Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Put Rapist Away for Nine Years

Sexual nursing home and elder abuse is one of the most disgraceful forms that nursing home abuse lawyers face. To abuse their power and take advantage of a vulnerable elderly person in that way is shameful. Kevin Burns was sentenced to nine years in prison on September 13, 2011 after pleading guilty to raping an elderly woman in the Friend’s Care Nursing Home in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where she was a resident and he was working. Burns said in court “I’m sorry for what I’ve done to them.”

Nursing Home Employee Pleaded Guilty to Raping Elderly Resident

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers rapist jail nine years
As part of a deal that Burns reached with the prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to one count of rape and the two other charges were dropped. This deal was reached because prosecutors felt it saved everyone from going to trial and according to Assistant Prosecutor Jeff Hunter, “The defendant stepped up and acknowledged what was done as opposed to dragging victims through a court process and trial.“. After Burns serves his nine years in prison he will have five years of probation and have to register as a tier 3 sex offender, which is the strictest of the classifications. During the court hearing, the defendant admitted to struggling with an addiction to pornography. He said “I should have went to them and told them I was struggling with that and should have asked to be put on leave until I could take care of it. I tried to take care of it myself but didn’t, didn’t do it.

Nursing Home 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 their treatment as well as their living conditions. If 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: Elderly Woman Escapes Abusive Caretaker

As elder abuse lawyers, we want to increase the awareness of elder and nursing home abuse and hopefully help prevent the elderly from falling victim to all different forms of elder abuse. We want to encourage people that, even if they find themselves being taken advantage of physically, mentally or financially, it is never too late to escape the abuse. If you are not being taken care of or treated with dignity and respect by a caretaker, it is time to escape the situation. By alerting someone you trust, you can take the first step towards bettering you’re situation. Do not be afraid to call 911 or an ambulance if you need medical attention because of neglect or abuse.

Woman Rushed to the Hospital for Severe Weight Loss and Bedsores

new jersey philadelphia elder abuse lawyers elderly woman escapes abusive caretakerLea Marie Hughes, 36, was arrested for vulnerable adult abuse of the 64-year-old woman that she had been caring for. Hughes, her boyfriend, and her two children moved into the home of the victim five years ago so Hughes could begin caring for the woman who has multiple sclerosis and has been bedridden for two years. When a visitor recently came to the house, the elderly woman asked that person to take a picture of her back. When the victim saw how bad the bedsore on her back was she asked to be taken to the hospital. At the Tucson Medical Center they discovered that the bedsore was open to the bone. The victim weighed 90 pounds and needed a blood transfusion.

When the police began to investigate Hughes, they discovered that the home was littered with garbage, maggot infested rotten food, dog feces, urine, and vomit. The victim told police that Hughes gave her one sponge bath a week, only allowed her to drink one and a half quarts of liquid a day (so she would not have to use the bathroom), and only fed her between 700 and 1,000 calories per day. She said that she had only been outside twice and had not seen a doctor in over a year. She kept a diary of all of the abuse that she suffered under Hughes’ care. Hughes and her family were evicted from the victim’s home and all power of attorney privileges were revoked. She is facing charges of elder and child abuse as well as suspicion of unlawful imprisonment and emotional abuse of a vulnerable adult. The victim saw an opportunity to save herself from the abuse she was suffering and took advantage of it.

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, contact the Mininno Law Office to speak with elder abuse lawyers 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 Neglect and Medication Errors Lead to $3,000 Fine

new jersey philadelphia nursing home neglect medical errors training staff

The Regency Heights of Danielson nursing home facility in Connecticut is facing a $3,000 fine after multiple cases of nursing home neglect were discovered. The facility was cited by the Department of Public Health on August 18th because, according to the report, several nurses at the facility were not giving all of the prescribed medications to the residents. The director of nurses was notified of the problem in July and an internal investigation from the facility was conducted. They found at least 18 cases where the residents, including those who suffered from heart failure, hypertension, and seizures, were not given their medications. They initially found that one licensed practical nurse was withholding medication from a diabetic patient. She was suspended and then fired. The director of nurses then performed a full audit of all medication carts and concluded that “multiple other nurses had also not administered all medications as prescribed.”

