Bedsores in NJ Nursing Homes are a Sign of Abuse and Neglect

new jersey philadelphia bedsores pressure sores nursing home abuse lawyers — Bedsores are a sure sign of nursing home abuse and neglect in a long term care facility.

A Bedsore, also known as a pressure sore or pressure ulcer, is defined by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel as a localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear and/or friction.
In laymen’s terms, it’s a wound that forms when someone spends too much time in a bed without moving or changing position.

Bedsores or Pressure Sores are often located on bony prominences because these places suffer the most from oxygen deprivation due to lack of blood flow. Think of when your leg falls asleep after you’ve been sitting on it for a while. You move your leg to allow the blood to return to it.
But a bedridden patient that is unable to move themselves must be cared for meticulously, being moved and turned every two hours, to keep areas like the lower back, heels, and elbows, from becoming oxygen deprived.

Bedsores are a sure sign of nursing home abuse and negligence. Residents that are bedridden are automatically high risk bedsore patients. Care plans must be developed that include the routine 2 hour repositioning of these high risk, bedridden patients.

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel: Four Stages of Bedsores.

– Stage I: Redness in a localized area, usually over a bony prominence. The area may be painful, and either firmer or softer, or warmer or cooler than the surrounding tissue.

– Stage II: A shallow, open ulcer that can be red or pink. This stage may also present itself as serum-filled blister.

– Stage III: Advanced tissue loss. Fat may be visible but bone, tendon or muscle are not exposed.

– Stage IV: Full thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon or muscle.

Bedsores & Nursing Home Abuse in NJ or PA: Mininno Law Office

Bedsores are prone to infection can prove fatal for some patients. They can cause unwanted and unneccesary complications to a patients’ health, and are completely avoidable.
The New Jersey nursing abuse attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are here to get you the compensation you deserve.

If you or a loved one have suffered to the acquisition of a bedsore during a stay at a hospital or long term care facility, you’ll need to assistance of a nursing home abuse attorney. Contact the Mininno Law Officefor a free case evaluation or call at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Employees Arrested for Cruel Prank

new jersey philadelphia attorneys nursing home abuse employees arrested prank — Nursing Home Abuse is a disturbing trend plaguing the long term care facility industry.

On Wednesday, August 4th, six nursing home employees at the Valley View Skilled Nursing Facility in Ukiah, California were arrested on misdemeanor criminal charges for a cruel and abusive prank they played on a select number of residents.

According to a release from the Attorney General’s office, each of the six employees greased up the bodies of their patients with slippery ointment cream at they end of their shift so they would be slippery for the oncoming shift of workers. The residents that fell victim to this nursing home abuse were chosen because they suffered from an advanced level of dementia and could not fight the treatment.

The charges filed against the workers include injury to an elder or dependant adult; battery committed on an elder or dependant adult; conspiracy; and battery committed while on hospital property. Attorney General Jerry Brown said, “As part of a cruel and and shocking prank, these caregivers abused defenseless elders. This dispicable behavior by people placed in a position of trust.”

Nursing Home Abuse and the Mininno Law Office

This form of nursing home abuse is truley disturbing. These six employees turned sick, elderly residents whose care they were responsible for into the butt of a joke. Clearly, they had no respect for those they were caring for, the facility in which they worked, and the work they were supposed to do.
The Mininno Law Office takes a strong stand against this depraved and awful behavior. Nursing Home Abuse is all too common, and we must fight against the entities that allow it to continue.

If you or a loved one have sufferend the effects of nursing home abuse, contact the Mininno Law Office. Let our New Jersey and Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys help you get the compensation you deserve.
You could also call at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nine Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

The Mininno Law Office takes a firm stand against New Jersey nursing home abuse. We fight against careless and negligent facilities, and we do our best to post useful information to assist those dealing with sick loved ones and nursing homes. Yesterday, we posted advice on how to pick a quality nurisng home. Today’s post will deal with signs that your loved one may be being abused or neglected in their long term care facility.

