Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Thrilled by American Nursing Homes Making Moves to Change Care

new jersey nursing home abuse attorneys, philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyersOur nations’ nursing homes are in dire need of help. Every day, nursing home abuse attorneys of Messa & Associates, P.C. are contacted by individuals regarding some form of abuse or negligence that a loved one endured in a nursing home. The importance of patient care seems to have dissipated and its priority replaced by money and business related needs.

However, it seems there is has been a push for betterment in the nursing home industry. Advancing Excellence, NH Quality Campaign – a campaign created to encourage, assist, and empower nursing homes to improve the quality of life, prevent bed sores and pressure ulcers, and care for residents – is prepared to change the nursing homes of America.

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Support goals of Advancing Excellence Campaign

The coalition, which is the first of its kind, is made up of long term care providers, medical professionals, consumers, employees, and state and federal agencies. It has 8 major goals:

  • To minimize staff turnover; a stable workforce will improve patient care.
  • To employ a “Constant Assignment” plan so that patients are regularly cared for by the same caregiver.
  • To reduce the time residents spend restrained. Independence will improve quality of life.
  • To prevent bed sores and pressure ulcers, and to provide appropriate treatment of those that do develop.
  • To prevent unnecessary or prolonged episodes of severe pain.
  • To include residents in advanced care planning prior to the completion of their stay
  • To use assessments of resident and family experience of care to improve future quality of care for patient safety.
  • To use assessment of staff satisfaction of work environment to improve future quality of care.

Many nursing home establishments have joined forces with Advancing Excellence in efforts to improve the quality of care they provide. Obviously, these establishments are aware and agree that they are not providing top notch care. It’s good news to those who have suffered from nursing abuse, neglect, and inadequacy.

All nursing homes in New Jersey are in fact either participants in or charter members of the Advancing Excellence campaign. We should be proud that caregivers in the state are willing to step up and begin providing the kind of care our elderly citizens deserve.

New Jersey and Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

If you are someone who has seen first-hand the effects of nursing home abuse, negligence, and inadequacy, it’s time to contact a nursing home abuse attorney. The team at Messa & Associates is dedicated to earning justice and compensation for those injured or worse by negligence and abuse in nursing homes and long term care facilities.

Call, toll-free, 1-800-MessaLaw, or submit a free online inquiry. If you would like immediate assistance, click the CHAT LIVE icon to the right. A representative is present right now to answer your questions.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Caution on Nursing Home Cover Ups

Nursing homes and long-term care facilities are legally obligated to report incidents of nursing home abuse and neglect; however, they often go unreported or covered up. We strongly encourage that if you have a loved one in a nursing home, you visit often and pay close attention to any warning signs. It is then your responsibility to report these issues for their safety to the facility, the state or a nursing home abuse lawyer.

Nursing Home’s Explanation of Injuries Doesn’t Match Hospital Findings

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers caution cover upsA 70 year old woman who was a resident of the University Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Charlotte, North Carolina was rushed to the Carolinas Medical Center University on the morning of Sunday, August 29, 2011 with a broken pelvis and facial bruise. When the family asked the nursing home what caused the injuries, they told her that the elderly woman had fallen, but emergency room staff at the hospital said that the injuries were not consistent with a fall. This led the family to believe the woman had been assaulted. They alerted the Police and Department of Social Services, an entity that handles allegations of elder abuse, and both began an investigation into what really happened to the woman.

The University Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center only ranked one out of five stars by the state and has had some minor violations in the past. It is too early in the investigation to determine whether the resident was assaulted or actually did fall.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have witnessed your loved one or any nursing home resident being abused, or you fear that the care they are receiving may be considered negligent or abusive, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. 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 Exposé: Marcella Center

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers expose marcella centerIt is important, as nursing home abuse lawyers practicing in the New Jersey and Philadelphia area, to help expose the nursing homes that are not just below average, but that provide a low quality of life for their residents. These below average nursing homes are the ones often responsible for the acts of abuse that patients (our loved ones) must be protected from. The State of New Jersey conducts routine inspections of all nursing homes and long term health care facilities in the state.

The subject of today’s post is a for profit, corporately owned nursing home located in Burlington County, New Jersey. The facility holds 156 long term care beds and was given a below average overall rating by the Official US Government Site for Medicare in its nursing home comparisons.

Marcell Center Fails to Impress Inspectors from Medicare and the State of Jersey

The Marcella Center, located on Rancocas Road in Burlington, had two routine inspections between November 2008 and October 2010. During that time, the facility was cited for 19 separate deficiencies. In the Medicare Nursing Home Compare System, it received an overall rating of 2 out of 5 stars, which is considered below average.

