themselves around. This could be due to paralysis, temporary injury or previous age.
Statistics counsel that up to ten percent, if not more, of all United States patients admitted to hospital develop pressure ulcers. For older patients and folks with mobility issues, the figure will rise to as high as seven in ten.
Handling bed sores
Though pressure ulcers aren't invariably serious, they still need to be treated once they occur. This is as a result of, left untreated, they will result in long-term skin injury, gangrene and high infections.
For those at risk of developing bed sores and their carers, the key problems to consider are firstly a way to best forestall the ulcers and secondly a way to limit the damage caused by existing sores.
How to forestall pressure ulcers
The following tips will help you stop pressure sores from occurring.
• Encourage a bedridden person with restricted mobility to change their position as often as doable throughout the day.
• For those that can't try this themselves as a result of they're immobile, they will need facilitate to be moved regularly.
• Consider using special mattresses and sheets that are designed to minimise pressure on the skin which occurs through sitting or lying down. Parafricta sheets, pillowcases and clothing are made out of "zero-friction material" which minimises skin friction and prevents shear or 'drag' on the tissue beneath the skin.
A way to treat bed sores
So as to treat pressure ulcers and forestall them turning into worse, individuals should be regularly moved to prevent pressure, friction and drag on their skin and tissue.
Mattresses, sheets and pillowcases are particularly designed by Parafricta. The things are 'zero friction' and 'anti shear' and that they minimise additional injury on the skin and which might be caused by friction and dragging on the tissue beneath the skin.
Dressings ought to also be used to keep ulcer wounds dry, covered and protected. Dressings for bed sores help the wounds to heal. It's important that the dressings do not move around or return off. They can be kept in place by special bootees and underwear. This stuff keep dressings in place and stop friction and shear that would be caused otherwise.

Los Angeles, California: Nursing Home Neglect: 5 Signs of Abuse:
There are thousands of California residents that reside in nursing homes or other assisted-living facilities. Whether due to sickness or disability, these individuals are often very vulnerable to abuse from their staff or other residents. It is important that you do your part to make sure that your family members are not being subjected to nursing home malpractice. Here are 5 signs of nursing home abuse:

1) Bed sores. Decubitus ulcers, or bed sores, occur when a person if left lying in a fixed position for an extended period of time without proper movement. The pressure on the skin causes ulcers to form and, over time, these can turn into infected areas and ulcers that can be life threatening. Regular bathing and proper movement and repositioning can preven most bed sores.

2) Unusual bruises. If your loved one is incapicated or can't move without assistance, bruises are often associated with some sort of abuse. For those who can't care for themselves, it is important that their caretakers be trained in proper ways to move and carry the patient to preven falls or bruises.

3) Problems with medication. If you notice that your loved one is going through his or her medication too slowly or quickly, there may be a problem with the way medicaion is administered. Overmedication is sometimes a tactic used by nursing homes to keep the residents docile or immobile. Make sure to keep track of medication.

4) Sudden weight loss. If someone loses weight suddenly, it may be due to malnutrition or dehydration. Incapacitated persons may not be able to communicate their needs to you or their caretakers. Their caretakers, however, are paid to make sure that the residents are fed regularly and given fluids.

5) Unsanitary or unclean conditions. No matter a person's condition, he or she deserves to have basic needs taken care of including regular bathing and changing of sheets and clothes. If you notice foul odors coming from a resident's body, bed or room, it is likely that the nursing home has failed to provide adequate service.

Continue reading "Five Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect" »

Bed sores are ulcers with various potential examples of severeness, appearing on human bodies. Decubitus ulcers by nature, these types also known as as pressure sores. The degree of this type of sore can vary among a gentle light red temporary place on our bodies which will get taken out inside of a couple of hours of removing the pressure to glaring ulcers that pierce deep in the human body subjecting the particular inner bodily organs and also bone tissues. This type of sore can potentially become extremely painful, and people bedridden because of extented periods of illness, paralysis and fractured bones are even known to pass away through septic problems occurring as a result of severe bedsores. Thus, being familiar with and using the correct treatment of health in order to avoid and get rid of these types of ulcerous lesions on your skin is very vital.

Symptoms:

There are actually 4 levels of a bed sore based upon the level of severity. The levels happen to be formally indexed by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. The phases are the following.

Level 1: The sore begins showing up as being a prolonged pink or reddish skin. It may itch or perhaps hurt, and also a touch on this area may well feel padded and warm.

Phase 2: Skin loss begins taking place - the external and also inner layers of the skin start getting lost - and also the pressure sores begin resembling blisters.

Level 3: The bed ulcer now will go deep directly into the tissues below the skin. A new hollow wound is clearly visible. By at this moment it really is quite painful.

Level 4: Chances are there may be destruction of underlying muscles as well as probable exposure of bones. The ulcer now is in very progressed stages.

Causes:

Bed sores develop from maintained pressure applied to a particular area of one's body. They're normally seen to occur a lot more above the portions having bones as well as cartilages. The principal factors behind these chronic wounds are the following.

Pressure: Sustained pressure put on some parts of the body is one of frequent cause of catching these ulcers. This particular occurs most often within instances where the patient is immobile. Good examples of immobility are fractures and paralyses, to name a few. The tissues under constant pressure get deprived of the desired levels of nutrients including oxygen. This leads to bed sores.

Friction: Friction happening often enough at given areas of one's body can potentially bring about these ulcerous wounds. Switching side-to-side constantly and skidding down the wheelchairs are some primary sources of harmful friction.

Prevention:

They say, prevention is better than cure. Your best option to safeguard yourself against decubitus ulcers is to protect yourself. Presently there are products specifically created for these purposes. The exact device to use depends upon the actual depth and stage of the ulcer, including its level of seriousness as well as position of the sore wound on the body. Generally, medical insurances cover the price of such devices - but it is best to double-check with your insurance provider before you commit.

Last but not least, disregarding bed ulcers can lead to severe complications. This includes but is not limited by cellulitis, sepsis, joint infections, bone issues and even cancer. Therefore it is critically essential that you take ample preventive measures in order to save yourself from bed sores.

Call us toll free at 1.866.999.9085 for a free no cost comprehensive evaluation of your case.. We are here to help you.

Those who are aged, unwell or who have mobility issues are the most at risk of developing bed sores. Bed sores are also commonly called pressure sores or pressure ulcers or Decubitus Ulcers.

For example, people at risk for Bed Sores, Pressure Sores also known as Decubitus Ulcers says Van Nuys Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven C. Peck include those with:

Incontinence problems - The dampness caused by incontinence can make the skin susceptible to damage
Illnesses, for example diabetes, motor dysfunction, immune deficiencies and nutritional disorders
Dementia, which can prevent people recognising discomfort and regularly moving their bodies in the normal way.
Those who are in a wheelchair, chair or bed for the majority of the time.