Below is a list of red flag symptoms concerning nursing home abuse and neglect. Noticing any of these should prompt immediate action.

Nursing Home Abuse: 9 Red Flags

Bedsores or open wounds (also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers): A sure sign of neglect. Bedsores form when soft tissue is compressed between a bony prominence and an external surface for a prolonged period of time. Failing to reposition bedridden patients often results in bedsores.

nursing home abuse and negligence Mininno Law Office new jersey — Nursing home abuse and negligence are very real threats to residents at some facilites.

Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, sprains or fractures: Mysterious injuries such as these could be attributed to roughness and mishandling of feeble and fragile patients.

Falls in shower, out of bed or out of chairs, resulting in injury: This is a sign that patients are being left to fend for themselves during difficult tasks like moving from the bed to the bathroom. Many patients need help to complete these tasks, and without being checked on regularly, can easily hurt themselves trying to do it alone.

Dehydration, malnutrition, or weight loss: Residents being neglected will often suffer from some, or all, of the above symptoms. Abuse and neglect can lead to depression, which in turn could result in malnutrition and weight loss.

High staff turnover: If a nursing home staff is constantly new and residents are being treated by new caregivers all of the time, the likelihood that that they are receiving quality care is very low. Errors occur often amoung new staff members. Workers leaving and going elsewhere could also be a sign that they are underpaid and overworked. Underpaid and overworked nursing home staff are a large source of nursing home abuse and neglect.

Unexplained venereal disease or genital infections; vaginal or anal bleeding; torn, stained or bloody garments: Unfortunately, sexual abuse is a very real issue in nursing homes. If you notice any of these signs, act immediately.

Loss of resident’s possessions, or sudden changes in the resident’s will, bank accounts or other financial documents: Theft and fraud are very real and very prevalent forms of nursing home abuse. If anything goes missing, whether it be belongings or money, investigate immediately.

Refusal or delays to have visitation with the resident: If a nursing home is guilty of abuse or neglect, of course they won’t be quick to allow you to come and see your loved ones. Often, if they allow visitation, they will refuse to let you be alone with your loved one. This is something to be very weary of. Now, your loved one does not feel comfortable telling you what’s really going on.

Over-sedation or overuse of restraints: Caregivers have gone to jail for using unprescribed morphine to calm patients they feel are “combative.” This is a life threatening practice, and has taken lives in the past.

What to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

If you notice one or more of the above symptoms, it is likely the nursing home facility you have entrusted with the care of your loved one is acting negligently. Do not wait to seek help. A nursing home abuse attorney will be able to sit down with you and discuss what happened, what you’ve seen, and determine if you have a case against the care facility. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let us get you the compensation you deserve.

Six Steps to Skirt Nursing Home Abuse

New Jersey Attorneys - nursing home abuse — Nursing home abuse is an ugly truth in a necessary industry.

Nursing home abuse can play an extremely daunting role in where, when, and even if we decide to place our loved ones in a long term care facility. Trends of abuse, negligence, theft, and fraud seem to be taking over an industry that should be known for it’s kindness, compassion, benevolence, and dependability.
Choosing a nursing home can be overwhelming and scary, so the best way to go about the task is to be prepared and know exactly what to look for in a good and trustworthy nursing home. Below are six steps you can take to ensure that you are choosing the right facility to trust with the care of your loved one.

Steps You Can Take to Prevent Nursing Home Abuse

Step 1: Ask for documentation that will prove that the facility employs regular background checks to ensure that employees of the facility have no record of violent, sexual, or financial crime. Verify that employees are in good standing with the law and that they have the proper credentials to be working in this field. A nursing home in good standing and employing qualified workers will have no problem turning this paperwork over. The National Association on State Units on Aging reported that “An increased risk of abuse is found at nursing homes that have a history of serious noncompliance, particularly if abuse has occurred in the facility in the past.”

New Jersey Lawyers - nursing home abuse — Follow these steps to help keep your loved one from being abused in a nursing home.

