Elder Abuse Lawyers: Woman Assaults Man with Two-By-Four

When most people think of elder or nursing home abuse, they think of a disabled or elderly resident of a nursing home who is being taken advantage of physically, mentally or financially. While these are the majority of cases that elder abuse lawyers come across, it is important to remember that any form of abuse or assault that is inflicted on someone over the age of 70 can be considered elder abuse.

Woman Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison after Abusing 91 Year Old Boyfriend

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On Tuesday, September 27, 2011, forty-six year old Amy Lynne Dunlap was convicted of elder abuse and sentenced to seven years in prison. She was convicted for hitting her 91 year old boyfriend Robert Palacio Jr. with a two-by-four after an argument on April 14. After the fight, Palacio went into the attic to avoid Dunlap, but as he was climbing down the ladder from the attic Dunlap hit him in the head twice with the two-by-four piece of wood. Injuries sustained included two cuts on his head, one above the left eye and the other on top of his head. According to prosecutors, the elderly man never left the hospital after his head injuries and died on April 25 of atherosclerotic heart disease. Dunlap was initially charged with inflicting corporal injury on a cohabitant and assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to cause great bodily injury. Her charge had an enhancement because the victim was older than 70 years of age.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently being taken advantage of physically, or they are a resident of a nursing home and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers:Columbus Manor received 11 Health Citations

There are many codes and requirements that nursing homes need to meet in order to keep their license to operate. They are monitored by the local department of health in order to regulate the facilities and make sure they are keeping the safety and health of their residents their first priority. As nursing home abuse lawyers , we want to remind you when looking for a facility for yourself or a loved one to research past citations.
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Columbus Manor Residential Care Home has been cited by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for not complying with 11 federal requirements that nursing homes must obey in order to participate in the Medicare program. Based on inspection surveys in April, July and August, violations were found that involved resident rights, quality of life issues and the physical environment of the facility. In July they found a pool of standing water in the boiler room and laundry room with an extension cord plugged into an outlet and an electric fan going through the puddle. They also found ten pounds of non-dated chicken, ground beef and other food. In August the facility was cited for failing to supervise a resident, who was a registered sex offender with history of sexual aggression, after he left the home without permission and was hit by a car. The resident was admitted to the hospital for a knee fracture. The facility then failed to create a care plan to prevent an incident like this from happening again.

Facility Fixes Problems and Avoids Serious Punishments

Columbus Manor would have been removed from the federal Medicaid program if the health citations were not rectified by October. But after the August survey, the nursing home submitted their plan for how the violations will be corrected and the health department confirmed that the improvements were made and waived the 11 citations. According to Melaney Arnold, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health, it is not uncommon that deficiencies are waived once the facility has corrected the problems. She said “Sometimes it’s just trying to train the staff of a new policy written – some of those things are easily correctable.” But according to Elce Redmond, an organizer for the South Austin Community Coalition, Columbus Manor has had “massive problems” for the past few years and “it’s a shame residents live the way they do.” It is a shame that it takes the government stepping in and threatening these facilities for them to actually fix such obvious problems.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have witnessed any questionable conditions or abusive behavior in a nursing home, directed towards your loved one or even another resident, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers: CFO Steals $52,000 from Facility

Putting a loved one in a nursing home or long term care facility is a very hard decision to make. You are giving up control and trusting the staff and administrators to look after the best interest of someone you care so much about. As nursing home abuse lawyers, we see some heinous acts of abuse and neglect. Where most physical abuse is the result of frustrated and overworked nurses and direct care workers, we are finding that administrators and other officials are abusing their power to gain financially from the home. They are taking facility funds away from the elderly and disabled residents and putting them into their pockets.

Nursing Home Official Received Fraudulent Expense Reimbursements

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Perry Vandeventer, 64, is the former chief financial officer for Shepherd of the Valley nursing home who is being charged with two felony counts of larceny and obtaining property by false pretenses for stealing almost $52,000 from the facility between March of 2008 and January of 2011. He acquired fraudulent expense reimbursements totaling $23,719.66, allegedly receiving the money by submitting fake receipts for contractors who never did any work, obtaining cash advances for travel of trips he didn’t take, education expenses and obtaining money for purposes unrelated to the facility. He also used two of the home’s credit cards to purchase personal items including a computer, books, personal cell phone, meals, vehicle repairs and fuel totaling $28,080.05. He is facing more than ten years in prison if convicted of these charges.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have witnessed any questionable or abusive behavior in a nursing home facility directed towards your loved one or even another resident and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Elder Abuse Lawyers: Neglect Leads to Bed Sores, Gangrene, and Amputation

As elder abuse lawyers, we always find it disheartening when adult children abuse or neglect their elderly parents. Siblings Kevin Roberson, 42, Alan Roberson, 54, and Connie Roberson, 51 are being charged with criminal abuse of an elderly person, which is a felony with a possible sentence of ten years in prison. The three siblings are currently in jail with each of their bail set at $250,000. In addition, each of them is forbidden from having any contact with their mother, Martha Robinson.