Identifying bed sores, pressure sores and Decubitus Ulcers:

The following symptoms are signs that someone may have a Bed Sore, Pressure sore, Decubitus Ulcers says Woodland Hills Elder Abuse Attorney Steven C. Peck or be at risk of developing one:

Is the skin discoloured? Look out for red or purple-coloured skin
Sometimes pressure ulcers can have a foul odour
The area is likely to be redder and warmer than the rest of the body
There will often be swelling
Ask the patient if the area is painful to the touch
Sometimes pressure sores ooze pus

Preventing pressure sores, bed sores and Decubitus Ulcers:

It's important to prevent bed sores as far as possible as they can deteriorate in condition and cause discomfort. Here are some tips on keeping pressure ulcers at bay:

The patient's position must be shifted regularly - a minimum of once every two hours or every hour for very frail individuals. Someone needs to be on hand to do this if they can't move themselves around.
Eating a healthy diet can help prevent pressure sores
The skin must be kept as clean and dry as possible. Although the skin should be moisturised to prevent dryness, it should never be wet to the touch.
Incontinence pads should be used if the patient is incontinent. They should be changed regularly.
If you're not a medical professional, consult a doctor or nurse if you think that pressure sores may be developing.
Use specially designed sheets, pillowcases, underwear and bootees which are designed to avoid friction and shear on the skin and tissue.

Treating pressure sores, bed sores and Decubitus Ulcers:

When you treat pressure sores, you want to avoid the ulcer becoming any worse.

Make sure pressure is relieved from pressure points at regular intervals - keep moving the patient every hour or so
Encourage the patient to keep pressure off vulnerable areas such as knees, elbows and hips.
Keep wounds clean and dry
Use non friction and anti-shear dressings so that there is no drag or rub on the wound

Johnnie was 77 years old when she was treated at Marshall Hospital for pneumonia. She recovered and went to El Dorado Care Center in Placerville for physical therapy to regain her strength, then go home.

But two weeks into her stay in the nursing home, her health had deteriorated. She was rushed back to the hospital, where she died in 2008.

"If she had received proper care, she would still be alive today," says Encino Nursing Home and Abuse Attorney Steven C. Peck.

He sued El Dorado Care Facility and parent company Horizon West, which owns 27 nursing homes.

"She basically did not receive care. She was neglected, warehoused,"

Esco sued for elder abuse and wrongful death. The suit alleged the nursing home staff failed "to provide basic custodial and nursing care services, a failure to assess and treat her pain and a failure to prevent Mrs. Esco from developing a severe and life-threatening bowel impaction."

It also alleged that Horizon West "failed to staff El Dorado Care with sufficient numbers of trained and supervised caregivers."

In taped depositions, employees say they were understaffed.

Horizon West spokesman Dan Niccum would not comment on the Esco case, citing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and company patient privacy policies.

He did talk to KCRA 3 about overall patient care and staffing.

"It's our position that, in all instances, and it's our goal in every facility, that every resident receives appropriate and timely care," he said.

Niccum said since 2005, Horizon West has exceeded state minimum required staffing levels and is implementing quality improvement changes.

But Clement said her research shows Horizon West increased its acuity levels, accepting more of the sickest and most expensive Medicare patients, while at the same time, decreased the nursing staff qualified to care for them.

She said Horizon West puts profit above patient care.

"That is probably the most ridiculous statement that you could make about Horizon West," Niccum contended.

He said Horizon West has lost money in the past five years.

"I have a real issue with the portrayal of Horizon West as a greedy corporation, which it is not. Or B, being a corporation that doesn't care, because that is all we are about. We are a company that cares," Niccum said.

Esco and Horizon West settled the lawsuit out of court. They won't say for how much, but KCRA 3 is told the nursing home paid a significant amount of money to Esco.

The California Department of Public Health licenses and regulates 1,200 nursing homes statewide.

It also investigates complaints.

It released findings in the Esco case in April, finding El Dorado Care Center failed to consult with a physician and notify the patient's family when her condition worsened, failed to ensure prompt care and its staff failed to properly administer medications.

The public health department can cite and fine nursing homes; the most serious violations involving patient deaths draw fines up to $100,000.

In the Esco case, the state fined El Dorado Care Center $18,000.

"My wife's death was ruled unwarranted, but the facility was fined $18,000. That is ridiculous," Esco said.

The public health department issued a statement saying "The violations... while severe and likely to cause harm and possibly death to the patient, could not be isolated as the direct cause of death in this case."

It said it "levied the highest fine the law allowed."

Carole Herman, with Foundation Aiding the Elderly, is appealing the decision.

"She definitely died from the lack of care at this convalescent hospital, and the state did not give them the proper citation," Herman said.

Niccum said "the people who work in this facility today, are members of this community. They care about what goes on in this facility. They are in this industry because this is what they love to do."

KCRA 3 reviewed state records related to Horizon West's 27 nursing homes. In the past five years, the public health department has issued 195 citations, totaling $700,000 in fines.

Niccum said, as the largest skilled nursing provider in the Sacramento area, the numbers aren't surprising.

"Our entire team focus every day is on improving the quality of care we provide our residents," he said.

But advocates and Esco believe even one citation is too many.

The pictures of bed sores taken from nursing home abuse victims depict the harsh reality of nursing home abuse that has become a widespread national problem. Reports on nursing home abuse show that it affects at least 30% of nursing homes across the county, and this number is a gross underreporting says California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven C. Peck.

Pictures of bed sores show that the abuse experienced in nursing homes is a severe problem, with some residents suffering such neglect that bed sores were not the only side effect. The nation has serious decisions to make in beginning to heal the vast problem of nursing home abuse and prevent instances of pictures of bed sores appearing in reports and articles. Nursing home abuse is one of the largest focuses that legislators must deal with since pictures of bed sores and other serious abuse effects have come into the spotlight.

Continue reading "Have Bed Sores, Pressure Sores aka Decubitus Ulcers Become a Nationwide Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Problem?" »

California State health insurance regulators are cracking down on insurance brokers who prey on elderly consumers confused by new federal health insurance rules.

On Tuesday, the Department of Managed Health Care took steps to bar a Folsom insurance agent from selling Medicare Advantage plans after she allegedly defrauded at least 12 capital-area seniors, who then incurred thousands of dollars in unexpected medical bills.

The agent, identified by state officials as Nadia King, allegedly canceled the existing Medicare coverage of her clients and enrolled them in Medicare Advantage plans run by private insurers.

King could not be reached for comment. She has until the end of the month to appeal the decision to revoke her privilege to sell Medicare Advantage products.

She is one of two dozen agents across the state getting legal scrutiny because of what officials said was deceptive marketing aimed at seniors.

Pauline Eckels, 98, of Citrus Heights was identified by the state as one of King's alleged victims.

Eckels, who has been on Medicare since 1977, recalls a day sometime before Christmas when King knocked on her door.

She said they spent about a half hour talking, and that she provided personal information to King during the conversation. "I already had insurance, but she said she was going to try and help me get cheaper insurance."

Eckels said she never authorized King to cancel her current plan. But to her surprise a week later, her pharmacist said her prescription coverage was no longer in effect.

She said she doesn't remember much of what was said during her talk with King. "Put yourself in the shoes of a 98-year-old," she said, adding that "It messed me up good."

Federal health officials have reached out to states to stamp out fraud and deception in the Medicare program.

"Every time there is a change in one of our programs, it always creates an opportunity to take advantage of someone who doesn't understand the change," said David Sayen, administrator for Medicare's San Francisco regional office.

As the national debate over health care legislation intensified, state and federal officials said they began seeing a marked increase in complaints from consumers about possible scams and insurance agents seeking to persuade seniors to change their Medicare coverage.

