Tag: nursing home neglect

Nursing Home Abuse: Avoiding a Bad Facility

The decision to place a loved one into a nursing home or long-term care facility can be an incredibly difficult one. The fear that loved ones will not get the care they need, or the fear that they will fall victim to nursing home abuse or neglect will be undoubtedly be present. Therefore, it is very important that you feel comfortable with the facility that you choose. Doing your research before you place your loved one into a facility is a vital part of the decision process. We write about all of the horror stories that occur in nursing homes, but there are good facilities out there, you just have to find them.

Steps to Choosing the Right Nursing Home for Your Loved One

nursing home abuse NJ PAMake a List: The first thing that you need to do when choosing a nursing home is to make a list of local facilities. It is important that you look in an area that is close to family and friends. Your loved one may feel isolated and the presence of family and friends in the area can serve to keep their spirits up. There are several agencies and websites that can give you a list of nursing homes in the area to start from. Eldercare Locator is a good site that will connect you to agencies in your area.

Research: Once you have a list of homes in your desired area, you should then start doing some research on each home to eliminate the ones that have bad track records. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rank all of the nursing homes in the nation on a scale of one to five stars. By visiting the Medicare website, you can see which facilities have good and bad rankings based on health inspections, staffing, incidents and other factors. The Ombudsman office, a government office that investigates nursing home complaints, is a good resource to find out more about the homes you are considering. Doing a general Google search on these facilities can also be helpful to see if any of them have been in the news for nursing home abuse or neglect.

Call the Facilities: Once you have eliminated some facilities based on your research, you should call the homes left on your list. You should be asking questions to find out if they have availability at this time, what they charge, what their specialties are, and if they accept Medicaid. You should also explain any special needs your loved one has, to make sure the facility has the capabilities to handle any special cases.

Visit the Facilities: You should schedule a visit with your top choices to take a tour of the facility. While you are there, make sure to be very observant; notice the cleanliness, the smell, the equipment, the food, and the staff. Look to see if the residents seem happy. Is the staff attentive to the patients or do they seem overworked? If possible, talk to the residents and their families to ask if they are happy with the facility. You should also talk to the administrator or other staff member of authority to ask questions about staff screening, background checks, training procedures and staff turnover rates.

It may seem like a lot to remember, but make yourself a checklist of things that you want to learn about each nursing home before you go on your visit. Nursing home abuse and neglect are preventable. Doing your research and avoiding facilities that show red flags will increase your loved one’s safety.

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

Nursing Home Abuse: Facility Kicking Out Abused Resident

About a month ago, we wrote about the nursing home abuse that occurred at the Prentiss Center for Skilled Nursing Care, a MetroHealth nursing home in Cleveland. Steve Piskor captured the abuse of his 78-year-old mother, Esther, on a hidden camera. In the videos, nurse’s aides Virgen Caraballo and Giselle Nelson are seen striking the patient’s face, violently throwing her into her bed and wheelchair, pushing her face into the wall, and repeatedly spraying her face with an unknown liquid that was later identified as perfume. Both women were fired and legal action was taken.

Facility Says Keeping Abused Resident is “Financial Burden”

According to a recent investigation, five nurses’ aides have physically abused or intimidated Esther Piskor. The state has cited the home for not taking action that “ensured the protection of residents” from abuse and for not properly training nurse’s aides. MetroHealth has fired several nurses’ aides, hired an outside agency to give Piskor security 24-hours a day and conducted mandatory training on sensitivity and patient care for all employees. According to Steve Piskor these actions “are far too late. I say it’s not a training problem. It’s an administration problem. It’s something that should have been watched more closely.”

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers metrohealth Prentiss Center for Skilled CareThe facility now wants to transfer her to another nursing home. MetroHealth spokeswoman Susan Christopher said it was “in order to ensure her safety and welfare.” But Steve Piskor is afraid that the move is because he refused to remove the hidden camera from his mother’s room and that moving his mother would not be good for her. “My mother is the victim,” Steve Piskor said. “She’s not the problem. Metro wants to make it out like she’s the problem.” MetroHealth is saying that the camera is a violation of their policies and that caring for Piskor is becoming “too much of a financial burden.”

