A 40-year-old Colorado man has been arrested and sentenced to prison for elder abuse after he attacked and robbed an elder man at a movie theater restroom.

According to The Denver Channel, 81-year-old Arthur Maes was using the urinal in the restroom of a movie theater when he was attacked from behind by Jeffrey Sang Knouse. Knouse shoved Maes, who was using a cane for balance, knocking him to the ground and proceeded to grab the elderly man's wallet before running out of the building.

A surveillance tape of Knouse using the elderly man's credit card minutes after the attack was publicized and eventually led to an anonymous tip which helped in the arrested of Knouse. Once questioned by police officials, Knouse stated that the arrest was a relief as he was afraid of going to the movies or going out with his wife.

Contact our California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers if you know someone who's been a victim of elder abuse. Our attorneys have handled all types of elder abuse cases; we want to make sure that the caregiver or nursing home facility is held accountable and that the victim is compensated. Call us today at 888-444-7210 or fill out our FREE nursing home elder abuse case evaluation form.

Posted by Thomas Wallin at 10:03 AM | Permalink

The holiday season can be tough for families who have loved ones in nursing homes. California is the first state to publically post ratings of that particular facility. Depending on the quality of care, staffing and inspections, each nursing home will be giving from one to five stars. These ratings are intended to provide both patients and their family members with peace of mind by having them aware of their facility being in compliance of both health and safety laws. The Los Angeles Times states that "California is home to 1,235 federally rated nursing homes...Of those, 195 got the lowest rating, one start, and 187 got five stars". Nursing home officials and patient advocates home that the inspections and ratings improve within the upcoming year. Because elderly abuse can be prevalent in nursing facilities, the posted ratings will help each nursing home stay compliant, minimizing potential abuse cases. Although the ratings do help comfort patients and their family members, it is still recommended to speak with the staff members and to check out the facility to make sure it is what you or your loved one will be comfortable staying at.

Posted by Michael Young at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Abuse and neglect can also occur due to a number of untrained staff members.  New staff members may not understand dosage guidelines or when each patient is supposed to receive medication.  Without proper training and supervision from senior staff members, it is difficult to learn how to manage residents’ pain.  This can lead to delaying or missing pain medication distribution altogether.  Untrained staff members may also not be able to recognize the signs of abuse in a nursing home setting.  Because they may not be familiar with the management of senior citizens’ pain, they may not notice anything is amiss.  This leaves them unable to report abuse while it is occurring.  While working with new staff members is a difficult situation, it should never be used as an excuse for abuse or neglect.  If a loved one has experienced abuse at the hands of a nursing home employee, you should seriously consider contacting an Orange County nursing home abuse lawyer.  These legal professionals have a strong level of knowledge in the area of nursing home abuse and can discuss your potential case with you.  If the Orange County nursing home abuse attorney feels you have a strong case, he or she can walk you through the entire process.  While hiring an Orange County nursing home abuse lawyer does not guarantee a positive outcome, having the benefit of professional knowledge and experience with nursing home abuse can be a great help in preparing for your case.

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.

Continue reading "Training is Needed as a Primary Method of Combating Abuse" »

Posted by Michael Young at 6:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)