Confusion over changes to the country's health care system "opened up a floodgate of deceptive sales practices and fraudulent products," said Cindy Ehnes, director of the Department of Managed Health Care.

"Deceptive marketing is nothing new," she said. "Because of the recent rhetoric around health insurance, the lack of detail ... it has created a real opportunity for less-than-scrupulous operators who are out there."

State officials say scores of other seniors may have fallen victim to scams and unethical marketing ploys.

People who prey on vulnerable populations do so because they know their victims are less likely to contact authorities, said Michael McClelland, the chief of enforcement for the California Department of Managed Health Care.

The financial rewards for unscrupulous agents can quickly add up. Agents who enroll new customers in a Medicare Advantage plan typically receive commissions of $350 to $500, McClelland said.

In a traditional Medicare policy, the federal government acts as an enrollee's insurance company. Under Medicare Advantage, among the most powerful programs within Medicare, the federal government pays premiums to a private insurer to administer benefits.

According to the state's complaint, King enrolled her elderly clients into Medicare Advantage plans without their consent. She allegedly made misrepresentations while marketing the plans.

Continue reading "Are Regulators Cracking Down On Elder Abuse Medicare Fraud?" »

Nurse Craig Peske was fired from a hospital in Wausau, Wis., in 2007 after stealing the powerful painkiller Dilaudid "whenever the opportunity arose," state records say. In one three-month period, he signed out 245 syringes full of the drug -- nine times the average of his fellow nurses.
Hospital officials reported him to Wisconsin nursing regulators and alerted police.

Six months later, Peske was charged with six felony counts of narcotics possession. But by that time, he had used a special "multistate" license to get a job as a traveling nurse at a hospital 1,200 miles away in New Bern, N.C.

"When I went to go for the job in North Carolina, I looked at the status of my license, and it was still active," says Peske, 36, who was later convicted of two felony drug charges. "That kind of surprised me, so I figured I would take it."

The ease of Peske's move illustrates significant gaps in regulatory efforts nationwide to keep nurses from avoiding the consequences of misconduct by hopping across state lines.

The two states in which Peske worked are part of a 24-state compact created to help get good nurses to areas where they are needed most. Under the decade-old partnership, a license obtained in a nurse's home state allows access to work in the other compact states.

But an investigation by the non-profit news organization ProPublica found that the pact also has allowed nurses with records of misconduct to put patients in jeopardy. In some cases, nurses have retained clean multistate licenses after at least one compact state had banned them. They have ignored their patients' needs, stolen their pain medication, forgotten crucial tests or missed changes in their condition, records show.
(Taken from USA Today Article)

Dermatological diseases in psychiatric patients are common; however, epidemiological data on this subject are scarce and to our knowledge integral studies of dermatological disease in psychiatric inpatients are not available yet.Aim The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of dermatological problems in psychiatric inpatients.Method This study evaluates the consultations for new dermatological problems by inpatients of a general psychiatric hospital of over 700 beds during a 6-month period.Results A total of 255 patients consulted their physician because of a new dermatological problem. Diagnoses (n = 360) included skin infections (32%), accidents (7%), decubitus ulcers (7%), complications of medical treatment (3%), auto mutilation (1%) and neoplasms of the skin (1%). Patients with skin infections were likely to have diabetes [odds ratio (OR) = 3.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.56[ndash]8.40]. Patients with decubitus ulcers were likely to have an addiction problem (OR = 6.4; 95% CI: 1.46[ndash]28.00). Dermatitis was associated with affective disorder (OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.12[ndash]5.43) but not with psychosis (OR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.23[ndash]0.90). Only a poor correlation existed between the length of hospital stay and skin problems.Conclusions Dermatological problems are common in hospitalized psychiatric patients. Patients with diabetes mellitus are at high risk for skin infections. There are significant relationships between the psychiatric and the dermatological diagnoses. The length of the admission to a psychiatric hospital does not seem to play a major role in skin diseases.

Continue reading "Dermatological Disease Such as Bed Sores, Infections, etc.. In Psychiatric Patients Are Common" »

Signs or symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect can include pressure ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections, dehydration, malnutrition, unexplained illnesses, undetected or misdiagnosed disease, slide and covered accidents, medical errors, inadequate physical limitation, uncontrolled pain and injury related data and / or death of residents.

Nursing home abuse can occur because of inadequate staffing, inexperienced staff, less training, negligent supervision and patient isolation. When the industry minimum standards for care are not met, interested parties can be held liable for damage caused by nursing home abuse and neglect says California Elder Abuse Attorney Steven C. Peck.

One of the most serious issues facing the elderly today is abuse by their caretakers. This harm can take the form of physical, emotional, sexual, neglect or exploitative abuse. Unfortunately, the elderly are often exploited, especially if they're mentally susceptible to manipulation or confusion. Although physical signs of abuse may be the most obvious, personality changes can also be a sign that abuse is happening. You should always keep your guard up for possible red flags indicating an abusive situation. In the event that you suspect your elderly loved one is the victim of elder abuse, you may need the help of California Elder Abuse Attorney Steven C. Peck in order to get proper compensation.

How do you know if your loved one is being neglected in a nursing home? When you go to visit, everything looks fine, but your loved one is unable to express his/her pain to you in words. When a nurses aide comes in to attend to your loved one, you noticed a big sore on the side of their leg. When you question it, the nurses aide claims that it is noting but a simple sore. This is wrong. What you are actually looking at are signs of neglect.

A decubitus ulcer is commonly known as a bed sore. A decubitus ulcer can be a simple red or pink mark on the skin or it can be as bad as a very deep sore that reaches into the bone or internal organ. They are caused by prolonged pressure on a particular part of the body and are seen on patients who are bedridden (Thus the name, bed sore).

Most nursing facilities have a policy to turn bedridden patients once every two hours in order to prevent decubitus ulcers from forming. If your loved one has these decubitus ulcers, then they are not being turned in the bed as often as required and this is a form of neglect in a nursing home.

These decubitus ulcers can lead to further complications, including death if not treated. Therefore, if you have seen decubitus ulcers on your loved one, you should first consult with the doctors and nurses in the facility. If they fail to respond or give you a reasonable answer to why there are decubitus ulcers on your loved one, then you should consider filing a report or a complaint for nursing home neglect.

The decubitus ulcer is often painful. So, your loved one may be in severe pain and unable to express their pain. They may be crying for help, but no one is listening. This is neglect. No one should have to suffer the pain of decubitus ulcers. Simply turning or repositioning your loved one every two hours will prevent these ulcers from forming. They should not be there in the first place, but if you do notice them, you should be informed that your loved one is experiencing some form of neglect in their nursing home.

It is true that decubitus ulcers are considered preventable and the development of decubitus ulcers is evidence of some form of neglect. Many paralyzed or terminal individuals with very poor nutrition can be free of these ulcers. This can be accomplished by good patient care.