More people are coming forward about the abuse of Piskor. Jacklyn Lauren was visiting her father at the facility when she witnessed the nursing home abuse of Piskor. She saw a nurse’s aide pushing food into Piskor’s mouth and when the aide came up to Lauren she said she wished Piskor “would die.” Lauren said “She was trying to talk to me like we were friends and she said … ‘God, I hate that woman. I wish that woman would die.‘ She used profanity with the situation.” Lauren reported what she saw to the head nurse but was ignored.

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 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, 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 Discuss Bed Sores – Stage IV

This is the fourth and final post in a series detailing the differences in the stages of bed sores. Our professionals represents clients all over the New Jersey and Philadelphia region with bed sore related injuries and is writing this series to inform the patients and their families about the different stages of bed sores, and their legal rights. This post is about Stage IV bed sores, the most serious and deadly stage.

Are Stage IV bed sores preventable?

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse bedsore attorneys bed sore stage 4Stage IV bed sores are horrifying wounds that cause incredible damage to the health of a person. If you or your loved one has a Stage IV bed sore that is currently not being treated,  it needs to be treated immediately for the health and safety of the patient. Unfortunately, Stage IV bed sores start off as Stage I bed sores, as discussed in previous blog posts, which are entirely preventable by attentive medical professionals.

When patients have a Stage I bed sore, there are many things that can be done to prevent the further degradation of the patient’s skin and muscle structure, including frequent repositioning to alleviate pressure on the skin. However, in some cases, a facility is under staffed, or has uncaring employees, that will allow a patient to lay in the same position for days, sometimes in their own bodily fluids. Patients that rely on the care of medical professionals, and cannot reposition themselves, are most likely to fall victims.

What are Stage IV bed sores?

Bed sores that have progressed to a Stage IV level are very serious and have a damaging impact on a patient’s health. The symptoms include: extensive destruction and tissue death to muscle, bone, and supporting structures (tendons, joints, and capsules). The wound will look like large, deep, and open, revealing bone and connective tissues. This is the last and most serious stage of bed sores. Even posting a picture of a Stage IV bed sore would be too graphic for this blog.

Bed Sores Lawyers of New Jersey and Philadelphia

A stage IV bed sore is a tell tale sign of nursing home abuse. A wound should never, under any circumstance, progress to this level. If you or your love one suffered a stage IV bed sore while in a nursing home or assisted living facility, please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation and consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. You have suffered enough, it is time you received the compensation you deserve.

Nursing Home Abuse in Hawaii Facilities Go Unpunished

Hawaii has the lowest number of nursing home abuse sanctions in the country, but this is not necessarily because they have the best care. There is a troubling pattern in Hawaii; regulators rarely punish facilities for deficient care, even if the deficiencies bring direct harm to residents. In 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services only imposed one sanction against a Hawaii facility. In the past six years, CMS only took actions against 4 percent of Hawaii facilities that were cited deficiencies, while the national average is 30 percent.

According to Bob Ogawa of the Hawaii Long Term Care Association, “Unless an incident is the result of a systemic, willful and ongoing disregard of those goals, the focus should be on working together to ensure it never happens again.” He also said that fines are not guaranteed to improve care, but they would take money away from improving care. Many other advocates for the elderly disagree with Ogawa; they believe that this creates a system where institutions know that they will be getting a second chance before any punishment is implemented.

Sexual Abuse from Nurse’s Aide Does Not Result in Sanction

new jersey philaldephia nursing home abuse lawyers kahala nui hawaii mark genetianoAn example of abuse that was not sanctioned by the state occurred in one of Hawaii’s premiere facilities, Kahala Nui. The home failed to protect their residents from a sexually abusive nurse’s aide and failed to properly investigate the allegations of abuse. they also failed to examine or interview any of the nine women who said the employee mistreated them between April 2008 and June 2009.