Step 2: Request information verifiying the minimum staff to patient ratio, how many hours per week employees work (including max overtime), and leave instructions to notify you should these policies change. Overworked employees are a huge source of abuse and negligence in nursing homes. Make sure the people caring for your loved ones are not responsible for too many patients for too long. The probability of abuse increases as staff to patient ratio decreases.

Step 3: With regard to step 2, verify the number of patients in the home with dementia, and who are physically dependant on nursing home staff. A high number of dementia patients should be accompanied by high number of employees. According to a report done by the National Center of Elder Abuse, nursing home abuse is more common in facilities that are home to a high number of demetia patients, as their required care is far more demanding.

Step 4: Ask about the facilities grievance policy. What is their protocol for reporting complaints? Is it policy to retaliate against staff members who report abuse? What about a patient who reports abuse? Facilities should offer anonymous reporting options to both staff and patients, and investigate all complaints thouroughly.

Step 5: Ask about the facility’s training policy, and whether or not it offers ongoing abuse prevention courses, as well as other courses to keep staff up to date on the newest and best methods of care. The Department of Health and Human Services reports “Besides improving competence and knowledge, training also offers a vehicle for building [staff] self-esteem, which also may help to reduce stress and burnout.” The report also states that ” . . .training can also prepare staff to respond appropriately to difficult situations, such as dealing with physically combative residents, which have the potential to trigger abuse.”

Step 6: Visit often and unannounced. Nursing home abuse is much more likely to occur to patients who do not have visitors, as there will be no consequence if no one is there to find out. If your visits are unannounced and frequent, staff members responsible for the care of your loved one will be forced to “stay on their toes,” providing the best possible care for the resident.

If Nursing Home Abuse Occurs

Nursing home abuse is an awful thing to deal with, and facilities that employ abusive tactics toward residents, or put profits before patients must suffer the consequences of this behavior. The long term care industry is a necessary one, as most of us are not qualified to care for our elderly loved ones when they get too sick to care for themselves. This industry needs to be one we can trust in. If you or a loved one have been negatively affected by nursing home abuse or negligence, you’ll need the help of a nursing home abuse attorney. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let us help you get the compensation you deserve.

Nursing Home Abuse Sparks Campaign

Omni CEO Avery Eisenreich is under some intense fire, including allegations of nursing home abuse, as it’s been recently discovered that Omni Nursing homes in New Jersey have some of the worst bed sore percentages in the state. An Omni home in Rochelle Park, NJ provided the kind of abusive and negligent care that resulted in 45% of it’s short stay residents developing bedsores.

Homes within the Omni chain include Bristol Manor,Rochelle Park; Castle Hill, Union City; Harbor View, Jersey City; Palisade, Guttenberg; Cedar Hill, Cedar Grove; Chancellor, Irvington; Chateau at Rochelle Park; Hudson Manor, Secaucus; Newport, Jersey City; Pope John Paul/St. Mary’s, Orange; Riverton, Rahway; Riverview, Paterson; Silver Care, Cherry Hill; and St. Cloud, West Orange.

The Campaign

New Jersey workers have launched a campaign regarding the bedsore rates and nursing home abuse in Omni nursing homes. The campaign employs television and radio ads, google ads, mobile billboards, and even a website. The campaign calls out Avery Eisenreich for his misspending of funds that have been alotted him for the purpose of improving quality of care, as well as improving pay rates and working conditions for his employees. In 2007, Omni made over 20 million dollars in profit. Eisenreich even received millions of dollars from New Jersey’s Nursing Home Quality of Care Improvement Fund intended for the betterment of care provided to residents at Omni nursing homes. All of this money seems to have been pocketed by Mr. Eisenreich, as no employee of his has received a raise in over two years, no new training programs were offered to those employees, and clearly, the quality of care has not improved.