Bed sores are ulcers with diverse possible degrees of intensity, appearing upon human bodies. Decubitus ulcers by nature, these types often referred to as pressure sores. The severity of this type of sore ranges between a mild light red temporary place on our bodies which gets taken out within a couple of hours of removing the pressure to glaring ulcers which pierce deep into the human body exposing the particular internal bodily organs as well as bone tissues. This manner of sore could very well be incredibly painful, and the ones bedridden as a consequence of extented periods of sickness, paralysis and broken bones are even known to die through septic conditions occurring as a result of acute bedsores. Thus, understanding and using the correct treatment of health to avoid and get rid of these ulcerous lesions is extremely vital.
Signs and symptoms
There are 4 levels of a bed sore depending upon the degree of severity. The degree happen to be formally classified by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. The actual phases are the following.
Stage 1: The actual sore begins showing up like a prolonged pink or reddish skin. It may well itch or hurt, and also a touch within this vicinity may feel padded and warm.
Level 2: Skin loss begins occurring - both external and also inner layers of the skin start getting lost - and the pressure sores start resembling blisters.
Phase 3: The bed ulcer now goes deeply directly into the tissues underneath. A hollow wound is clearly visible. By at this point it really is quite painful.
Stage 4: By now there is damage to underlying muscles and also potential exposure of bones. The actual ulcer now is in extremely advanced stages.
Causes
Bed sores come from maintained pressure applied to a particular part of the body. These are typically seen to occur more above the portions possessing bones and cartilages. The leading factors behind these acute wounds are the following.
Pressure: Sustained pressure applied to some parts of the body is one of frequent reason for catching these ulcers. This particular happens most often within cases where the patient is immobile. Good examples of immobility are fractures and paralyses, to name just a few. The tissues under constant pressure get deprived of the specified levels of nutrients such as oxygen. This can lead to bed sores.
Friction: Friction happening often enough at given areas of the body could bring about these ulcerous wounds. Switching side-to-side constantly as well as skidding down the wheelchairs are some primary sources of harmful friction.
Prevention
They say, prevention is preferable to cure. Your better option to protect yourself against decubitus ulcers would be to protect oneself. Presently there are products specially created for these purposes. The exact unit to use would depend upon the actual depth as well as stage of the ulcer, including its level of severity and position of the sore wound on the body. Generally, medical insurances cover the price of such devices - but it is advisable to double-check with your insurance provider before you commit.
Last but not least, ignoring bed ulcers can lead to severe complications. Including but is not limited by cellulitis, sepsis, joint infections, bone issues as well as cancer. Therefore it is vitally important that you take adequate safety measures in order to save yourself from bed sores.

Continue reading "Bed Sores, Pressure Sores aka Decubitus Ulcers Can Be Septic Causing Death" »

Nursing home operator Skilled Healthcare has been ordered to pay more than $671 million for failing to provide adequate staffing at its assisted-living facilities.

A Humboldt California County jury returned the verdict Tuesday in the class-action lawsuit against the Foothill Ranch-based company, more than seven months after the civil trial began.

The lawsuit alleges that the company violated a California statue that mandates 3.2 nursing hours per patient per day.

Skilled Healthcare said the jury imposed $613 million in statutory damages and $58 million in damages for restitution. The jury will decide the extent of punitive damages next week.

"This is a really strong statement to Skilled Healthcare that they have to follow the law," said plaintiff's attorney Michael Thamer. "They need to know that they are going to be held responsible."

Skilled Healthcare Chairman and CEO Boyd Hendrickson said in a statement that the company is "deeply disappointed" in the verdict and believes its nursing homes are appropriately staffed.

"We strongly disagree with the outcome of this legal matter, and we intend to vigorously challenge it," he said.

The judge will decide later whether to issue an injunction that would require Skilled Healthcare to keep staffing levels in compliance with the law.

The complaint covers the period from 2003 to 2009 and represents about 32,000 patients at 22 facilities, including five in Humboldt County.

Skilled Healthcare is one of the country's largest nursing home chains, operating 78 nursing facilities in seven states and employing about 14,000 people.

Cindy Cool, who testified on behalf of her father, a patient at Eureka Healthcare and Rehabilitation before he died from complications of Alzheimer's disease, said she hopes the lawsuit will improve conditions for future patients.

"I'm so thankful for this," Cool said. "We just want our loved ones to be taken care of."

Continue reading "Skilled Nursing Facilities Ordered to Pay Record $ 671 Million For Understaffing" »

Contractures are a medical condition where a joint is held in a fixed position due to the shortening of a muscle or tendon due to stress exerted on the muscle or spasticity (uncontrolled muscle movement). Older patients and those with limited mobility are especially prone to develop contractures. Contractures most commonly form in the hands, feet, arms and legs.

Once an individual has developed contractures, little can be done to alleviate the problem aside from aggressive orthopedic surgery. Consequently, medical facilities (hospitals and nursing homes) should provide physical and occupational therapy to people who are at risk for developing contractures and to keep the body flexible.

Once a person has developed contractures they are at a heightened risk for developing bed sores, pressure sores also known as decubitus ulcers due to their bodies limited ability to move- with or without assistance. The rigidity that accompanies contractures generally means that many of the repositioning techniques commonly used to prevent bed sores, pressure sores and decubitus ulcers may be unfeasible. As a general rule, the more immobile an individual is, the higher likelihood they have in developing bed sores, pressures sores and decubitus ulcers and may be a case against any facility for neglect.

Bed sores, also known as pressures sores and decubitus ulcers occur when certain parts of the body (such as the tailbone, elbows, buttocks or heels) are put under pressure causing the skin to break down and become infected. In the most severe cases, bed sores can progress beyond the skin and affect the bone beneath. This can cause infection to the bone, and can even necessitate amputation if not treated. However, bed sores are entirely preventable with proper medical care and treatment.

One way to prevent the development of bed sores is by noticing a problem area and consistently turning the patient and changing his or her position. If you or someone you love has developed bed sores, pressure sores and / or decubitus ulcers and you believe it was due to the negligence or neglect of another party, you may be entitled to financial compensation under the law. Contact Steven Peck's Premier Legal toll free at 1.866.999.9085 to talk to an experienced California Nursing Home Abuse And Neglect Attorney.

Other causes of bed sores, pressures sores, and decubitus ulcers include the following:

A bed sore can develop if a patient remains in the same position for an extended period of time and cannot move without assistance. Patients must be turned or moved every two hours to prevent this kind of pressure from developing. Also, a good mattress and additional padding can help with prevention.

Excess moisture can lead to bed sores, pressure soress and decubitus ulcers. It is important for patient's skin to be kept clean and dry and free from urine or feces. The sheets must also be kept clean if the patient suffers from incontinence.
Poor nutrition can negatively affect skin health, which in turn makes a patient more susceptible to sores and infection.

Doctors, nurses and other health care practitioners have a professional responsibility to provide an optimal level of care to all patients. This includes elderly patients who are in need of extra care due to their feeble condition. When this is not done and dangerous conditions develop, you may be able to sue for nursing home abuse and neglect.

Osteomyelitis
When instances of nursing home neglect and abuse lead to bed sores, pressure sores, and decubitus ulcers says California Nursing Home Abuse and neglect Attorney Steven C. Peck patients are placed at a greater risk of contracting bacterial infections.

One of the most common bacterial infections associated with nursing home neglect is osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis is a bone infection caused by the bacteria which formed in the open wound of a bed sore. Symptoms of osteomyelitis include bone pain, high fevers, nausea, chills, excessive sweating, lower back pain, swelling of the ankles, feet and legs, and swelling, redness and warmth around the affected area.