Mark Genetiano, the certified nurse aide accused of the abuse, was not reprimanded, even after co-workers witnessed mistreatment over several months in 2008, such as pinching the breasts of severely demented women under his care. It was not until he was seen striking a resident with a hairbrush in June 2009 that he was suspended. An investigation was also started by the facility that brought the previously unreported sexual assaults to administrators’ attention. Genetiano was then fired and the police were contacted. He pleaded guilty last year to six counts of third-degree sexual assault for abusing four women, completed a one-year prison sentence and was deported to the Philippines. The other workers who witnessed the abuse told inspectors that they were too scared of Genetiano to report him.

The state of Hawaii did cite the nursing home for failing to “ensure that all alleged violations of mistreatment, neglect or abuse were thoroughly investigated and reported immediately to the facility administrator and to other officials in accordance with state law” and that the facility failed to protect the residents from further abuse but no sanctions were issued. According to Pat Duarte, chief executive of Kahala Nui, “The incidents of 2009 were dealt with by administrators swiftly, the perpetrator was terminated and action was taken to ensure justice was served … we have now put that unfortunate chapter behind us.”

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

Bed Sores – Stage III

Our professionals handles bed sore cases of varying degrees throughout the New Jersey and Philadelphia region. In the previous two blog posts within this series, we have discussed stage I and stage II bed sores. Unfortunately, most cases that we are involved in typically involve Stage III and Stage IV bed sores, the most serious and dangerous types. Again, it is unfortunate to see our clients and families ailing from such an easily preventable, yet painful, and deadly condition.

What is a Stage III Bed Sore?

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers bedsores bed sores stage IIIStage III bed sores are incredibly serious and need immediate attention, as healing bed sores that progress past Stage II is extremely difficult. A stage III bed sore will display skin loss involving damage or death to the subcutaneous tissue that may extend to the connective tissue. The wound will look like a deep crater which is black around its edges. Subcutaneous fat may be visible, but bone, tendon, or muscle is not. There may be tunneling and undermining in the skin.

If you have seen a Stage III bed sore, it is very sad and disturbing. It is disturbing for a number of reasons. First, the wound itself is almost unimaginable, especially considering the time it takes for a pressure sore to progress to this level. They are disturbing because often, they are accompanied with a foul odor. These sores are 100% preventable and their occurrence should never be of issue. Negligence is the only factor to be considered when dealing with the cause of a bed sore.

Bed Sores Lawyers of New Jersey and Philadelphia

At this point, if your loved one has a Stage III bed sore, recovery is certainly going to be more difficult. The wound has progressed into a stage where healing is less likely. Also, it is almost certain that neglect or abuse has played a part in the development of the wound. No one should have to endure this type of pain. Contact the Mininno Law office at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia for a free case evaluation and consultation today. You deserve to be compensated and the parties responsible for your injury should be held responsible.

Nursing Home Abuse Causes RN to Surrender License

It is alarming how many cases of nursing home abuse go unreported and how many nurses, direct care workers, caretakers, and nursing home employees get away with this abuse without punishment. Physically, verbally, financially, or sexually abusing an elderly or disabled person is unacceptable and should never be tolerated by other staff members or the administrators of nursing homes. The elderly are normally at their most vulnerable when they are living in a nursing home or long-term care facility. They depend on the staff of these facilities to care for them and have their best interest in mind. This is what makes nursing home abuse even more disgraceful; they are abusing their position as caretakers to take advantage of the elderly.

RN Caught Physically and Verbally Abusing Patients

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyersMyrna Siegel, a former registered nurse at the Sullivan County Adult Care Facility in Liberty, New York, is being charged with abusing patients. She has surrendered her license to practice as an RN after an investigation by the State Office of Medicaid Inspector General uncovered the abuse. She is being charged with physically and verbally abusing patients. According to a report from the Long Term Care Community Coalition, “In one instance she forcibly held down a resident while giving care, calling the resident an ‘evil witch’.” In another case of abuse, she told a resident who was not ready to receive his medication that “he had a death wish and was going to die if he didn’t take his medicine.”

As nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers, it is good to see that Myrna Siegel did not get away with abusing her patients and that her license was revoked so she cannot continue to hurt other elderly residents. Too many cases of elder abuse go unreported, but we can be proud when the system does work and the abusive caretakers are removed from nursing homes and facilities.