The most alarming of the cases was one diabetic patient was not given 72 doses of Glucophage over seven months. Glucophage is a medication that helps control the glucose in the blood. Luckily, none of the patients died or were seriously harmed as a result of the medicinal neglect. All of the residents were evaluated medically and the nursing home re-trained the entire staff on administering medication.

The Importance of Medication for the Elderly

Neglecting to administer medications to the elderly and disabled residents of nursing homes can have fatal consequences. By the time someone must depend on a nursing home to provide necessary care, their health is quite fragile. Medications are incredibly important to maintain a comfortable quality of life and to correct the health problems that come with old age.

Some residents are capable of medicating themselves, however a large number of residents need staff assistance to stay on top of a treatment schedule. When residents are new to a facility, the staff is not yet familiar with their medications, so as nursing home neglect attorneys, we strongly encourage communicating the needs of your loved ones when starting in a new facility in order to prevent this type of nursing home neglect.

Nursing Home Neglect 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 they are not receiving their medication, or 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 with one of our nursing home neglect lawyers at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Bed Sore Attorneys Fight for Son of Woman Killed by Bed Sores

Lois Pierce was spending time at Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center in Tennessee. Bed sore attorneys say that she was transferred from that center on April 7th, 2008 when she began developing small pressure sores. The woman was moved to Pigeon Forge Care and Rehab in hopes of treating the minor bed sores. Only one month later, Lois Pierce tragically passed away after she was removed from there and taken to an emergency room to treat massive bed sores which became infected and had reached stage four. The appellate court’s summary of the case stated “on May 7, 2008, she died when her organs failed as a result of the infections.”

Health Care Center Attempts to Dodge Liability

new jersey philadelphia bed sore attorneys fight woman killed massive pressure soresPierce’s son, David Blackmon, attempted to file a complaint in Sevier County Circuit Court but defense attorneys claimed that the action had to go through arbitration due to forms that Blackmon signed while his mother was at the nursing home. The appellate court affirmed the lower court’s ruling in favor of the woman’s son. Judge Rex Ogle, the lower court judge, found that the center failed to provide Blackmon with copies of the forms that he signed, a major mistake according to bed sore attorneys. The Judge noted “it troubles the court that anybody who requires someone to sign legal documents affecting the rights of patients would not give those people copies, executed copies. That makes no sense to me.” Lawyers say that the Judge continued by stating “the execution of the agreement, the way it was handled, it was very shoddy. And I think that quite candidly is unconscionable, that it does shock the conscience of this court by how this entire agreement was handled they should not be enforced.”

Bed Sore Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one has recently suffered from a bed sore, you may have questions for our professionals regarding your legal rights. If you suspect that neglect or mistreatment played a factor in the development of a bed sore, Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation in New Jersey at (856) 833-0600, or in Philadelphia at (215) 567-2380.

Elder Abuse Lawyers Warn About Financial Abuse from Adult Children

new jersey philadelphia elder abuse lawyers Warn Financial Adult ChildrenAt all points in life, we face the threat of being abused; abused physically, emotionally, or even financially. Our elder abuse lawyers write this blog to keep you informed about the dangers of being taken advantage of as you get older and the different ways to see the warning signs in order to prevent yourself from being a victim. The problem is that there are so many different forms of abuse,  it is hard to protect yourself from all of them. Financial abuse can come from anyone, but a disturbing number of cases involve a victim’s own children.

The exact number of cases is unknown, but experts estimate that between 60 and 90% of financial elder abuse is committed by family members. Out of that percentage, one out of five cases go unreported. Unfortunately, many victims do not report that their children have been stealing from them because they are embarrassed or do not want their children to be punished. It is expected that this form of abuse is going to increase as the number of the elderly population in this country grows.

Warning Signs and Prevention

Often, the adult child that is more likely to steal from their elderly parents still relies on his or her parents for support. According to Dr. Winsor Schmidt, professor of family and geriatric medicine at the University of Louisville, “Research suggests that increased risk of elder financial abuse by adult children is associated with such factors as the perpetrator’s unemployment, inability to drive and financial dependence upon the older person.” You should also consider a history of substance abuse, chemical dependency, compulsive gambling, and other addictions as reasons to be more vigilant. Choosing a financial caretaker is a very important decision and a job that should only go to someone you absolutely trust.

new jersey philadelphia elder abuse lawyers Warn Financial Adult ChildrenThe older you get the higher your chances of being taken advantage of become. Individuals that have a hard time performing everyday tasks, getting around by themselves, or who suffer from Dementia or Alzheimer’s are most often the victims of financial abuse. Parents who have children who live far away from them or each other are also at a higher risk. One sibling can misuse the parents’ assets without the others finding out.

