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« Suspicious Nursing Home Deaths |
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| Why Bed Sores Can Be a Sign of Neglect »
Nursing home employees need to be on the lookout for slips and falls by residents due many factors affecting nursing home residents. One factor is that elderly people can be injured more easily due to brittle bones and the loss of balance as their ages climb. Confused residents may get out of bed and not realize where they are or how to get back to their rooms. This creates potentially dangerous situations for residents because they may slip or fall on hazards, wet floors, or just from losing their balance and falling on the floor. Because the residents can’t control the fact that their bones are brittle and that they may get confused and get out of bed, it is up to nursing home employees to watch out for slips and falls. This means keeping a careful watch on residents, keeping rooms and hallways clear of obstacles, making sure wet floors are cleaned up immediately, and keeping the safety of all residents in mind at all times. The problem is, busy nursing home employees often don’t think of this because they are busy with the medical and emotional needs of residents. They may get busy giving out medicines, taking vital signs, and keeping good records for each resident, so preventing slips and falls often takes a back seat to what is going on in the day to day running of the nursing home. If nursing home employees and administrators would concern themselves with preventing these slips and falls, they would take place less frequently and residents would have an improved level of overall safety. If you feel your loved one’s nursing home does not have the proper steps in place to prevent slips and falls, contact a San Bernardino nursing home abuse lawyer to see what you can do to make your loved one safer. If you have questions or comments and have concerns about the care a loved on is receiving at a California nursing home facility please feel free to contact Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Michael Young for a FREE NURSING HOME ABUSE CONSULTATION on your nursing home abuse matter. The California Nursing Home Abuse Law Offices of Young and Wallin has offices throughout southern California to serve you including an elder abuse law office in Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino County. Mr. Young handles nursing home neglect cases throughout the state of California on a case by case basis.
« Nursing Home Sedative Use - Excessive or Necessary? |
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| Nursing Home Employees Need to Watch Out for Slips and Falls »
Nursing home deaths usually aren’t considered out of the ordinary because many people place their loved ones in nursing homes knowing that the loved ones are drawing near the end of their lives. Nursing homes are often facilities where the care of elderly residents is continued until they simply pass away from old age or from severe medical conditions. This is why deaths in nursing homes that actually are suspicious in nature are often not investigated. When a resident passes away, the only way anyone will look to see if the death is suspicious is if the family members make enough of a fuss to attract the attention of administrators. Then an autopsy may be done that may uncover bruises, scratches, cuts, and other signs of possible abuse. An in-depth exam may also reveal dehydration or severe malnutrition as the cause of death for the nursing home resident. This type of death is suspicious since staff members are supposed to be tracking the intake of every single resident each day. If malnutrition or dehydration were problems, the staff members should have been providing additional nourishment or additional fluids via an IV line in the resident’s arm. Unfortunately, suspicious deaths are often not uncovered or are uncovered too late to do anything about them. Having suspicious nursing home deaths is a violation of the trust that the family members of each resident placed in the administrators and staff members when each resident was admitted to the facility. If you feel the death of your loved one may have been suspicious, contact a San Diego nursing home abuse attorney to find out what your options are for taking action against the nursing home.
If you or a loved on has questions regarding a nursing home abuse matter, please contact Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Michael Young for a FREE Consultation. Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Michael Young is a featured speaker at many nursing home abuse seminars throughout California. The Nursing Home Abuse Law Offices of Young and Wallin handles cases throughout California including Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbra, Fresno, Sacramento, Orange County, Bakersfield and Ventura.
« Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Go Unreported? |
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| Suspicious Nursing Home Deaths »
Sedatives are drugs that are used to have a calming effect on nursing home residents and anyone who will be undergoing specific procedures. You may be given a sedative before a dental procedure or prior to undergoing a minor surgical procedure. Nursing home residents may be given sedatives prior to medical procedures or if they have become upset to the point where staff members cannot calm them down. Sedatives do have their proper place in nursing home care. They can really come in handy when residents are so upset that they become a harm to themselves or others in the facility. Sedatives can also be used prior to medical procedures that may induce panic or cause pain for residents. The problem is when sedatives are overused and residents are in a medicated state all of the time. Instead of taking care of the residents and their needs, neglectful staff members may use sedatives as a way of keeping residents quiet and calm. Sedatives can also cause sleepiness so the residents may sleep away their days, reducing the amount of time staff members need to spend talking with them and caring for them. This is where sedative use becomes excessive in nursing homes. When the sedatives stop being used for a calming effect prior to procedures or after panic attacks and start being used to control residents so that their care doesn’t become too difficult, that is when using sedatives becomes abusive. If you find that a loved one has been sedated unnecessarily, contact a Los Angeles nursing home abuse lawyer to get help with your case. For questions about Nursing Home Abuse in Southern California you can contact Southern California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Michael Young to discuss you or your loved ones situation. The Elder Abuse Law Offices of Young and Wallin serve all counties in Southern California, including nursing home neglect cases in Los Angeles, nursing home neglect cases in Riverside, nursing home negligence matters in Orange County, as well as San Bernardino and San Diego. Contact us if you would like more information on how you can put an end to nursing home abuse in southern California.