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 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, 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 Through Abduction and Theft of Life Savings

elder abuse in NJ and PAIn a disturbing case of elder abuse, an 85-year-old California woman was found abandoned in a cabin in Edgecomb, Maine after being abducted and dragged across the country. Barbara Davis and Nicholas Davis, 41, and their 20-year-old godson, Jonathan Stevens have been charged with the felony of endangering the welfare of an elderly dependent adult. The group allegedly used the woman for her money and then left her when the money ran out. She was found undernourished, disoriented, very thin, and robbed of her entire life savings.

Elderly Woman Dragged Across Country and Abandoned in Cabin

The woman sold her Los Angeles home in 2008 for $600,000 and moved into an apartment where she met the suspects. In 2009 they told her that they wanted to take her on a road trip and one day carried her into a car. They held her captive for more than two years using her for her money. According to Det. Robert McFetridge, who is investigating the case:

“They knowingly left her in a small cabin with no telephone and very little food… They left her to her own devices to take care of herself in 93-degree heat…Every time I talk to her, she slowly comes out of her shell. They exploited her, isolated her from the world, they controlled what she saw, what she heard and who she talked to. This is a textbook case of elder abuse and financial exploitation”

The suspects took advantage of a lonely elderly woman with no family for their own personal gain and left her with nothing. This is an extreme example of how little some people think of the elderly. Once they were done exploiting her for her money, they literally abandoned her to die. The elderly are easy targets for financial elder abuse because they have had their whole lives to save and are often lonely and can be easy to gain their trust. The three suspects were released on bail and are scheduled to appear in court on September 29 to face charges.

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.

Bed Sores – Stage II

The Mininno Law Office serves patients and families affected by bed sores in the New Jersey and Philadelphia region. Typically, these bed sores and pressure ulcers are caused by nursing home neglect and abuse. This is the second post in a series of four that will describe the stages of bed sores. It is important to know the bed sore stages as laid out by the Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. This post covers the second evolution of bed sores, Stage II.

What Happens if Stage I Bed Sores Are Not Treated Promptly?

Typically, once a Stage I bed sore develops, medical professionals are attentive and realize the danger that the patient is in. The medical professionals then take the appropriate steps to care for the bed sores and avoid any serious complications. However, when the medical professionals neglect their duties, a Stage I bed sore will progress into a Stage II bed sore, which is even more painful and potentially fatal.

As Stage II bed sores develop, so too do a host of other symptoms. There is a skin loss involving the epidermis, dermis, or both layers of skin. The bed sore will look superficial, much like an abrasion, blister, or small crater. It will look like a shallow open ulcer with a pink-red wound bed, without slough. It could also look like a serum-filled, open, or ruptured blister. Once bed sores progress past this stage, they are much harder to treat.

Prevention is Key

As discussed in the previous blog, prevention is the key to stopping bed sores. Essentially, the medical staff needs to be attentive to the needs of their patients, especially those who are unable to care for themselves and shift positions. Bed Sores are entirely preventable; it just takes staff attention. Unfortunately, in many nursing homes and assisted living facilities, it is difficult to come across because of budget cuts and under-staffing.

This should serve as a warning for family members of patients in these facilities. We are not suggesting that all facilities, or even most, are dangerous, but it is extremely important to monitor your loved one’s condition in these facilities to prevent things like bed sores.  The medical staff should be checking on your family member and so should you.

Bed Sores Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one has suffered from bed sores in a nursing home or assisted living facility you should contact the Mininno Law Office for a free consultation and case evaluation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. We are experienced at holding those who caused your or your loved one’s injury responsible for their actions. Let the Mininno Law Office serve you by getting you the fair and just compensation which you truly deserve.

Bed Sores – Stage 1

Bed sores and pressure ulcers, 99% of the time, are indicative of nursing home abuse. Usually, bed sores are classified as a Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV, but many of our clients do not know what the difference is between these. This blog post, and the following three in this series, are aimed at informing nursing home abuse victims, and their families, about their injuries and what they can do about it.