Nursing Home Abuse Should Not be Ignored

This issue is a serious one, and unfortunately, not uncommon. The profit before people mentality seems to run rampant in the long term care industry. Omni’s home in Rochelle Park has put 45% of it’s short stay residents at risk for infection and death caused by bedsores. This kind of nursing home abuse can not be tolerated. If you or a loved one have been affected by nursing home abuse or negligence, you’ll need to contact a nursing home abuse attorney to help you receive the compensation you are owed. Contact us for a free case evaluation, or call for free consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380in Philadelphia.

RN Charged with Murder in Nursing Home Abuse Case

On Monday June, 7th, registered nurse Angela Almore was brought up on nursing home abuse charges involving the death of an alzheimer’s patient at the Britthaven senior care facility in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Almore, 44, was indicted on one count of second degree murder, and six counts of felony patient abuse. She was allegedly administering morphine to patients who were not prescribed the highly controlled substance used for pain management. Nine of the 25 patients in the alzheimers unit at Britthaven tested positive for morphine. Six of the victims were hospitalized, while 84 year old Rachel Holliday died February 16th.

Rachel Holliday and Nursing Home Abuse

No autopsy was performed on Holliday, but the medical examiner that reviewed her records determined “pneumonia related asphyxiation” her cause of death. It also determined that “morphine toxicity” was a contributing factor. It should be noted that military and workplace drug tests consider 2,000 nanograms per 1 milliliter of urine to be a positive test result. Holliday’s tests revealed her levels at 50,000 nanograms per milliliter.

Orange County District Attorney Jim Woodall does not believe there will be any other arrests in the case. “At this point, there is nothing to indicate that anyone else was involved,” he said.

Britthaven’s Response to Nursing Home Abuse

The North Carolina Nursing Home Licensure Section will be conducting it’s own investigation to determine if procedural violations may have played a part in the availability of the morphine to be used in events of nursing home abuse. Positive findings could result in penalties and fines for Britthaven, as well as procedure upgrades at their locations in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Virgina.

Britthaven has placed all of the those working at the time of Holliday’s death on paid leave to begin an investigation. A patient’s family member believes that Britthaven is taking positive steps towards improvement.

Do You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing Home Abuse is becoming overwhelmingly prevalent in today’s long term care facility industry. These homes and care centers should be places we can trust with the well being of our elderly loved ones. Instead, they are becoming frightening and dangerous places to live. Rachel Holliday lost her life to crimes of nursing home abuse. The trend has to be haulted. We must do what we can to fight these corporations, and stop them from putting money before care.

If you or a loved one have been negatively affected by nursing home abuse, do not remain silent. The attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are here to help you get the compensation you are owed. Please contact us for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Surveillance Video Captures Alarming Nursing Home Abuse

Jesse Joiner, guilty of Nursing Home Abuse — Jesse Joiner, 56, accused of nursing home abuse and theft at the William O. Benenson Rehab Center in Queens, NY.

A video of nursing home abuse captured by a hallway surveillance camera in a NewYork City nursing home has landed 56 year old nurse Jesse Joiner in jail on criminal charges . The nursing home abuse video shows Joiner leaving a medical cart to tend to a patient sitting in a wheelchair. What happens next is troubling. Joiner seems to jerk the wheel chair to the left, tossing Jane bills, the 85 year old resident with dementia,out of her chair and onto the floor. Then, Joiner simply walks away! She leaves the room for a small amount of time, and upon re-entering, ignores the patient again. She continues walking and leaves view of the camera a second time from a different exit. A male staff member enters the room a minute later, sees the patient on the floor, looks around, and leaves. Finally, Joiner and the male staff member re-enter, lift the resident off the floor, and sit her back in her chair. The resident suffered a broken hip.

Joiner’s attorney, who says he has not seen the video, claims that Joiner was not guilty of nursing home abuse, and that the patient caused her own fall; that Joiner went over to help the woman who then threw herself out of the chair. The video shows otherwise. Jesse Joiner has also been accused of stealing 2 dozen painkillers from the facility that same night.