Few parents anticipate or ever want to think about the fact that their children may someday cheat them out of their entire life savings, but it is unfortunately common. Many people are in the mindset that it will not happen to them, that they have great kids and nothing to worry about. As elder abuse lawyers, we encourage you to take this seriously and choose a financial caretaker carefully. Think about the warning signs and choose someone who is responsible and good with money so you do not fall victim to a growing form of abuse. If you can, discuss these issues with a lawyer while you are planning your estate. The more planning you do and the more you get in writing, the better your chances of preventing abuse and theft.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently being taken advantage of financially or 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 Negligence – Feeding Tube Causes Death

Residents of a nursing home are residents because they require medical care that they can no longer provide themselves. Depending upon severity of conditions, this care could be as simple as a few check-ins throughout the day, or could be as serious as constant and close observation. Because some patients require constant observation, staff members and caretakers have a responsibility and obligation to know what their patient’s needs are at all times and how to effectively provide those needs in a way that promotes a good quality of life.  Nursing home negligence occurs when the needs of a patient are disregarded or overlooked. Often, injuries and death occur as a result of nursing home neglect, and the matter should not be taken lightly.

Facility Fined After Death of 78-Year-Old Man

new jersey philadelphia nursing home neglect lawyers AA citation Orchard-Post Acute CareOrchard-Post Acute Care in Whittier has been fined $75,000 and given a “AA” citation from the state of California for the death of a 78-year-old patient in 2008. The man, who suffered from Alzheimer’s and was recovering from a stroke, was admitted to the facility in July of 2008. Nursing home staff inserted a feeding tube into the man’s abdomen, as is often necessary for Alzheimer’s and Dimentia patients who may forget to eat or become aggressive at meal times. Soon after, the man began complaining of abdominal pain and was taken to the emergency room. While in the hospital, the doctors discovered that his feeding tube was inserted incorrectly, causing an inflamed abdomen lining, labored breathing, and septic shock. The man underwent an operation and was placed on a ventilator, but died six days later.

Placing a feeding tube is a common procedure in nursing homes. Staff members should be adequately trained before they perform these procedures on patients. It certainly is sad when something so easily preventable leads to the death of patient.

Nursing Home Neglect 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 the care they are receiving. If you are worried that the care 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 and Neglect Get Las Vegas Facility Closed

As nursing home abuse lawyers, our goal is to get justice for the victims and loved ones of elder and nursing home abuse. We also want to see that the correct punishment is brought to the facility and/or the individuals responsible. Revoking an operating license is the most severe punishment that state officials give to nursing home facilities who fail to meet inspection requirements. Fines and follow up inspections are utilized before the state revokes a license, but if conditions are not improved, licenses will be lost.

Repeat Citations and Abuse Leads to Loss of License for Home

nursing home abuse lawyers in NJ and PAAfter an investigation by the state of Nevada, the Las Vegas Home Sweet Home had its license revoked and was forced to close in August. All of the residents were removed and placed in different facilities.

The most recent investigation that led to the closure was prompted by a witness a caregiver yelling at an elderly woman. The abuse continued as the caregiver dragged the resident down the hallway by her ankles. During their investigation, state officials also found that caregivers at the home were depositing residents’ social security checks into their personal bank accounts. Staff members were also taking more money than necessary for small grocery trips for the residents, and then pocketing the change afterwards.

These were not the first violations for “Home Sweet Home.” The facility has been fined and investigated frequently over the years for various citations that made the home unsafe for the residents. The state became aggravated with the home’s failure to adhere to regulations and decided to shut it down.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have witnessed any questionable 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 Neglect Leads to Homicide and Arson

Nursing home neglect and abuse are not always suffered at the hands of facility staff and administrators. Other residents can also pose a threat to your loved ones in nursing homes. It is the responsibility of the facility to provide enough staff to ensure the safety of all patients. Conflict is common when large groups of people are living and working in a confined area, but the staff needs to control the nursing home population from physically harming each other.