Bed Sore Stage Classifications – Stage I

Stage I bed sores represent the first stage of bed sores, and should serve as a warning sign to medical professionals and family members. Patients with Stage I bed sores typically exhibit the following symptoms:

  • a warming or cooling in skin temperature,
  • changes in tissue consistency (firm or boggy feeling),
  • pain,
  • itching, and
  • persistent red, blue, or purple hues.

Typically, bed sores lawyers are not involved with Stage I bed sores because they can be treated by medical professionals, thereby eliminating a serious health risk to the patient. But, as experienced bed sores lawyers, we can tell you, from first hand experience, that monitoring your loved one’s health is very important. Bed sores progress very rapidly, and when they are discovered, they need to be treated immediately.

Preventing Bed Sores

Bed sores typically are caused by pressure on the skin at bony areas of the body. Continuous pressure and friction are dangerous to people with the following risk factors:

  • over 65,
  • incontinence,
  • malnutrition,
  • dehydration,
  • lack of movement,
  • numbness,
  • smoking, and
  • previous pressure ulcers.

For bed ridden patients, skin should be kept clean, dry, and moisturized. Furthermore, their position should be changed regularly, and special equipment and pads should be used to protect skin over bony areas. The best medicine for bed sores is prevention, and the number one tool for prevention is attentiveness. It is important to be attentive to a patient’s needs. If a patient is ignored or neglected, deadly bed sores can quickly develop.

Bed Sores Lawyers in New Jersey

Later posts will demonstrate how a Stage I pressure ulcer can quickly develop into a more serious problem. If you or your family member has developed bed sores while in a nursing home or assisted living facility, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free consultation and case evaluation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. You deserve compensation and the Mininno Law Office can get it for you.

Nursing Home Neglect Warning: Certain Anti-depressants Increase Risk of Falls

As nursing home neglect and abuse lawyers, we believe it is important to keep readers informed of any new revelations when it comes to care for the elderly. That is why this blog post centers around the results of a recent study, which show that nursing home residents’ fall risk increases when certain anti-depressants are prescribed. The elderly are in a vulnerable physical state and are often prescribed a high number of medications, all with different side effects. It is very important that the nursing homes monitor the medications that are being given to their residents, to make sure that they are safe combinations and that the drugs are appropriate for each patient. Many drugs may have the intended result for the patient, but the side effects may be too dangerous for that particular person.

Change in Dose of Non-SSRI Antidepressant Can Increase Risk of Falls in Elderly

nursing home neglect in NJ and PAAccording to a study that was published online in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences by Dr. Sarah D. Berry, a scientist at the Institute for Aging Research of Hebrew SeniorLife in Boston, the elderly are at a greater risk of falling the days after they start taking non-SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants, such as bupropion or venlafaxine. The researchers studied information on 1,181 nursing home residents who fell and compared the changes in their antidepressants shortly before the fall. They discovered that a patient’s risk of falling is five times higher two days after changing prescriptions or changing to a higher dose and that the risk falls each day after the medication change. According to Dr. Berry:

“Our results identify the days following a new prescription or increased dose of a non-SSRI antidepressant as a window of time associated with a particularly high risk of falling among nursing home residents…. These drugs are effective at treating the symptoms of depression, and many clinicians are reluctant to withhold their use based solely on a risk for falls…. Nursing home staff should keep a watchful eye on residents in the days following a non-SSRI antidepressant change to prevent falls and clinicians should avoid making changes on weekends or during times when unfamiliar staff is present.”

The study links the increased risk of falls to these possible causes:

  • Serious cognitive or motor effects associated with non-SSRI antidepressants that have not yet been fully examined.
  • Postural hypotension, a dramatic decrease in blood pressure upon standing, associated with certain non-SSRIs, such as trazodone.
  • Sedation and coordination problems linked to certain non-SSRIs.

Over one third of the large elderly population in this country currently living in nursing homes are taking some form of antidepressant. These medications can be very helpful to the residents’ quality of life and this study is showing a side effect of the medications. If the patient is already prone to falls or is in a very fragile condition where a fall could be fatal, the nursing home may want to consider an alternative medication option. But most importantly, these patients need to be monitored more closely for two days after changing prescriptions. They need to be given extra care to prevent falls.

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.