Among Marcella’s numerous citations, one had to do with not giving residents proper treatment to prevent new bed (pressure) sores, or to heal those existing sores. A violation of this magnitude is not something to be ignored or brushed aside, as the improper care of a bed sore can be very dangerous and extremely painful for the patient. During this same time period, 6 complaint inspections were conducted with an additional 5 deficiencies cited. These inspections put the number of citations above the average for the United States and for New Jersey.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

As always, it is important to do your research before utilizing a particular nursing home, and to continue to monitor its standard of care throughout your loved ones stay. This truly can make the difference between life and death in some patients.

If your loved one is a resident at a nursing home or long term care facility, and you believe the care they are receiving is insufficient, negligent, or abusive, 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.

New Jersey Nursing Home Exposé: Stratord Nursing & Convalescent Center

As nursing home abuse lawyers practicing in Philadelphia and New Jersey, it is important that we help educate readers on nursing home abuse and the safety of the local nursing homes. Today we want to share the importance of researching and reviewing nursing home inspections. The Department of Health and Senior Service’s Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing” conduct routine inspections of New Jersey Nursing Homes. A review of these published reports can help identify care facilities with a pattern of abuse and neglect.

Stratford Nursing & Convalescent Center

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers Spotlight Abusive careToday, we are reporting on the Stratford Nursing & Convalescent Center located in Stratford, New Jersey. The latest published report shows all of the violations found during the routine inspections for the two year period between November 2008 and October 2010. The Stratford Nursing & Convalescent Center had 33 cited nursing home violations on the two combined inspection dates. The facility’s citations included safety code violations, life safety code standard violations, and others related to abuse and neglect. The level of violations were mainly rated as being pattern or widespread violations, with at least four considered to cause immediate jeopardy to the residents health or safety. Stratford’s ratings are a sure cause for concern, and it is quite clear that immediate corrective action needs to be taken. The facility’s noncompliance with one or more standards has caused, or is likely to cause, serious injury, harm, impairment, or death to a patient or resident.

These reports are a very effective tool when evaluating which long term nursing home a loved one should be placed in. It is also important to review these reports periodically to make sure the facility is not showing signs of abuse or neglect. Facilities that show a widespread pattern of safety violations are often the same nursing homes with patients that develop malnutrition and bed sores, and receive other neglectful and abusive treatment.

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is a resident of a nursing home that provides negligent, abusive, or sub-standard care, 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. Do not let abusive treatment go unnoticed or unpunished.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Provide Tip#10 for Bed Sore Prevention

As nursing home abuse attorneys, we have been posting a series of tips to help the prevention of nursing home abuse and bed sores. Our last few posts concerned the nursing home patient’s need for proper nutrition and hydration, as well as the importance of repositioning. Today’s bed sore tip once again deals with proper positioning of the nursing home patient to prevent a painful and often deadly bed sore. As we have indicated in the past, “Prevention is always the best medicine when it comes to preventing bed sores and pressure ulcers in nursing homes.”

Tip #10: Proper Pressure Redistribution

The 9th tip for the prevention and treatment of bed sores involves making sure that the patient is using the proper materials and mattresses for proper pressure-redistribution. Long term care residents should be using pressure-redistribution mattresses and chair cushion surfaces. new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers proper pressure redistributionThese surfaces typically have layers that help provide optimal immersion and comfort for the nursing home patient. These surfaces are designed to have independent zones to provide the correct pressure for each weight range. These surfaces are designed, in fact, to help aid in both the prevention and the treatment of bed sores and pressure ulcers. Redistribution of surface pressue is very important as the pressure causes the small blood vessels in the skin to collapse, which deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients, causing them to die. Nursing homes should avoid using donut-type devices and most sheepskin products for pressure redistribution. Staff members should be aware of the need for proper surfaces. Not using the proper surface for patients is tantamount to nursing home abuse. The use of the proper pressure-redistributing surfaces along with proper repositioning may be two of the most important bed sore prevention tips that all families should be aware of and vigilant to for the well being of their loved ones.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved is a resident at a nursing home, and you believe that the treatment they are receiving is below standard, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. We are skilled in earning compensation for families whose loved ones have been mistreated by nursing homes or long term care facilities. You may also call for free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse – Does My Family Have a Case?