Early detection and prompt treatment is crucial in the healing process of osteomyelitis. Testing should be conducted at the first sign of a possible infection. These tests may include blood cultures, bone lesion biopsies, bone scans, MRIs and needle aspirations of the area around the affected bone.

Once a patient has been diagnosed with osteomyelitis, antibiotics are commonly used in order to kill the bacteria that are causing the infection. If negligent care continues and the infection is not treated in a timely manner, the infection will spread. In these severe cases surgery may be needed to remove dead bone tissue. After surgery, the open space left by the removed bone tissue may be filled with a bone graft or packing material which will aid in the growth of new bone tissue.

With any surgical procedure that is preformed on a nursing home patient, there are risks of complications and additional injuries. If you or your loved one has had to have surgery as a result of negligent care received in a nursing home or hospital you should speak with one of our attorneys to learn what your legal rights and remedies may be.

Continue reading "Osteomyelitis Is a Bone Infection Caused By Bacteria Which Forms in the Open Wounds of Bed Sores, Pressure Sores, and Decubitus Ulcers" »

While bed sores do not directly cause osteomyelitis, the open wounds that accompany severe bed sores leave many patients susceptible to infection. Osteomyelitis is an inflammation of the bones that is caused by bacteria. In adults, the most common types of osteomyelitis causing bacteria are S. Aureus, Enterobacter and Streptococcus. In cases of severe bed sores (also referred to as decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers or pressure sores) the bacteria enters the body through the open wound and attacks the bone. Once the bone becomes infected, enzymes are released that restrict the bodies ability to heal. If left untreated osteomyelitis can spread into the bone marrow and surrounding joints says California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven C. Peck.

In order to provide the best prognosis, osteomyelitis must be identified as early on as possible. Early signs of osteomyelitis may be treated with antibiotics. More advanced cases may require surgical debridement. In severe cases of osteomyelitis, amputation may be required to prevent the infection from spreading. Sadly, the mortality rate for people with osteomyelitis related to bed sores is extremely high.

Continue reading "Open Wounds That Accompany Severe Bed Sores, Pressure Sores and Decubitus Ulcers Leave Many Elders Susceptible to Infection." »

Contractures are a medical condition where a joint is held in a fixed position due to the shortening of a muscle or tendon due to stress exerted on the muscle or spasticity (uncontrolled muscle movement). Older patients and those with limited mobility are especially prone to develop contractures. Contractures most commonly form in the hands, feet, arms and legs.

Once an individual has developed contractures, little can be done to alleviate the problem aside from aggressive orthopedic surgery. Consequently, medical facilities (hospitals and nursing homes) should provide physical and occupational therapy to people who are at risk for developing contractures and to keep the body flexible.

Once a person has developed contractures they are at a heightened risk for developing bed sores due to their bodies limited ability to move- with or without assistance. The rigidity that accompanies contractures generally means that many of the repositioning techniques commonly used to prevent bed sores may be unfeasible. As a general rule, the more immobile an individual is, the higher likelihood they have in developing bed sores.
(Taken from Jon Rosenfeld's wonderful elder abuse blog)

What are contractures? People who are physically inactive for long periods of time are at risk for developing contractures. Obviously, many nursing home residents suffer from inactivity due to mental infirmities or physical limitations. As a direct result of physical inactivity and the failure to regularly move a limb or joint through its full range of motion, muscle fibers begin to break down and joints begin to stiffen, which can lead to the affected limb slowly pulling toward the body and becoming rigid. It is not uncommon to see nursing home residents with contracted hands, arms, or legs, oftentimes leaving them in the "fetal position" making it very difficult to give them the care they require.

Are contractures preventable? Contractures are very painful and the process of restoring a person's range of motion can be excruciating. Consequently, prevention is substantially better than restoration. Sadly, many nursing home residents who suffer from contractions do so because some nursing home facilities lack a sufficient number of staff members or the staff members fail to provide the proper preventive measures. To prevent contractures, the nursing staff should properly assess the resident's risk for contractures and implement an individualized care plan. The purpose of the care plan is to make all nurses aware of the methods to use for that particular resident to prevent the resident from developing contractures. Periodically, the resident should be re-assessed and an updated care plan prepared, if needed.

Using the following methods can help prevent or lessen the severity of contractures:

EXERCISE

Range of motion exercises are arguably the most important weapon in preventing contractures. For residents in nursing homes, facility staff need to take the time to properly exercise and stretch the limbs and joints of immobile residents. Passive range of motion exercises (those which involve gently rotating the at-risk body parts clockwise and counterclockwise) should be performed at least twice a day. For example, to prevent hand contractures, each finger should be gently stretched and rotated as far as possible. Properly trained nurses and nurse aides should understand the dangers of contractures, the simple exercises that can be done to prevent them and the short amount of time it takes to perform these exercises. Nurse aides can perform some of these exercises while bathing the individual or while changing their clothes. Physical therapists, obviously, are more aware of the dangers of contractures and the exercises used to prevent them. For those residents at risk of developing contractures, nurses should seek assistance from the physical therapy staff.

POSITIONING

The position of nursing home residents is crucial. If a nursing home resident can sit in a chair, staff should make sure that the resident is properly seated with their feet resting comfortably on a flat surface, such as a foot lift. Dangling feet can lead to "tip-toe" contractures. To prevent leg contractures, the resident should not be allowed to sleep with her legs in a bent or twisted position. Rather, pillows or cushions should be placed between the legs to help prevent contractures.

SPLINTING

Splinting devices can be very useful in helping prevent painful and debilitating contractures. Examples of such devices include special boots and wrist splints can be used to help prevent fingers and toes from drawing up and stiffening. Knee and elbow braces are also an option to help keep those joints from stiffening in place, but will still allow the resident free range of motion.

Contractures can develop quickly and frequently affect the hands, feet, legs, and arms. In the event of a person who has severely contracted, restoration, if possible, can take up to one year and can be an excruciating process of the affected person. Splinting devices can help prevent your loved one from having to go through the pain of trying to reverse contractures.

If you have a loved one who is at risk for contractures or who has contractures, what should the nursing staff do?

According to nurse Suzanne Frederick, "Nurses should follow the nursing process by properly assessing the resident's risk for contractures and implementing an individualized care plan to prevent and/or treat the limited range of motion or contracture. Once a resident is recognized as at risk for contractures through proper assessments, the nursing staff should implement a range of motion exercise program for the resident based on his/her functional ability. The consistent implementation of the range of motion exercise program should be documented in order to evaluate the resident's response to this treatment."

In addition to common sense nursing practices, nursing homes should follow the federal regulations that apply to residents who have or who are at risk for contractures. For example, federal regulation 42 CFR §483.25(e)(2) states:

"Based on the comprehensive assessment of a resident, the facility must ensure
that -- A resident with a limited range of motion receives appropriate treatment and
services to increase range of motion and/or to prevent further decrease in range of
motion."

If you have a loved one who is at risk for contractures or who has contractures, what should you do?

• Insist that your loved one receive stretching exercises twice daily.
• Insist that all necessary preventive devices are used.
• Visit often and make sure that staff members are attentive to the needs of your loved one.
• Be respectful, but firm that your loved one receives the care they deserve.

