Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signs bill that aims to improve the care being provided in nursing homes across the state. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn recently signed a bill that aims to greatly improve the quality of care being provided to the state’s elderly citizens in nursing homes and long term care facilities. Supporters have high hopes that new regulations upheld by the bill will work to eradicate the disturbing trends of nursing home abuse, neglect, and violence currently plaguing the long term care industry.
Expected changes include:
New ratio of 1 inspector per every 500 beds
Increased criminal background checks and psychological testing of nursing home patients
Alternative housing arrangements for patients who are physically capable, but suffer from psychological conditions
Increased staffing levels at long term care facilities
Illinois State Governement intends to fund the plan by increasing licensing fees, and decreasing the amount of psychiatric patients in nursing homes. Small, group-homes require less staff oversight and will save some of the money the state currently spends on this area of care.
Naysayers claim the bill is just a way to silence the public outcry for tighter restrictions on the care being provided in Illinois nursing homes. Whether or not that is true really doesn’t matter. The bill was signed, changes will be made, and nursing home care will improve.
The Mininno Law Office Frowns Upon Nursing Home Abuse
The Mininno Law Office has taken a firm and unwavering stand against nursing home abuse. Our elderly citizens deserve respectful, careful, and attentive treatment while staying in nursing homes and long term care facilities.
If you or a loved one have experienced what you believe is nursing home abuse or negligence, contact the Mininno Law Office. Our New Jersey and Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys are ready to help you with your claim against the nursing home, and will work ’round the clock to get you the compensation you deserve. You can also call at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
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 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.
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.”
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.
A mobil billboard discussing bedsore percentages in the Omni chain of nursing homes in New Jersey.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.
Havenwood Rehab Center was shut down in July of 2005 upon discovery of severe nursing home abuse and neglect. On Friday, May 21st, Karen Mason (57), the former CEO of Havenwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to two years in prison and 3 years probabation for tax evasion. The 315 bed nursing home, of which she was CEO, administrator, and part owner, has been closed since July of 2005, when inspectors shut the facility down after discovering severe cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. A few of those nursing home abuse cases included patients being refused baths and clean sheets, and a man who jumped to his death after facility staff members failed to report his suicide threats.
In Mason’s time at Havenwood, she took money from a resident’s trust fund, from an employee’s 401(k) account, and from Havenwood bank accounts. Police allege that her theft totaled a little over 1 million dollars. The money went towards personal purchases for Mason; furniture, carpeting, jewelry, cars, concert and sporting event tickets, vacations, payments to the Milwaukee Yacht Club, and a wedding and honeymoon for one of her children.
Mason: Guilty of Nursing Home Abuse
Mason was sentenced in 2008 to 15 months in the Milwaukee County House of Corrections after being found guilty on felony charges of theft and abuse of a patient causing physical harm. That ruling also required Mason to pay back $20,696 to a Havenwood employee’s 401(k) account, and $64,435 to a Havenwood bank account.
The tax evasion case found that in 2004, Mason took in $642,000 in income. Of that total, $212,000 was salary from the facility, and the rest of it stolen. She paid taxes on none of it.
Mason was so busy stealing from her own company and living her lavish life, that she failed to make sure the residents in her nursing home were being properly cared for. The inspections by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services that shut the facility down found “dire conditions” within the home, involving the health and safety of residents. They were also tipped off by employees of possible medicare fraud.
Victims of Nursing Home Abuse: Seek Help!
Nursing home abuse is a serious problem in nursing homes and other long term care facilities. And as you’ve read, it’s not always physical abuse. In Havenwood’s case, much of the nursing home abuse was in the form of theft and fraud. If you or a loved one have suffered any kind of nursing home abuse or negligence, you’ll need to seek the assistance of a nursing home abuse attorney. The nursing home abuse attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are eager to represent you and help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us for a free case evaluation, or simply call for a free consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Nursing Home Abuse is having a serious effect on our confidence in nursing homes and the care they provide. Lakewood of Voorhees (Camden)
Our fourth place facility in the list of the ten worst nursing homes in the tri-county area is the Lakewood of Voorhees nursing home. Lakewood is a for profit corporation participating in Medicare and Medicaid, and holding 240 certified beds. Inspectors have found the facility to be guilty of nursing home negligence and nursing home abuse, and to be failing on a large number of counts to provide high quality, professional, and attentive care. Lakewood has a number of severe deficiencies involving their drug administering procedures, as their medicinal errors rate was above well above 5%. Aside from not letting able-bodied and mentally capable residents administer their own prescriptions, they distributed the wrong dosages of the wrong drugs to the wrong patients on numerous occasions, and failed to deal with the subsequent effects accordingly. They also failed to have a licensed pharmacist regularly check the drugs the residents were taking.
Also among their shortcomings were their failure to keep common areas free of accident hazards, their failure to provide clean, sanitary, safe, and comfortable environments for residents, and their failure to keep a sanitary place to store and prepare food. Their housekeeping and maintenance procedures were lacking, and all of the hallways did not have firmly secured handrails on both sides.