« No Help and No Supervision Mean Poor Care for Nursing Home Residents |
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| Nursing Home Sedative Use - Excessive or Necessary? »
If someone finds that a loved one has been abused or neglected by a staff member in a nursing home facility, it stands to reason that the family members will immediately report the abuse. This isn’t always the case with nursing home abuse situations for a wide variety of reasons. One of the major reasons is that the loved one begs family members not to tell for fear of retaliation or because of shame. Abuse can often lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and worthlessness. Abused residents can also feel that the abuse is their fault because they did something wrong or didn’t do something that a staff member wanted them to do. Whatever the specific reasons, many residents prefer to leave the abuse in the past and try to move on with their futures. Family members may also fear retaliation if nursing home abuse is reported. Instead of exposing their loved one to more severe abuse, these family members choose to keep the abuse to themselves. Other family members may question if abuse really happened, especially if their loved one has dementia or other conditions that can cause confusion in elderly people. While no one would think a loved one was making up abuse, some people may question how abuse occurred if the stories told by loved ones don’t match up with other circumstances. Not reporting abuse just allows it to continue and doesn’t do anyone any good, so please report nursing home abuse if you know it is happening. If you need help with finding more information on reporting nursing home abuse, contact a California nursing home abuse lawyer for more information on how to proceed. The Nursing Home Neglect Law Offices of Young and Wallin provides free consultations to all those in need. If you suspect a loved one may be the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse contact Mr. Young immediately to explore your options and preserve your rights. Elder Abuse Attorney Michael Young handles cases throughout California including Fresno, Bakersfield, San Diego, as well as nursing home abuse cases in Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Bernardino. Mr. Young is also will and able to handle nursing home neglect cases in Northern California including San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento.
« Differences in Studies Mean Abuse Statistics Aren't Complete |
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| Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Go Unreported? »
Most nursing homes have call lights or other signals for residents to use when they need help. If you are visiting a nursing home, pay attention to when these lights go on and how long they stay on before someone responds. If you see a light come on and immediately see an employee speaking with the resident over the intercom or going to the resident’s room to see what is needed, this may be a good sign that the employees are responsive to the needs of residents. If you see a call light go on and it stays on for a long time without being answered, this may be a sign that the employees are not as responsive to the needs of the residents as they should be. This can help you determine if the facility is a good fit for your loved one or if it should be avoided. In a good nursing home facility, residents are supervised by the employees. This may come in the form of organized activities for the residents or it may be in the form of specific employees being assigned to supervise a group of residents. If you see that the residents of a facility are in the company of staff members at all times, this is a good sign. It means that these employees are concerned with the safety of residents and do not want them to get injured as a result of being unsupervised. If you see residents wandering the halls alone or sitting in wheelchairs with no one around, this is a warning sign. The facility may not have enough employees or it may have too many residents, meaning that residents cannot be adequately supervised. If your loved one is already in a nursing home and has suffered from neglect or been injured due to a lack of supervision, report your claim to an Orange County nursing home abuse attorney to find out what steps you need to take to remedy the situation. The Nursing Home Neglect Law Offices of Young and Wallin provides free consultations to all those in need. If you suspect a loved one may be the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse contact Mr. Young immediately to explore your options and preserve your rights. Elder Abuse Attorney Michael Young handles cases throughout California including Fresno, Bakersfield, San Diego, as well as nursing home abuse cases in Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Bernardino. Mr. Young is also will and able to handle nursing home neglect cases in Northern California including San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento.