Unlike some problems and physical limitations that can be easily reversed, contractures are an especially troublesome issue given the difficulty associated with reversing the process. Family members should not hesitate to ensure that their loved ones receive the care they need and are required.
(Taken From Jon Rosenfled's Elder Abuse blog)

More than 7.3 million older Americans -- one out of every five citizens over the age of 65 -- have been victimized by a financial swindle. Elder abuse is found in all socioeconomic and ethnic populations and as more baby boomers age, the problem is getting worse. It is everyone's moral responsibility to care about these at-risk residents.

What is elder abuse and neglect?

Elder abuse, as defined by the National Center on Elder Abuse, refers to intentional or neglectful acts by a caregiver or "trusted" individual that lead to, or may lead to, harm of a vulnerable elder. Physical abuse, neglect, emotional or psychological abuse, verbal abuse and threats, financial abuse and exploitation, sexual abuse, and abandonment are considered forms of elder abuse.

One single indicator may not necessarily point to abuse but again, according to the NCEA, any of the following may be warning signs of a problem:

-- Bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions and burns may indicate physical abuse, neglect or mistreatment.

-- Unexplained withdrawal from normal activities, a sudden change in alertness and unusual depression may indicate emotional abuse.

-- Bruises around the breasts or genital area can occur from sexual abuse.

-- Sudden changes in financial situations may be the result of exploitation.

-- Bedsores, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene and unusual weight loss are signs of possible neglect.

-- Behavior such as belittling, threats and other uses of power and control by spouses may indicate verbal or emotional abuse.

-- Strained or tense relationships and frequent arguments between the caregiver and elderly person are also signs.

.

Continue reading "Financial Elder Abuse: The Ultimate Elder Swindle" »

What is happening inside of our nursing homes and inside of our physical rehabilitation centers today would shock the average person. Right now, today, while you sit in your comfortable home reading this, someone your age, someone of your background is suffering at the hands of unscrupulous staff in nursing homes and in physical rehabilitation and care centers right in your own city.

In a recent matter, an elder women was put into a hospital due to bedsores. The home-health care agency that was in charge of trying to help her and keeping her safe, neglected to turn her or move her every two hours and as a result of that neglect, this woman was hospitalized when the bedsores got so bad they were life-threatening. Would you think that a sore could be life-threatening.? Yes, and this is especially so to seniors, fragile , ill people and to disabled people. This woman recently died. And she died not from illness, but from needing to be hospitalized due to horrible bedsores.

What permits this to go on? Sometimes it is indifference but most times what permits the abuses to go on is that people are not aware that this is happening. This article brings it to light, brings it to your attention and begs your participation in changing things for better and asks you to take small steps to save a life today.

As you are reading this, pause for just one moment and let me ask you this question: Are you one of those people who do not or will not believe that people are being treated so horribly in America? If you are, give yourself and everyone else the benefit of the doubt and read the article that is listed inside this link near the bottom of the page. Also, if you know any doctors, ask them if they would put ANY family members inside of a nursing home. You will have your answer there.

One of the biggest reasons that residents get more unhealthy and sometimes die in nursing homes is due to bedsores. And usually bedsores are a direct result from lack of care, lack of good nursing home management and supervision and under-staffing of rehabilitation and care centers. In other words, the management in these places is so lacking and so inexperienced at keeping people healthy, that they do not keep proper track of how often patients are moved and changed from side to side. Once residents are allowed to lay still for hours at a time, these patients develop sores, which most times never heal. Most times, these sores can be life-threatening. How? If a resident has diabetes or other serious physical ailments, these sores can cause the patient to be more unhealthy and unhealthy to the point where they can reach near death. And the horrible truth is that ALL of these sores are totally unnecessary and totally avoidable. All the rehab and care centers and nursing homes have to do is to turn patients and move patients every two hours and document such moves. However the bad rehab and care centers and bad nursing homes just let the patients rot immobile until they develop sores.

How do they get away with doing that? Here is what they do. They allow the patient to rot in bed, bringing breakfast and other meals to the room, not encouraging the patient to come out to the dining room. Then once they rot in bed, they begin to be able to not move or turn themselves. This happens over time to patients in these bad centers. Once they cannot move themselves, they are getting worse, more unhealthy and sometimes die due to ulcers and bedsores.

Injury happens; patients may need amputations due to bedsores if they develop into gangrene. And then the cycle goes over and over until the person dies. And the bad rehab and care centers get away with this action. And today, they are getting away with it over and over and over. How? They are getting away with it because many patients have no visitor that can see what the place is doing to the resident. And the really bad places try their best to stop the other patients from having visitors. What can you do about this?

You can help also by reading ALL the articles that talk about negligence and malpractice inside nursing homes. Print these articles here and have them circulated inside of libraries and other stores that give you permission to put these articles out there. If you are store owner, kindly post this article on your bulletin board and pass it around the colleges and other schools. Thank you for saving lives. If you work in a nursing home, I urge you to copy this and bring it inside the nursing home and circulate it amongst family members and visitors. Please spread the word. You can do this anonymously. Leave it in bathrooms in a safe place. Place one in peoples' rooms , of course with their permission. But spread this word about what is happening inside of these bad rehab and care centers and nursing homes. Pass the world, just like they passed the word about concentration camps, spread it person to person, business to business. Thank you, read more here.

The average person would wince if they knew the truth. The truth is that each and every day, there are nursing homes and physical rehabilitation and care centers that make people sick. Instead of helping the patients get better, they allow them to vegetate. When elder care abuse occurs in the nursing home or physical rehabilitation and care centers across the nation, that abuse is more apt to be "covered up" because there are entire teams of people to do the covering up. In other words, something happens inside of a rehabilitation and care center or nursing home; it happens at "one level" -- for example, inside a patient's room or in the bathroom or other solitary places, and only that staff person sees what that staff person is doing or has done.

Once this abuse is "discovered" within the physical rehabilitation center or nursing home -it is the nursing home's "job" to see that this abuse is not 'let out " to the public. After all, the staff, in reality is there to protect the nursing home's image and to protect the nursing home's finances and future FIRST -before they are there to protect the patients. Anyone who has been behind the scenes and inside of nursing homes can see that in most places or in lots of nursing homes -the staff does just that - protects staff and the corporation from social and financial losses.

One of the worst abuses that some rehabilitation and care centers commit are those abuses where they permit patients (who are able) to recline in bed all day just because it is easier for the staff to do that. Patients who come into the center in fair condition begin to lose muscle because they are permitted to recline in bed for many long hours during the day and night. These abuses are intolerable yet they still exist today in some centers and nursing homes.

Wheelchairs as Restraints: Another of the worst abuses in bad nursing homes is when they use wheelchairs as restraints. Wheelchairs are supposed to make residents lives easier and happier. They are not supposed to be used as restraints, but in the bad nursing homes and in the bad rehabilitation and care centers, the wheelchairs are restraints. Most of the residents on their long term care floor are basically prisoners and they wait for hours to go to the bathroom even though they are fully aware they have to go and they tell residents they have to go.