The three siblings were in charge of caring for their 77 year old mother from June 18, 2011 to October 2, 2011. During this time, they failed to make sure that their mother was properly fed, bathed, or taken care of medically. In general, she became the victim of severe and egregious neglect.

Severe Case of Abuse Worst Senior Services Employee Has Ever Seen

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Barbara Kolaski, Senior Services Elder Abuse Supervisor who has worked with seniors for 40 years, said that this is the worst case of neglect that she has ever seen. The abuse was uncovered when Martha was brought to the hospital on Sunday, October 2. There, they found three shocking pressure wounds. There was a three-inch deep sore on the elderly woman’s tailbone that was black, red and purple. Her right leg was black from gangrene and later had to be amputated.

It is horrifying to think that Martha Robinson endured this pain and suffering at the hands of her own, grown children. Unfortunately, facilities that are paid to care for your loved ones can be guilty of the exact same thing; egregious neglect that leads to devastating consequences.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently under the care of an individual or they are a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate you should speak with our professionals. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Elder Abuse Lawyers: Advocate Group Distributes Hearing Devices

Elder and nursing home abuse prevention and awareness are vital in stopping the elderly and disabled from being taken advantage of or neglected. As elder abuse lawyers, we try to increase knowledge and provide prevention tips and warning signs to help keep your loved ones from falling victim to abuse. It is always rewarding to read about an individual or organization that is actively helping the fight against elder abuse.

Anonymous Donation Buys 200 Hearing Devices for Elder Abuse Advocate Group

new jersey philadlephia elder abuse lawyers advocate group hearing devices The Schuylkill Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance will be distributing personal amplification devices in order to help law enforcement and emergency personnel communicate more efficiently with hearing-impaired individuals. Thanks to an anonymous donation, the alliance will be purchasing 200 SuperEar 4000 amplification devices, which cost about $40 each. The devices are portable, battery operated, and consist of a headset, which the elderly person wears, and a small microphone that is held. They will be distributed free to all county police departments, state police barracks, hospital emergency rooms, Advanced Life Support services, the Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services Protective Services Unit, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, district attorney’s office, victim advocate and victim witness coordinator.

According to Carolyn Tenaglia, a member of the alliance, these devices are going to be a big help for officials to communicate with the hearing impaired in crisis situations. Gaining detailed and accurate information from victims of elder abuse is very important and when the victim is hearing impaired, this can be a challenge. Hopefully these devices will help the process. Tenaglia further explains,

“They are easily kept in a police car, easy to use, don’t take up a lot of space, and you simply replace the small battery when you need too. We try to educate the community about elder abuse, try to help law enforcement so they can more successfully prosecute people who are committing the crime of elder abuse.”

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident of a nursing home or care facility, we encourage you to visit frequently and be very observant of any scratches, bruises, or anything that does not look right. If you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate and would like to speak to an elder abuse lawyer, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Elder Abuse Lawyers: Man Arrested for Burning Father with Cigarette

As you get older and need to depend more on your loved ones for help, there are a lot of things that you need to watch out for to protect yourself from elder abuse. As elder abuse lawyers, we are trying to provide as much knowledge about this growing problem as we can. No one wants to believe that their adult children would take advantage of or hurt them in any way, but it occurs more often than most people think. Elderly adults with children that live far away are at a higher risk to be abused. When one child is handling the day to day care and the other lives far away, they can be in the dark about how their parent is being treated.

Delusional Man Abuses Father for Calling Him an Obscene Name

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Tracy Gerard Chapman, 46 years old, was arrested on Friday, September 30, 2011 for a charge of elder abuse. He is being accused of abusing his 82 year old father, Jack Chapman, who is partially disabled because of a stroke. According to a report from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Tracy Chapman burned his father on the back of the neck with a lit cigarette because his father was yelling at him to stop insulting his brother Stephen who lives in Kansas and called him an obscene name. The heated altercation occurred on September 26, 2011, but when the brother found out about the abuse on Friday, he called local authorities to check on his father. Jack Chapman told the police that his son has also hit him in the past and recently hit him on the leg a few weeks ago. When examined, no other injuries were found on the elderly man’s body other than the burn.