nursing home abuse and negeligence attorneys in nj and pa At the Mininno Law Office, we know from experience that it can be a difficult for a family to decide whether or not to investigate if a nursing home should be held responsible for injuries to a loved one. Furthermore, it can be quite disheartening at a later time when the law firm a family finally trusted to perform an investigation sends a letter indicating their disinterest. Based upon the experience of New Jersey nursing home abuse attorney Donald Browne, experienced personal injury attorneys and their law firms commonly reject claims of nursing home abuse that do have merit. Nursing home abuse and neglect cases have different characteristics and dynamics than other claims for personal injuries. Law firms either don’t understand how to analyze these cases, or decide they are too complicated to justify all of the necessary work and expense. However, an experienced nursing home abuse attorney like Donald Browne of the Mininno Law Office eagerly accepts the challenge.

Nursing Home Abuse Claims and the Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations is a legal deadline by which a lawsuit must be filed. If a lawsuit is not filed by this deadline, an otherwise valid claim could be dismissed by the court. The statute for personal injury is generally two years from the date you knew, or should have known, that the nursing home’s conduct caused an injury. It can be a shorter or longer time period, depending upon what type of case you are pursuing, and in which court you are pursuing it.

Another issue with the statute is the “discovery rule.” Although it may be easy to figure out when it begins for an auto accident because the actual crash happened on a date that is easily identifiable, it is not always as easy to identify when it would begin and end for a nursing home abuse or neglect case. This is true because often times it is not one event that creates liability against a nursing home, but rather a series of mistakes that result in serious injuries to your loved one. Since the statue of limitations in any particular case is so fact specific, the best advice for any individual or family considering a lawsuit is to immediately contact a nursing home abuse attorney. After listening to the facts, the attorney should be able to advise as to the likelihood of a valid case, and when the statute would expire.

Nursing Home Abuse Attorney; Why Act Quickly?

Without specifically reviewing and analyzing the facts of your case, it is impossible to determine when the statue of limitations would expire. However, regardless of when the deadline to file a lawsuit may be, if you feel your family may have a lawsuit against a nursing home, you should contact Donald Browne immediately. There is a tremendous amount of information that needs to be collected, and the old adage “the sooner the better” certainly applies!

One example of important evidence that needs to be immediately collected in support of nursing home abuse and neglect case – photographs. Photographs are very important and should be taken immediately.

The earlier your family calls Donald Browne, the earlier your family and the Mininno Law Office can begin to work together and devise a plan to obtain all of the necessary information needed to start building your case. The only mistake your family can make is waiting too long to call and ask.

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have suffered at the hands of negligent or abusive staff members at a nursing home or long term care facility, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Donald Browne is an experienced and hard working nursing home abuse attorney prepared to help you earn the compensation you and your loved one are entitled to. You may also call for a free consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse a Growing Trend

nursing home abuse and negligence in long term care facilities
Reported cases of nursing home abuse are on the rise.

The Hampton Roads News recently published an article discussing the results of a study on nursing home abuse. The study asserts that elderly citizens are being abused more than ever before.
Study results are only helping the fight to improve nursing home and long term facility care.

 

Within the study are statistics that illustrate a 9 percent rise in reported cases of nursing home abuse from 2008-2009. From 2007-2009, reports rose 19 percent.
A personal account in the study involved the story of an 87 year old Alzheimers patient that died in the hospital after being brought in covered in bruises and bedsores or pressure sores, and suffering from extreme malnourishment.

Experts believe that these numbers are poised only to rise.

Never let Nursing Home Abuse go Unreported

Considering that thousands of nursing home abuse cases go unreported, perhaps a rise in these numbers would be good for the fight against inattentive and abusive care.
Reporting nursing home abuse to the state ombudsman will trigger an investigation, making it hard for nursing homes and long term care facilities to continue treating residents with such callous disregard.

Contacting a nursing home abuse attorney in the event of elder abuse is also essential. Nursing homes tend to provide inadequate care because their staff is overworked and underpaid, or perhaps not trained or properly educated. Owners of these homes cut staff numbers, sometimes below regulatory standards, to raise profits.

In the end, our elderly loved ones are suffering so someone else can get rich. Recently, juries have been awarding huge sums of money to victims of nursing home abuse. It’s clear that the crime is intolerable and offenders must be punished.

Victim of Nursing Home Abuse? Contact the Mininno Law Office

If you or a loved one have suffered due to nursing home abuse or negligence, please 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.

We will work hard to earn you the compensation you rightly deserve.

New Illinois Legislation Promises Better Nursing Home Care

new jersey philadelphia attorneys nursing home abuse neglect illinois legislation
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.