« Training in Communication Skills Can Lessen Abuse in Nursing Homes |
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| No Help and No Supervision Mean Poor Care for Nursing Home Residents »
Depending on the studies you read in your research of nursing home abuse, the statistics can be totally different from one study to another. You need to keep in mind that the studies are often funded by special interest groups or private citizens with an interest in publishing statistics that benefit their own special interests. Special interest groups fighting against nursing home abuse may publish studies that have high nursing home abuse statistics while nursing home facilities may publish their own studies with very low nursing home abuse statistics. You also need to keep in mind that some of the studies may only be for specific locations in the country or around the world or concentrate on a specific type of facility (i.e. public vs. private facilities). You need to review the details of each study as well as the details each study finds. This will help you to determine which statistics are as close to being accurate as possible. If you need more information on why nursing home abuse statistics are skewed, then you can contact a Riverside nursing home abuse attorney who will explain everything to you until you understand what you need to know. If you have questions or comments and have concerns about the care a loved on is receiving at a California nursing home facility please feel free to contact Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Michael Young for a FREE NURSING HOME ABUSE CONSULTATION on your nursing home abuse matter. The California Nursing Home Abuse Law Offices of Young and Wallin has offices throughout southern California to serve you including an elder abuse law office in Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino County. Mr. Young handles nursing home neglect cases throughout the state of California on a case by case basis.
« Better Medical Care Training Can Prevent Abuse and Neglect |
Main
| Differences in Studies Mean Abuse Statistics Aren't Complete »
Some nursing home residents have difficulty communicating their needs to staff members due to medical conditions that affect their ability to speak clearly or hear adequately. New staff members who have not been trained to communicate with residents that have these problems may become frustrated when they don’t understand what a resident needs. In a facility where these staff members are unsupervised and do not have any senior employees to consult with, this frustration may mount and cause new employees to treat residents harshly or abuse them verbally. If communication training is provided, employees can be shown alternate methods for communicating with someone who has speech or hearing problems. Knowing how to communicate properly with residents will take some of the frustration out of their jobs and help new employees care for their residents as best as possible. Nursing homes can provide specific training in preventing abuse to all employees. This can include how to prevent abuse from occurring on the part of each employee and how to prevent and report abuse if it is witnessed on the part of colleagues. Teaching employees how to handle stressful situations will play a big role in helping them to learn how to reduce their frustration and anger in a positive way instead of a way that may result in nursing home abuse or neglect. Nursing homes should also instruct employees on what to do if they see a coworker abusing a resident in any way. There should be an anonymous tip line or other anonymous reporting system in place so employees do not have to fear retaliation. The nursing home should pledge to investigate each report thoroughly and determine if abuse has occurred. If you feel that a staff member abused your loved one due to a communication issue, contact a San Bernardino nursing home abuse lawyer to find out what you can do to take action. If you have questions or comments and have concerns about the care a loved on is receiving at a California nursing home facility please feel free to contact Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Michael Young for a FREE NURSING HOME ABUSE CONSULTATION on your nursing home abuse matter. The California Nursing Home Abuse Law Offices of Young and Wallin has offices throughout southern California to serve you including an elder abuse law office in Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino County. Mr. Young handles nursing home neglect cases throughout the state of California on a case by case basis.
« Personal Problems of Nursing Home Employees Can Lead to Abuse |
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| Training in Communication Skills Can Lessen Abuse in Nursing Homes »
Nursing home employees who have a high number of residents with serious medical issues should know how to care for these residents in a medical emergency. This often means knowing specific procedures that should be used in the event of an emergency. Unfortunately, new employees may not have the experience needed to deal with these serious situations and may not know how to handle performing these medical procedures. If a lack of supervision exists, new employees may not feel that they can ask for help in learning the procedures. When this happens, any emergency becomes life-threatening since a new employee may freeze up and not be able to perform the procedure. By the time someone who is qualified to help arrives, it may be too late for intervention and the resident may suffer serious complications or even die as a result of delayed treatment. If nursing homes take it upon themselves to make sure all of their employees are properly trained in performing emergency medical procedures, they can reduce this risk of neglect. If you feel your loved one suffered serious consequences due to an untrained employee failing to perform a needed procedure, contact a San Diego nursing home abuse attorney to find out what you can do to hold the facility responsible for the consequences. The Nursing Home Neglect Law Offices of Young and Wallin provides free consultations to all those in need. If you suspect a loved one may be the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse contact Mr. Young immediately to explore your options and preserve your rights. Elder Abuse Attorney Michael Young handles cases throughout California including Fresno, Bakersfield, San Diego, as well as nursing home abuse cases in Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Bernardino. Mr. Young is also will and able to handle nursing home neglect cases in Northern California including San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento.