While being investigated by authorities, along with explaining why he burned his father, Tracy Chapman insisted that he was the son of Elvis. He told the deputy that this “has always caused him trouble in the past.” The deputy said that Chapman “was somewhat delusional [but] otherwise appeared to be in control of his faculties and able to provide oral statements of what had occurred.” Tracy Chapman has been charged with knowingly and willfully abusing an elderly person by intentionally inflicting physical injury.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently under the care of an individual or they are a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate you should speak with a professional. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation with one of our elder abuse lawyers at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Elder Abuse Lawyers: 91 Year Old Dies Due to Daughter’s Neglect

Sadly, it is far too common that adult children neglect their aging parents. As elder abuse lawyers, we know too well that caring for someone in their old age is a daunting task and takes a lot of effort and dedication. Adult children want to think that they are the best person to care for their parents, but sometimes they get frustrated or overwhelmed and begin to neglect or abuse their loved one.

Daughter Goes on Two Week Vacation and Leaves Elderly Mother Alone

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In 2008, Susan Piro left her 91 year old mother, Barbara Mary Piro, home alone for two weeks while she went on vacation. Susan, a nurse and Barbara’s sole caretaker, was fully aware that her mother was not able to take care of herself, admitting that she would not be able to wash or change her clothes while she was gone. Susan left casseroles, fruit, biscuits, and canned food on her mother’s bedside table for her to consume. She left a toilet in the room and fit her for incontinence pads but acknowledged that her mother would not have been able to empty the waste from the toilet herself.

The elderly woman’s great nephew, Andrew Ghouse, came to the house to check on Barbara but did not enter the home. He asked her if she needed anything but she insisted that she was fine and responded “If I need your help, I’ll ask for it.” When he returned a few days later the woman had died. The coroner found that Piro had an untreated broken ankle, where the bone was exposed, that prevented her already limited mobility. This led to abscess formation, pressure sores and fatal thrombosis.

It is appalling that Susan felt that the accommodations that she made for her mother were acceptable. If she was going to leave her mother for that period of time, she should have found another caretaker to watch her the entire time. She clearly knew that her mother was not capable of caring for herself for a few days, let a lone a few weeks. This is unacceptable, no matter how much her mother fought her to be left alone. No one should have to suffer in that way. Barbara died alone, unable to move, in her own filth, surrounded by rotting food.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently under the care of an individual or they are a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate you should speak with an elder abuse lawyer. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation with one of our elder abuse lawyers at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Elder Abuse Lawyers: California Developing Website to Report Abuse

Every state operates differently. Elder abuse lawyers and state officials advocating for the elderly are always looking at the procedures of other states to find out what is working in the fight against abuse and neglect.

New legislation is waiting the approval of the governor in California to develop a secure website for police, doctors, and other authorities to report suspected elder abuse and neglect. The current system in California, and in a good portion of the country, involves a phone call to the state’s elder abuse hotline to report all forms of suspected abuse. The biggest flaw with the hotline, however, seems to be that, because it is used by both lay citizens and legally obligated authorities to report abuse or neglect, callers deal with long wait-times which in turn causes frustration and hang-ups.

The proposal in California suggests a reporting website for police and other civic authorities which would eliminate a large portion of the callers and lessen wait times, allowing the public to speak to a representative faster. The goal, of course, would be to create an easier reporting process for individuals with information, reducing the number of hang-ups and encouraging more people to come forward. According to a 2010 study of county calls, one in four callers hang up rather than wait while they are placed on hold. Developing a website and separating callers would also speed up the reporting process for doctors and police who do not have time to sit and wait through hour-long wait times to report suspected abuse.

“This effective reporting system will ensure that our seniors’ voices are heard and abuses are not overlooked,” said Sen. Juan Vargas, a San Diego Democrat who carried the bill.

Reporting Elder Abuse in New Jersey

As elder abuse lawyers, we know how frustrating the long wait times can be for the elder abuse hotlines. Phone representatives for these hotlines work very hard to keep up with an influx of calls while getting all necessary details, but this often results in a lot of waiting. Approving proposed legislation to ease the process almost seems like a no-brainer. Elder abuse lawyers at the Mininno Law Office hope to see that this legislation is passed and similar systems start to pop up nation wide.