Most times, in these offending rehab centers, the residents are forced to wear diapers even if they do not want to wear a diaper. Would you want to wear a diaper if you did not need to wear one? No. But in the offending rehab centers, the residents are forced to wear them. Their other choice is to sit in their wet, cold clothing for hours and hours (because no staff brings them to the bathroom). The staff keeps the residents in wheelchairs and diapers as a matter of control, and as a matter of less work for them. (If a resident has no clean clothes, the resident (bound to his wheelchair cannot come out of the room and stays isolated in there). Once they are bound to their room, the staff has less work. That is one less resident that they have to care for. So watch out for places that use the wheelchair as restraints, because most likely they will use diapers for their convenience, even though some patients do not need nor do they want to be in diapers.

Discern: What is the difference between a place that is using wheelchairs as restraints and one that uses wheelchairs only when necessary? Look around. Go into many of the homes to visit. If you see tons of people in wheelchairs, just sitting around for hours (not for minutes), then you know that place is using wheelchairs as restraints. They make the people in wheelchairs wait and wait and wait and wait for ordinary living things like having meals or going to the bathroom. The good place that uses wheelchairs only when necessary has residents in wheelchairs too, except the residents do not have to wait for hours and hours to go to the bathroom. The waiting time is cut down, yet in the offending places, the waiting time is prolonged until no human being could wait that long.

Good verses Bad: That is the difference. And you will know as soon as you walk in whether the home really cares for residents or whether the home is just out to make money no matter what the residents feel like or look like. In the offending homes it is all about money. In the good homes, it is all about making residents and families comfortable. No one is making a blanket statement against all nursing home. However, the people who work inside of these nursing homes and care centers are well aware of what is happening. . This article is about the ones that are lacking in care, lacking in respect and about the ones that are daily breaking the law and on a daily basis violating the residents, patients and visitors' rights. There have been cases where staff inside of physical rehabilitation centers and nursing homes have purposely covered-up wrong-doings to protect their own jobs and to continue to collect money from insurance for the benefit of the corporations that owned the rehab centers and nursing homes.

Now, here's the news breakers that you might want to notice:

Inside some Nursing Homes and Physical Rehabilitation and Care Centers:

•There are some residents and patients who have to wait an HOUR or more or sometimes two hours in order to go to the bathroom. Sometimes when residents complain about the treatment or complain about the lack of care, the residents are punished for speaking out. This is why you will not hear the complaints of the residents who are presently inside these nursing homes and physical rehabilitation and care centers.
•There are some residents who are emotionally forced into wearing diapers because the staff lets them wait so long to go to the bathroom and the residents know this and thus they have to wear diapers against their will OR they have to sit in wet clothing for hours because no one can or will take them to the bathroom when they NEED to go to the bathroom
•There are sometimes walls of people in wheelchairs in the corridors. Some residents are put in 'recliner-type' wheelchairs which they cannot move. Some sit for hours and hours in a corridor with no one around. They are left in these chairs unattended, unable to move, unable to get out of the chair; they sit and just hope that someone passes by. Then, when and if they are permitted to have visitors, the place changes "atmosphere" and the staff makes it appear as if these residents are actually getting attention and care.
•There are some residents who are very afraid to speak up or to complain about these places because they have to be there all alone with the staff and SOMETIMES there are some staff who will retaliate against residents who complain about anything that happens behind the closed doors of these facilities. Speaking out is a punishable offense (though it is not legal, it still happens). Patients and residents are being punished for speaking out. Visitors and family members are being punished for speaking out. And this is the very reason why society needs to continue to speak out - for the protection of residents all over the United States of America and all over the world.
•There is a majority of staff -against a small amount of family members, so when it comes to complaining to staff, when family complains "verbally" , those complaints are and will be ignored; and when family complains in writing, those families are retaliated against and the facilities illegally stop visitors on false trumped up charges.
These are just a few of the horrible things that happen inside of some physical rehabilitation and care centers and some nursing homes , today and every day, or every other day. Yet, none of this is put in the newspapers. None of this is made public because families and residents and patients are afraid of further retaliation. So, where does the buck stop? Who can help these residents and families. What can you do about these horrible injustices? How can we help those people inside of nursing homes and inside of physical rehabilitation centers?So, how do you help change lives? How do you change the system that is damaging many seniors and disabled individuals? How can you look inside of a nursing home and or rehabilitation and care center and bring care to those that might not be receiving care? You can help and you can help today. YOU, yes YOU -- can make a big difference in this world today.Read and learn how you can help in this world today, help residents, help patients and help save a life today!

Beginning steps:

•Get together with your local community organizations and or churches or synagogues
•BRING this to their attention, and ask that a committee be formed. Have that committee arrange to go inside of nursing homes and into physical rehabilitation and care centers. Have them write and or call and ask for permission to bring visitors and programs inside of the facilities.
•Organize holiday concerts or programs that you can bring in during regular days, weekdays and weekends into any of these residences.
•Approach your local nursing homes and rehab centers and tell them that you want to help the residents become connected on the internet so they can contact their families which are usually in other states or countries.
•BRING as many visitors as you can bring in to visit these patients and residents, (Ask permission from relatives and then sign in at the security desk of the nursing home. Tell them what you are there for and they should lead you to where you are due).
Why You Would Want to Help:

Here is what we observed while visiting a physical rehabilitation and care center in the United States:

•Have you ever noticed that when the supervisors knew that visitors would be coming into the place, there seemed to be a 'mysterious' burst of extra employees and extra care and extra attention to residents while the visitors where inside the building. On ordinary days, when there usually was a lack of care or negligence due to lack of staff or missing staff or staff that just wasn't there or staff that was overworked -- that was the situation, but somehow , when the visitors were inside the building, there was an abundance (compared to regular days) of staff and everyone "seemed" to be attentive to residents and nicer to residents because they were putting on the "show' for the public.
•Have you ever noticed that once the visitors left the building (most visitors left even though there were many hours of visiting hours left , so one or two visitors remained), that the staff mysteriously got 'busy' somewhere else, and that is the time when residents were forced to wait one or two hours to be brought to the bathroom. If a resident needed a bathroom while a visitor is present, somehow that resident was able to get to the bathroom (while witnesses were there), but once all the visitors left -- the residents went back to having lack of care and to some possible negligence and or malpractice.
•One family member even overheard that one resident simply walked out of the rehabilitation center and the staff was not even aware that she was missing until she had gone miles from the place. No one noticed that this lady was missing! Imagine that? They were so busy doing other things, that they didn't have time to keep an eye out for a patient who obviously needed to be watched and cared for.
•Family members have told me that sometimes the staff made certain residents 'cry', that these residents were not crying when the visitors were there (there are witnesses when visitors come into these places). And no staff wants a resident crying or complaining while the visitors are present.
•Some have noticed that in some places, supervisors and administrators lie right to the faces of family. We noticed that most of the staff diligently covers up what happens as soon as they want to cover it up. We noticed many things that we cannot type here. But trust that it is all true.
If you visit and stay long enough inside some facilities, you will see that some facilities are guilty of lack of care -- at the minimum and guilty of more than that probably to this very day. Inside some nursing homes and inside some physical rehabilitation centers some residents are totally helpless and can not find anyone to complain to. effectively to (Even though the law provides avenues of complaints and even though the law provides departments and organizations that residents "CAN" complain to) Some of the residents are totally helpless and cannot safely and healthily make legitimate complaints about lack of care , so they remain there in their sad situation. The residents know that they have to stay there and that it is not easy or almost impossible to get out of there, so they are stuck with their complaints and stuck with their situations until visitors come to see them.