Nursing Home Abuse: Quality measures inspections found the facility to have lower than National and New Jersey percentage averages when it came to the number of patients that received flu shots and pneumococcal vaccinations. They were found to have higher than National and/or New Jersey percentage averages in all of the following categories:
Long and short stay residents with moderate to severe pain
High risk long stay residents who develop pressure sores
Low risk long stay residents who develop pressure sores
Long stay residents who were physically restrained
Low risk long stay residents who lose control of their bowels or bladders
Long stay residents who spend most of their time in a bed or chair
Long stay residents who had urinary tract infections
Short stay residents who develop pressure sores
Nursing Home Abuse: The mere fact that long and short stay residents are developing bedsores is a sure sign of a negligent and abusive staff. Perhaps it has to do with their lack of procedure, or perhaps it is that the staff is overworked and underpaid. Whatever the reason, it does not excuse the poor treatment and low quality care that Lakewood of Voorhees is providing to our elderly loved ones. Nursing home abuse is negatively affecting senior citizens and their families all over, and we must work together to make change.
Nursing Home Abuse and The Mininno Law Office
The nursing home abuse attorneys at the Mininno Law Firm are dedicated to working hard for those that have been victimized by long term care facility abuse. Contact us for a free case evaluation, or call us at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Nursing Home Abuse is a serious epidemic in the long term care industry. The attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are dedicated to doing their part in eradicating it.
Manor Care, Voorhees (Camden)
Fifth on our list of the ten worst nursing homes in the tri-county area is Manor Care in Voorhees, New Jersey. Manor Care is a for profit corporation participating in Medicare and Medicaid, and holding 120 certified beds. Manor care was found to have some very disturbing deficiencies (nursing home abuse). Inspections found that they failed at the following essential tasks of a nursing home or long term care facility:
• to provide treatment to prevent new bedsores or heal existing ones
• to make sure residents are safe from medicinal errors
• to make sure areas are free of dangers that can cause accidents
• to have a program in place that will prevent the spread of infection
• to keep residents apart from other residents if he/she has a communicable infection
• to keep accurate and appropriate medical records
• to review the work of nurses aides and provide the most up to date training for existing or new nurses aides
• to promptly give Doctors lab results
• to develop care plans that carry on after the residents’ stay
• to give care and service to get or keep the highest quality of life
Nursing Home Abuse: They were also found to have SIGNIFICANTLY lower than both National and New Jersey percentages when it came to patients that were given flu shots and pneumococcal vaccinations. They had higher than National and/or New Jersey percentages when it came to long and short stay residents with moderate to severe pain, high risk long stay residents with bed sores, long stay residents who are depressed or anxious, low risk long stay residents who lose control of their bowels or bladder, long stay residents with urinary tract infections, long stay residents who lose too much weight, and short stay residents who develop bed sores.
Bed sores are a sure sign of nursing home abuse and negligence, and if both long and short stay residents are developing them, Manor Care in Voorhees is guilty of being negligent. Nursing home abuse and negligence are an epidemic in the long term care facility industry, and serious steps must be taken to eradicate it.
The Mininno Law Office Wants to Help You
If you or a loved one have been negatively affected by negligence or nursing home abuse, contact Mininno Law Firm for a free case evaluation. These facilities must suffer the consequences of their inattentive and lackluster care. You could also call us for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Lutheran Care, located in Moorestown, NJ, is our #7 of the ten worst nursing homes in the tri-county area. It is a not for profit, church related organization that accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and contains 201 certified beds. Inspections found a number of issues with their drug administering procedures, issues that were definitely their biggest discretions.
Lutheran Care failed to have licensed pharmacists check the residents’ drugs monthly. They had a higher than average rate of medicinal errors, including administering the wrong drugs, or the wrong dosages. They also kept inaccurate medical records. These drug related issues surely stem from their failure to review resident drug regimens, and their failure to act upon the consequent irregularities in residents that followed.
Nursing home Abuse: In their Quality Measures inspections, inspections that can pinpoint how and where nursing home abuse occurs, Lutheran Care was found to have higher than New Jersey and/or National percentage averages in all of the following areas:
• Long stay residents who were physically restrained
• 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 who spend most of their time in a bed or chair
• Long stay residents with urinary tract infections
• Short stay residents who develop pressure sores
Nursing Home Abuse: Other discrepancies included a number of accidents that occurred due to lack of supervision, poor fire safety procedures, and locations in the facility that were unsanitary, uncomfortable, or dysfunctional. It seems that at Lutheran Care, the dignity and respect of each individual resident is not top priority.
This kind of nursing home abuse can not be tolerated. Our senior citizens deserve patient, attentive, and proper care. Long term facility negligence is an epidemic, and must be cured.
What to Do If You Feel Victimized By Nursing Home Abuse
If you or a loved one have suffered due to nursing home negligence or nursing home abuse, you’ll need representation. Contact us for a free case evaluation or call the Mininno Law Firm for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let our Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys get you the compensation you deserve.
Nursing home abuse leaves residents feeling isolated, helpless, violated, and alone. We must do what we can do put an end to the injustices brought on by nursing home abuse.