The New Jersey Ombudsman’s Office works to investigate allegations of elderly abuse and neglect. You can report any suspicions anonymously by calling their 24 hour toll-free hotline toll at 1-877-582-6995, or emailing at ombudsman@advocate.state.nj.us. We feel that anonymity is very important for those who could lose their job or feel uncomfortable revealing potential elder abuse. The problem with the current New Jersey system is that the only way to anonymously report abuse is to call and wait to speak to a representative. A website similar to the one being proposed in California for the general public would allow someone to report abuse over the internet without having to use their email address. An anonymous secure website would be an efficient and quick way to report elder abuse to state authorities.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate , contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation with an elder abuse lawyer. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse and the State Ombudsman

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By definition, an ombudsman is a government official who hears and investigates complaints by private citizens against other officials or government agencies. In the state of NJ, an ombudsman works on behalf of the elderly in nursing homes and long term care facilities through the The Office of the Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly. This office accepts reports and complaints of nursing home abuse, negligence, inadequacy, theft, fraud, and other issues concerning the care residents receive in nursing homes and long term care facilities. The office invesitigates these reports of abuse and neglect from a neutral, third party stand-point, and takes the proper steps in the event that abuse is taking place.

I am a Victim of Nursing Home Abuse, What Should I Do?

If you or someone you know have been abused or neglected in a nursing home, the first thing you should do is contact the Elder Ombudsman’s Office. They will document the complaint, and take further steps to investigate it. Your next step is to contact a nursing home abuse attorney.

The NJ and PA nursing home abuse attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are dedicated to eradicating the disturbing trends of abuse and neglect in our nation’s nursing homes and long term care facilities.

Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, and (215) 567-2380 in Philadephia.

New Jersey Office of the Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly
To file a complaint:
Call 24-Hour Toll Free Hotline: 1-877-582-6995
Email: ombudsman@advocate.state.nj.us
Write: The Office of the Ombudsman
P.O. Box 852
Trenton, NJ 08625-0852
Fax: 609-943-3479

Pennsylvania Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Pennsylvania Department of Aging
555 Walnut Street, 5th floor
Harrisburg, Pa. 17101-1919
(717) 783-8975

Elder Abuse Lawyers Report on Man Killed by Bed Sores

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As elder abuse lawyers, we’ve seen and heard it all when it comes to nursing home residents and bedsores. But occasionally, a story or case comes along that is so severe it shocks us. Ross Rasmussen, 58, is facing charges of severe elder abuse after the death of an 86 year old manunder his care.

The man suffered a stroke that left him unable to move or speak. He was staying in a “remotely-operated” care home where Rasmussen worked. Rasmussen is a registered nurse and was the case manager for the man which meant that he was supposed to monitor his condition and provide the necessary care. Rasmussen is pleading no contest to the second-degree assault charges that say he failed to provide that care from July 2007 to October 2007. Rasmussen maintains that he checked on the man every month, as required, and on his last visit on September 11, 2007, there were no signs of bedsores. “If I had known there was a problem, we would have done something about it,” he said in court.

But on October 12, 2007, the elderly man was found unconscious and taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center. There, they found the man plagued with more than 11 bedsores. The bedsores covered his entire back side, from shoulders to heels. One of his heels actually developed gangrene. The man died three days later. Deputy Attorney General Dawn Shigezawa said, “Many of them were stage four, meaning it went through tendon all the way down to the bone. By the time he got to the hospital, he was too late to be saved. It was a horrible way to die.” Rasmussen has been ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and was placed on five years’ probation.

Caretaker Fails to Provide Bare Minimum Care

According to Shigezawa:

“The state’s position is that the defendant flat out did nothing…Basically, any RN (registered nurse) worth his salt as a professional would have at least noticed his wounds due to the severity. If Mr. Rasmussen basically did the minimal check and looked down his hospital gown, he would have noticed it…It wouldn’t have taken much. It was just a case of severe neglect.”

Late stage bedsores take a significant time to develop and Rasmussen should have known that a patient that is physically immobile is at a high risk of bedsores and needs to be turned multiple times per day. Monthly visits are not enough to prevent such a horrible outcome and Rasmussen did not fulfill his obligation as a caretaker.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently under the care of an individual or they are a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate, you should speak with our professionals: contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation with one of our elder abuse lawyers at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.