« Residents with Special Needs May Be Neglected More Often |
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| Better Medical Care Training Can Prevent Abuse and Neglect »
Nursing home employees have personal problems just like everyone else. They may be facing financial issues, divorce, problems raising children, issues with caring for elderly parents, and a number of other issues that can add stress to their lives. Some nursing home employees are able to leave their personal problems behind when they come to work, but others allow their frustration to become apparent when they are caring for residents. The frustration of their personal problems, coupled with the frustration they may feel with the residents they are caring for, can cause nursing home employees to lash out at residents either emotionally or physically. Other abuse can also occur due to personal problems. For example, an employee experiencing financial problems may use extortion or psychological abuse as a means of getting money or other valuables from a resident so they can pay outstanding bills. If an employee’s personal problems cause fatigue, he or she may end up neglecting the needs of residents during each work shift. Personal problems are never an excuse for abusing or neglecting elderly nursing home residents. If your loved one has experienced nursing home abuse, contact a Los Angeles nursing home abuse lawyer to find out how to hold these individuals responsible and take action against the nursing home for failing to provide proper supervision. For questions about Nursing Home Abuse in Southern California you can contact Southern California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Michael Young to discuss you or your loved ones situation. The Elder Abuse Law Offices of Young and Wallin serve all counties in Southern California, including nursing home neglect cases in Los Angeles, nursing home neglect cases in Riverside, nursing home negligence matters in Orange County, as well as San Bernardino and San Diego. Contact us if you would like more information on how you can put an end to nursing home abuse in southern California.
« How a Heavy Workload Can Lead to Abuse and Neglect |
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| Personal Problems of Nursing Home Employees Can Lead to Abuse »
Some nursing home residents are able to do many things on their own and are in a nursing home because they need help with a medical condition or just can’t live alone due to their medical needs. Other residents are in nursing homes because they have extensive medical and psychological needs that cannot be cared for by family members who are not trained medical professionals. When an employee is faced with caring for several residents with a high level of needed care each shift, resentment and frustration can build up because of the number of things that must be done for each resident. Employees may be frustrated further if their colleagues seem to get the residents with little need for extensive care while they must provide round the clock care for their patient loads. When this frustration exceeds a certain level, employees may take it out on residents by yelling at them, becoming physically forceful, or by expressing their anger verbally. This is unacceptable in any nursing home, so contact a California nursing home abuse attorney to find out what you need to do to take action against the nursing home facility. If you or a loved on has questions regarding a nursing home abuse matter, please contact Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Michael Young for a FREE Consultation. Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Michael Young is a featured speaker at many nursing home abuse seminars throughout California. The Nursing Home Abuse Law Offices of Young and Wallin handles cases throughout California including Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbra, Fresno, Sacramento, Orange County, Bakersfield and Ventura.
« Choosing a Good Nursing Home for Loved Ones |
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| Residents with Special Needs May Be Neglected More Often »
One of the factors that can contribute to stressful working conditions for nursing home staff members is the presence of a very heavy workload. This workload is often so heavy because there are not enough staff members employed by the facility and the existing staff members must pick up extra residents in their patient load to make up for this lack of employees. When a nursing home employee must care for several residents, many with a number of medical or psychological conditions, the stress can take its toll on the behavior of these staff members. Neglect may come as a side effect of a heavy workload because employees may not be able to handle all of the needs of each resident they are caring for if they are caring for too many at one time. Frustration can also build up in employees that are trying to do their best to care for many residents and they may snap if a resident is difficult or starts behaving uncontrollably. While being stressed out by a heavy workload is understandable, there is never any justification for nursing home abuse or neglect. If your loved one has suffered abuse or neglect because of the heavy workload of nursing home employees, contact a Riverside nursing home abuse lawyer to find out how you can make the nursing home take responsibility. If you have questions or comments and have concerns about the care a loved on is receiving at a California nursing home facility please feel free to contact Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Michael Young for a FREE NURSING HOME ABUSE CONSULTATION on your nursing home abuse matter. The California Nursing Home Abuse Law Offices of Young and Wallin has offices throughout southern California to serve you including an elder abuse law office in Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino County. Mr. Young handles nursing home neglect cases throughout the state of California on a case by case basis.