Help Save Lives and Help Change Lives Forever, try these:

•Ask your co-workers to form a team that will visit individual residents in places like these. Contact the caregivers and family members of the residents and tell them that you would like to begin visits to that nursing home and ask their permission to visit their family members who reside in those places.
•Ask your boss to begin a program where you work that will enable your workers to visit people inside of nursing homes.
•If you know Geraldo Rivera or if you know any other journalists or media people personally, ask them to help uncover the injustices that are happening on a daily basis throughout nursing homes in Staten Island, NY, and all along the east and west coast. Ask anyone you know that has finances or community backing to help you begin to organize groups of people that will legally go into nursing homes to visit people. Contact us if you need names of nursing homes that can use your help in saving lives.
•Advertise and seek out voluntary lawyers and legal professionals to help families deal with the red tape that some of the offending nursing homes and physical rehab centers dish out to families and residents who make legitimate complaints.
•IF you know anyone who does radio shows or tv shows, ask them for free time to talk about the abuse that happens inside of nursing homes, and ask them to put a call out to lawyers and to other professionals who will help to work for social change inside of nursing homes.
•ASK everyone you know to go and visit inside of nursing homes whenever and where ever possible. (always check with the families first and always obtain permission.
•Go through your community and ask all families who have people inside of these facilities if you have permission to write to these seniors. Donate stamps and envelopes to seniors and write back and forth to them. Keep them connected. This is extremely important. Ask the families if you can telephone these seniors or disabled individuals and then do that once you gain permission.
•If you are phoning someone at a nursing home and they never answer the pay phone, document that fully. Document how many times the phones ring and document how many hours or days or weeks it takes you to actually reach the resident.
•All of the above information will be quite helpful at Congressional and public hearings when they come up. You can save lives and you can change conditions. Please help in all these community projects.
•Write to us to share your ideas about what you or your organization are doing to help things get better. Share your information . You can help.
BY doing any and all of these things you will help change the conditions inside of nursing homes. Here's another way you can help. Be in contact with residents inside of these places. Reach out to isolated patients via email and via telephone calls. Contact is what changes things inside of nursing homes and inside of physical rehab and care centers. Contact someone today to begin your own project.

Here are people to contact:

1.Contact your Senator or your Congressman to ask for public hearings regarding the conditions inside of nursing homes and rehab centers. (When discussing the problems inside of nursing homes be sure to emphasize that you are speaking about physical rehabilitation and care centers also. These problems are not only restricted to nursing homes). When speaking of the issues, remember to use that wording "rehabilitation and care centers" or rehabilitation centers. This will make your investigations and reports more complete than if you just speak about nursing homes.
2.Contact any of your local community organizations and ask for help in changing conditions "behind the walls" of nursing homes. Go to your local community leaders and ask them where you can go to for help. Reach out to everyone you know in your neighborhood and ask for referrals. You will find the right person to help if you just keep asking as many people as you can ask.
3.Contact other families in your communities. Contact them through PTA meetings and contact them through business improvement meetings and contact them through various meetings that happen in your community. Once you contact them ask EVERYONE to participate in some way to help isolated nursing home residents. Ask some to write letters to Congress or to the Mayor. Ask others to contact patients' families and ask permission to visit. Ask the professionals, doctors, nurses and lawyers to come forth and say the truth about what happens behind the closed doors of those places. You can do it. You can help!
4.If you know a lawyer, or a professional worker, enlist them to help in this campaign against nursing home and physical rehabilitation centers abuses and malpractices.
Some simple ways you can help: First, Believe!

In order to help, you must believe. You will hear some incredible stories and they are true stories. You need to be able to listen to them and then to assure the patients or residents that you do believe what they are saying. This is some of the most valuable help that you can give someone -- first, believe. You can help by believing the resident. Once inside these places, when residents complain to their families about the mistreatment or lack of care, the first thing that some families respond with is 'disbelief" . After all, who would want to believe that PAID staff is not caring for their relatives. Who would want to believe that they put their relatives in a place that is possibly mistreating the relatives.

The best way you can help is believing the words of the residents when they complain that the nursing home staff is giving them lack of care or giving them abuse., believe them. Do not think that they are making up stories. Believe them. They are in no position to make up stories. They do not want to complain. They are afraid to complain about staff . So believe them. They feel safer complaining when you are there visiting them. So that's why they mention it to you. And then once you leave , they are left to stay there. So believe them. Take them at their word. That's how you can help. There are things happening inside of those centers that should not happen, yet they are there to witness it , and when you do not believe their words, when you doubt them, you take their hearts and dispose of them. So believe them. If someone is complaining to you about conditions inside of a facility, go and ask your Pastor, Priest or Rabbi how the community and how the church can help the residents. Please reach out to these people who need help. You can save a life today!

Handling the red tape of refusals:

•Diligently document times, dates, days, places and the people that you speak with. Put all your requests in writing to help document. For example, write a very friendly letter stating that you want to come in and entertain or be with residents as part of your community project or school project. Tell them when you would like to visit (and try to arrange these projects during times when there are no visiting hours). When the facility refuses to let you entertain the residents or visit with residents, later ask to do the same - visiting- during regular visiting hours.
•Document each and every request for each and every visit to each facility. Note the name and time and date of your request - and the name of the person that you speak with. Focus on one facility at a time. You can begin with those in the largest cities and work to those out in the country. We need help sending visitors into East Coast cities - those nursing homes that seem the hardest-hit. If there is any facility who refuses to cooperate , or any that seem to be hiding something, it would appear that those would be the ones needing the most help and the most visitors. (Connect with your lawyers and investigators in your own cities to see what kinds of help you can receive).Obtain permissions from any of the families and from any of the residents and patients that you wish to visit. And do this all year round. Visitors are needed every single day of the year, and especially on weekends.
•If you are in a position of political power, think about your own relatives who someday might wind up in a nursing home or rehab center. If you think you can avoid this malpractice by sending them to a good fancy home, you are mistaken. What affects one person affects all people. Please help spread the world.
For some interesting readings and reviews about nursing homes and about hospitals, check this site Please send visitors into your local rehab care centers and nursing homes today. They need as many visitors as possible. If you are a family member of a resident, ask all of your friends, relatives, co-workers and others to visit the patient. The more visitors, the better; have visitors taking turns, shifts and that will best protect the resident. I know it is hard to do this, but wherever possible, do it, and you will help better the quality of care inside of that particular rehabilitation and care center by sending more visitors inside the walls of that place.Please contact us and keep in touch so we can all benefit from your ideas and suggestions on these matters. Be sure to read part two of this article which is being posted as you read this. I need to hear from you. You can help improve conditions inside of nursing homes even if your nursing home stay was more than a year ago or five years ago. Your comments are so important to everyone. Kindly let me hear from you. Thank you. Author Melinda Thomas.

Continue reading "Bedsores, Pressure Sores and Decubitus Ulcers Are Caused By A Lack of Care and Nursing Home Management" »