The Dr. William O. Benenson Rehabilitation Pavillion, the nursing home where Joiner worked, is a 4 our of 5 star government rated facility, having only minor deficiencies in housekeeping and maintenance related areas. A spokesperson for the nursing home has called Joiner’s alleged deeds “unacceptable.” Joiner could face up to 7 years in prison.

WATCH NURSING HOME ABUSE VIDEO HERE

If you or a loved one have been victimized by nursing home abuse or negligence, the nursing home abuse attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are here to help. Contact us for a free case evaluation or call us at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

The 10 Worst Nursing Homes in the Tri-County Area: #1

Gloucestor Manor is the worst nursing home in the tri-county area. — Nursing Home Abuse is affecting elderly residents and their families nationwide.

Gloucester Manor (Gloucester)

And the number 1 nursing home guilty of nursing home abuse is the Gloucester Manor in Sewell, New Jersey. Gloucester Manor is a for profit corporation participating in Medicare and Medicaid, and containing 139 beds. Inspectors reported a number of deficiencies (which could potentially lead to nursing home abuse) after two inspections. Those deficiencies included failures to:

Only hire people without legal history of abuse or neglect
Protect each resident from all abuse, physical punishment, and being separated from others
Provide care that supports the highest quality of life
Provide professional services that follow each resident’s personal care plan
To meet all residents nutritional needs
Develop a complete care plan that meets all of the resident’s needs
Provide immediate updates to residents’ doctors and families should their health, treatment, or state of being change
Provide care that keeps or builds dignity and respect
Store, cook, and serve food in a safe and clean way
Have drugs and other similar products available that are needed in emergencies or for everyday use, and give them out properly
Keep medicinal error rates below 5%
Properly mark drugs
Keep necessary equipment functioning safely and properly
Make sure areas were free of hazardous and dangerous obstructions
Provide necessary housekeeping and maintenance
Review the work of nurses’ aides and provide them with new training yearly

Nursing Home Abuse: A disturbing number of deficiencies is followed by an equally disturbing number of negative trends among patients in the facility. Quality Measures inspections found the nursing home to have higher than National and/or New Jersey percentage averages when it came to:

Long stay and short stay residents with moderate to severe pain
High risk long stay residents with bedsores
Low risk long stay residents with bedsores
Long stay residents who were physically restrained
Long stay residents who are more depressed or anxious
Low risk long stay residents who lose control of their bowels or bladder
Long stay residents who have catheters inserted and left in their bladders
Long stay residents with urinary tract infections
Long stay residents who lose too much weight
Short stay residents with bedsores

What to do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

The amount of nursing home neglect and nursing home abuse that Gloucester Manor is guilty of is quite appalling. The services they provide are surely not professional, and their quality measures inspections seem to prove that they are hurting more residents then they are helping. I hope this series as illustrated for readers the amount of nursing home abuse and neglect that takes place in the long term care industry. Our ill senior citizens need us to stand up for their rights, as they can do it for themselves.

The nursing home abuse attorneys at Mininno Law Office are dedicated to fighting for those who have been wronged by acts of nursing home abuse or negligence. If you or a loved one needs help regarding something that happened in a nursing home or long term care facility, contact us for a free case evaluation. Or simply call us at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Note: Conclusions in this blog about nursing home abuse were formed from data provided by the State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and Medicare .

The 10 Worst Nursing Homes in the Tri-County Area: #2

old man — Nursing Home Abuse is a growing epidemic in our long term care industry.

Manorcare Health Services (Gloucester)

Manorcare Health Services in West Deptford, New Jersey is number 2 in our list of the ten nursing homes in the tri-county area guiltiest of nursing home negligence or nursing home abuse. It’s also the first facility we’ve seen in the list from Gloucester County. Inspectors reported some deficiencies in the facility that we have yet to see in any of the other nursing homes we’ve mentioned in this list. The home was noted to have failed in the following areas of the inspection:

Hiring only people who have no legal history of abusing, neglecting, or mistreating residents
Reporting and investigating any acts or reports of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment of residents
Giving residents necessary care to prevent bedsores or heal existing ones.
Giving care that supports the highest possible quality of life
Making sure residents nutritional needs were met
Reviewing drug regimes, and having licensed pharmacists check drug regimens monthly as to keep medicine error rates below 5%
Storing and preparing food in a safe and sanitary way
Making sure common areas are free of hazardous obstructions
Providing necessary housekeeping and maintenance
Keeping accurate medical records

Nursing Home Abuse: Also disheartening was the fact that very low percentages of both long and short stay residents received flu shots and pneumococcal vaccinations. The facility was found to have higher than National and/or New Jersey percentage averages when it came to long and short stay residents suffering from moderate to severe pain, long and short stay residents who develop bedsores, long stay residents whose physical independence became limited, long stay residents who became more anxious or depressed, long stay residents who have catheters inserted and then left in their bladders, and long stay residents who lose too much weight. The facility was also reported to lack any effective procedure to prevent the spread of infection.

The most disturbing of these deficiencies is that the facility received reports and accusations from residents or their families of nursing home abuse and neglect, and never took any steps to investigate them. That means that negligent and abusive staff members acted virtually free of consequence. Nursing home abuse should never go free of consequence. Our ill senior citizens should be cared for with the utmost respect. The alarming trend of nursing home negligence and abuse has to be halted somewhere. It seems that now, the only way to do it is to hit the facilities financially with nursing home abuse law suits.

Victims of Nursing Home Abuse: Take Your First Step

The Nursing home abuse lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are dedicated to righting the wrongs caused by nursing home negligence and nursing home abuse. If you or a loved one have been hurt by nursing home abuse at a long term care facility, don’t waste anymore time.
Contact us for a free case evaluation, or call us at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let us get you the compensation you deserve.

Note: Conclusions in this blog about nursing home abuse were formed from data provided by the State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and Medicare .

The 10 Worst Nursing Homes in the Tri-County Area: #3

old lady 2 — Nursing Home Abuse is turning long term care facilities into frightening and dangerous places to live.

Manorcare Health Center (Camden)

The third place facility in our blog series is the Manorcare Health Center in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Manorcare is a for profit corporation that participates in Medicare and Medicaid and holds 108 certified beds. Inspectors found that the quality of care Manorcare was providing to its residents was far less than professional or satisfactory (nursing home abuse). The facility staff failed to:

Make sure residents nutritional needs were met
Give care or service to get or keep the highest quality of life
Make available for residents the results of facility surveys and inspections
Properly hold, secure, and manage each resident’s personal money, which is deposited with the nursing home
Provide care that keeps or builds dignity and respect
Advise residents whether or not they are eligible for Medicaid benefits, and if so, how those benefits can affect them and how they can apply
Carefully review drug regimens to avoid errors
Have a licensed pharmacist check each residents’ drug regimens monthly
Make sure common and traffic areas are free of dangers that can cause accidents
Provide adequate housekeeping and maintenance
Provide rooms that are appropriately sized for residents
Keep accurate medical records

Nursing Home Abuse: It seems that Manorcare of Cherry Hill may be more interested in turning a profit that in caring for our elderly and sick. Not offering Medicaid options to those that can use them, and mishandling personal funds of residents all point towards an administration that is solely focused on the bottom line. Also a cause for a concern is the higher percentages of residents losing control of their bowels or bladders, having catheters left inside their bladders, and developing urinary tract infections. These surely are signs of staff negligence.

If You Have Been Victimized by Nursing Home Abuse, Speak Up!

Nursing home abuse and nursing home negligence are very prevalent in long term care facilities across America. The priority of the health and well being of our loved ones is being replaced by the priority of profit. Do not remain silent if you or a loved one have been hurt by nursing home negligence or abuse. The nursing home abuse attorneys at the Mininno Law office are dedicated to righting the wrongs done by negligent, abusive nursing homes. Contact us for a free case evaluation, or call us at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Note: Conclusions in this blog about nursing home abuse were formed from data provided by the State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and Medicare .