« Bed Sores and Bruises: Both Signs of Nursing Home Abuse? |
Main
| How a Heavy Workload Can Lead to Abuse and Neglect »
When residents spend all of their time alone in their rooms, there is no opportunity for them to develop better social lives. Socialization and activities are very important in the lives of nursing home residents because they prevent isolation and they can also help prevent depression and other problems associated with a lack of participation in social activities. If you visit a nursing home where there are no planned activities and you see residents just sitting in front of a television or lining the hallways in wheelchairs, the facility is probably not a good choice for your loved one. If you visit a facility and there is a schedule of events and you see residents participating in activities with each other and nursing home employees, there is a good chance that the staff members really do care about meeting the total care needs of all of the residents. This won’t guarantee that abuse or neglect won’t occur, but it can reduce the chances. If you go to a facility and you see staff members responding to the needs of residents quickly, interacting with them, trying to provide a cheerful environment for them, and doing whatever they can to make sure residents are comfortable, you’ll be more comfortable knowing that the facility may be a better place for your loved one. While your visit can be a good test for how the facility is run before you pick a nursing home, abuse can still occur once you have placed your family member in a home. Stay involved with their care and make regular visits to check on their progress and condition. If abuse does occur, contact a San Bernardino nursing home abuse attorney for help in resolving the situation and preventing further abuse. If you have questions or comments and have concerns about the care a loved on is receiving at a California nursing home facility please feel free to contact Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Michael Young for a FREE NURSING HOME ABUSE CONSULTATION on your nursing home abuse matter. The California Nursing Home Abuse Law Offices of Young and Wallin has offices throughout southern California to serve you including an elder abuse law office in Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino County. Mr. Young handles nursing home neglect cases throughout the state of California on a case by case basis.
« Stop the Abuse Cycle in Nursing Homes: Report Abuse to Authorities |
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| Choosing a Good Nursing Home for Loved Ones »
Bed sores occur when a person remains in the same position without moving for an extended period of time. These sores are caused by friction on the skin from sheets, blankets, and clothing and can also be caused by the pressure of being in the same position for long periods. According to many physicians, most bed sores are entirely preventable and occur only when patients are not monitored and moved at regular intervals by nursing home staff members. If you see bed sores on your loved one, it may indicate that the nursing home staff has not been paying close attention to caring for and monitoring this person. While some people bruise easily, unexplained bruises can also be a sign of nursing home abuse. When nursing home staff members are angry with and abuse patients, they can sometimes restrain them or use physical force to make them comply with directions. Bruises can also be caused by falls that happened when residents were not being supervised properly. Many of these falls could have been prevented if the staff members were caring for the residents appropriately. If you feel a loved one has had too many unexplained bruises, contact an Orange County nursing home abuse attorney to find out the next step to take. The Nursing Home Neglect Law Offices of Young and Wallin provides free consultations to all those in need. If you suspect a loved one may be the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse contact Mr. Young immediately to explore your options and preserve your rights. Elder Abuse Attorney Michael Young handles cases throughout California including Fresno, Bakersfield, San Diego, as well as nursing home abuse cases in Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Bernardino. Mr. Young is also will and able to handle nursing home neglect cases in Northern California including San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento.
« Lack of Training and Aggressive Emotions Lead to Abuse |
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| Bed Sores and Bruises: Both Signs of Nursing Home Abuse? »
Reporting abuse should be done as soon as possible to prevent it from happening again. If you feel the nursing home administrator would work on your behalf instead of protecting their own legal and monetary interests, a personal meeting with an administrator can help you to clear up any issues and make sure that the administration is aware of abusive staff members. If you fear retaliation against your loved one and want to stop the abuse in its tracks, you can report abuse to a state agency of the nursing home is a state facility. This can make administrators at a higher level aware of the problems and make sure they take action to ensure that abuse doesn’t happen again. If you don’t get anywhere using these avenues, you can talk to a Riverside nursing home abuse attorney about your options for reporting the abuse. A skilled Riverside nursing home abuse lawyer will be able to help you learn how to report the abuse and can also document your information so that it is on record in the event that you feel you need to file a claim against the nursing home. In this type of case, a qualified San Diego nursing home abuse attorney will become a trusted confidant that can help you to improve the quality of life of your loved one and hold the nursing home responsible for the actions of unsupervised staff members. The Nursing Home Neglect Law Offices of Young and Wallin provides free consultations to all those in need. If you suspect a loved one may be the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse contact Mr. Young immediately to explore your options and preserve your rights. Elder Abuse Attorney Michael Young handles cases throughout California including Fresno, Bakersfield, San Diego, as well as nursing home abuse cases in Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Bernardino. Mr. Young is also will and able to handle nursing home neglect cases in Northern California including San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento.
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