Burlington Woods (Burlington)
Burlington Woods (a for-profit corporation) is a long-term care facility located in Burlington, New Jersey. It participates in Medicare and Medicaid, it has 227 certified beds, and it is #8 in our list of the ten worst long term care facilities in Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester counties. Based on the last two inspections the facility received, Burlington Woods is failing on a large number of counts to provide services that meet professional standards, and is instead providing negligent and abusive care (nursing home abuse).
Inspection reports show isolated incidents of failure to maintain the dignity and respect of residents. Inspections also showed patterns of nursing home abuse, insufficient housekeeping and maintenance services, drug regimens including unnecessary drugs, and unsanitary food preparation and serving.
Nursing Home Abuse: Burlington Woods was found in their Quality Measures inspections to have lower than national and/or New Jersey percentage averages in the following areas:
• Long stay residents given influenza vaccinations during flu season
• Long stay residents assessed and given pneumococcal vaccinations
• Short stay residents give influenza vaccinations during flu season
• Short stay residents given pneumococcal vaccinations
Nursing Home Abuse: The Quality Measures inspections found that Burlington Woods had higher than national and/or New Jersey percentage averages in the following areas:
• Long stay residents whose need for help with daily activities increased
• High Risk long stay residents who develop pressure sores
• Low risk long stay residents who develop pressure sores
• Long stay residents who spend most of their time in a bed or chair
• Long stay residents who lose control of their bladder or bowels
• Long stay residents whose physical independence became limited
• Long stay residents who have urinary tract infections
• Long stay residents who lose too much weight
• Short stay residents who develop pressure sores
Nursing Home Abuse: Inspectors determined that the facility failed to give professional services that met a professional standard of quality, it failed to provide care that keeps or builds residents’ self respect, failed to store, cook, and serve food in a safe and clean way, and failed to keep accurate and appropriate medical records.
Their largest, most concerning deficiency was one that related to administering drugs to patients. Inspections found that care-takers were failing to regulate dosages of medicine, as well failing to change or stop prescriptions that were causing unwanted effects. Long-term care facility negligence and nursing home abuse, as you can and will further see, are a serious detriment to the long term care industry.
If You Are a Victim of Nursing Home Abuse, Get Help!
If you or a loved one has suffered injury or loss due to nursing home abuse or negligence, you’ll need proper representation. The Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at the Mininno Law Firm are here to help you receive the compensation you are due. Contact us to fill out a free case evaluation form, or call us for a free consultation: (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Nursing home abuse and neglect are unacceptable crimes to humanity.
South Jersey Health Care Center (Camden)
The South Jersey Health Care Center (a for-profit corporation) is a long term care facility located in Camden, New Jersey. It participates in Medicare and Medicaid, it has 120 certified beds, and it is #9 in our list of the ten worst long term care facilities in Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester counties. Based on the last three inspections the facility received, the South Jersey Health Care Center failing on a large number of counts to provide services that meet professional standards, and is instead providing negligent and abusive care (nursing home abuse).
Inspection reports show isolated incidents of failure to maintain residents’ nutrition status, failure to develop comprehensive care plans, and failure to prevent or treat pressure sores. They show patterns of nursing home abuse and less than professional house keeping/maintenance services. The same reports show widespread occurrences of unsanitary conditions in food prep and service areas, and widespread occurrences of hazardous obstructions.
Nursing Home Abuse: The South Jersey Health Care Center was found in their Quality Measures inspections to have lower than national and/or New Jersey percentage averages in the following areas:
Long stay residents given influenza vaccinations during flu season
Long stay residents assessed and given pneumococcal vaccinations
Short stay residents give influenza vaccinations during flu season
Short stay residents given pneumococcal vaccinations
Nursing Home Abuse: The Quality Measures inspections found that The South Jersey Health Care Center had higher than national and/or New Jersey percentage averages in the following areas:
High risk long stay residents who develop pressure sores
Low risk long stay residents who develop pressure sores
Long stay residents who have catheters inserted and left in their bladders
Long stay residents who spend most of their time in a bed or chair
Long stay residents who have urinary tract infections
Long stay residents who lose too much weight
Short stay residents with moderate to sever pain.
Nursing home abuse: Inspectors determined that the facility failed to give professional services that met a professional standard of quality, it failed to make sure each resident’s nutritional needs were met, failed to store, cook, and serve food in a safe and clean way, and failed to make sure that the nursing home area was free of dangers that cause accidents. Perhaps their biggest failure was their failure to provide immediate updates to doctors or family members when residents’ health or treatment changed, when residents suffered injuries, or when residents needed to be transferred or discharged. Long-term care facility negligence and nursing home abuse, as you can and will further see, are a serious detriment to the long term care industry.
Have You Been Affected by Nursing Home Abuse?
If you or a loved one has suffered injury or loss due to nursing home abuse or negligence, you’ll need proper representation. The Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at the Mininno Law Firm are here to help you receive the compensation you are due. Contact Us to fill out a free case evaluation form, or call us for a free consultation: 856-833-0600 in New Jersey or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.
The Mininno Law Office takes a firm stand against 