Man Dies From Burns Suffered During Argument With Other Resident

nursing home neglect in NJ and PAAccording to the New Orleans Police Department, a 42-year-old man died after suffering second and third degree burns at the St. Charles Health Care Center. Around 9 p.m. on August 2, 2011, the man, who was wrapped in gauze for treatment, entered into an argument with another resident, 72-year-old Joann Everett, when his dressing ignited in flames. The nursing home staff extinguished the fire before the firefighters arrived on the scene. The victim was taken to Baton Rouge General Medical Center where he was treated for the burns that covered 80 percent of his body. The man died the next day as a direct result of the burns he sustained. The New Orleans Parish coroner determined the death a homicide. Everett is in custody at a local hospital and will be arrested and charged with homicide and aggravated arson. Police have not stated what started the argument, how the man’s gauze caught fire, or the victim’s name.

The facility obviously could not control an argument between these two residents, but they should have stopped Everett from assaulting the man. If these two had a history of fighting, they should have had limited contact with each other. Although it is currently unknown to the public how Everett started the fire, she clearly possessed something dangerous that the home should have taken from her.

Nursing Home Neglect 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. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Neglect Leads to Medication Error After Staffing Cuts

nursing home neglect in NJ and PABishops Corner Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation in West Hartford, Connecticut is facing a $710 fine for failing to properly administer antibiotic medications that were prescribed by a doctor to a severely demented patient who was experiencing wheezing accompanied by a cough. According to the facility’s nursing director, the medication was “not available in the medication cart and the nurses failed to check with their supervisor.” In another incident of nursing home neglect, two nurses’ aides improperly used a mechanical Hoyer lift to move a patient and the resident slid out of the sling, fell on the floor, and bumped the back of his head, suffering a hemorrhage. After the incident, the staff was retrained on how to properly use the lift.

Parent Company Starts Large Round of Layoffs

These two incidents occurred after a large round of layoffs for the facility. In the beginning of August, Bishops Corner Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation’s parent company, Omega Healthcare Investors, laid off 81 employees from their several nursing home facilities in Connecticut. This was the first round of 575 employees that are to lose their jobs. With the bad economy, layoffs are inevitable, but facility administrators need to make sure that care does not suffer as a result. It is clear that this nursing home neglect could have been prevented if the staff was trained properly and had not been spread so thin.

Nursing Home Neglect 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 they are not receiving their medication, or 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 Neglect: Woman Died While Tied to a Toilet for Two Hours

89-year old Gwendoline Gleeson died as a result of nursing home neglect in August 2010 while a resident of the Barrabill House nursing home in Seymour, Australia where she had lived for ten years. Mrs. Gleeson was put in a restraining belt and placed on the toilet. She was then forgotten until the staff found her two hours later dead from a heart attack. Mrs. Gleeson was placed on the toilet about 2:45pm by staff from the morning shift. A staff change occurred around 3pm and the afternoon staff was unaware that she was left alone. No one found Gleeson  until 4:40pm. Mrs. Gleeson had previous heart problems, was diabetic, and had early dementia, but there was no physical reason she needed the restraints while using the bathroom. The staff used the restraints so they did not have to supervise her and could go and do other tasks.

Son Outraged He Was Not Given Details of Mother’s Death

nursing home neglect in NJ and PAJames Gleeson, Gwendoline’s son, is very upset because he just recently found out the details of nursing home neglect involved in his mother’s death. He had previously assumed that she was left alone for a few minutes, not two hours. “I don’t want this to happen again to anybody … mum has passed away and I find out 12 months later what has happened and she was left tied to a toilet,” Mr. Gleeson said. He is angry with the facility for keeping him in the dark about the whole situation. He was unaware that restraining belts were even used on his mother. The care plan that was made for Mrs. Gleeson had no authorization for the restraints and stated that she needed to be supervised while on the toilet.

It is very important that you make frequent and unannounced visits to  your loved ones in nursing homes in order to ensure that their care plan is being carried out. If you notice anything strange or below your standard of care you need to bring it to the attention of the nursing staff. Mrs. Gleeson’s death may have been able to be prevented if the staff had gotten her to a hospital right away. There was no reason for her to be left alone for that long. Communication between the morning and afternoon shifts needs to be better handled.

Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident of a nursing home or care facility, pay attention to the quality of equipment and nursing staff. If 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.