Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog

Our Washington DC nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers regularly publish blog posts on the problem of physical and emotional abuse suffered by elderly persons at assisted living facilities and under the watch of private caregivers. Now, here is one about the problem of elder financial abuse, which, according to a study put out by MetLife Mature Market Institute (along with the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech and the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse), is costing $3 billion in losses each year.

Elderly persons often rely on their savings to support themselves and take care of their medical and nursing needs. Unfortunately, there are those who may take advantage of these older senior’s advanced age and possibly fragile mental and physical conditions to take their money from them. Possible perpetrators of DC elder financial abuse can include caregivers, family, friends, neighbors, and scam artists pitching financial products.

The study says that:
• Women are two times more likely to become victims of elder financial abuse.
• Most victims live alone and are in their 80’s.
• The holidays are when victims are most vulnerable.

This crime is seriously under-reported. Many victims are ashamed that they’ve allowed elder financial abuse to occur and they also may be afraid that they could lose their independence if the crime is revealed.

When elderly persons are bilked of their finances, this can make it hard for them to take care of themselves and get the nursing and medical care that they need. It can also lead to depression and the deterioration of one’s health.

Actor Mickey Rooney Granted Court Protection From Stepkids, Good Morning America, February 17, 2011

Elder financial abuse reaches “epidemic” proportion, Reuters, June 3, 2011

Related Web Resources:
MetLife Mature Market Institute

Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech

More Blog Posts:
Nursing Home Aide Receives Prison Sentence for Sexual Abuse, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, May 31, 2011

French Family Plans Lawsuit in Quadrangle 'Nanny Cam' Nursing Home Abuse Case, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, May 26, 2011

Washington DC Nursing Home Neglect Can Cause Bedsores, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, January 31, 2011

Continue reading "Elder Financial Abuse Costing Victims Almost $3 Billion, Reports MetLife Mature Market Institute Study" »

Our Washington DC nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers represent patients who have suffered serious illnesses and injuries at assisted living facilities. Unfortunately, one condition that we see and hear about way too often is bedsores (also known as decubitus ulcers or pressure sores). Many of the people we’ve represented who had bedsores didn’t have to develop this condition if only they’d receive the proper nursing care.

While a bedsore might sound like a mild sore, it can deteriorate to the point that infection, organ damage or death can result. The fact that bedsores can occur and are preventable is not news to anyone in the nursing home industry, so why, then, are so many patients still developing them? This is unacceptable, and if you or your loved one has pressure sores because he/she did not receive the proper nursing home care, then there is a good chance that you have grounds for a Washington DC nursing home negligence case.

Common causes of bedsores at assisted living facilities:
• Failure to regularly reposition/turn a patient in his/her bed
• Lack of mobility
• Prolonged pressure on one part of the body
• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Allowing a patient to sit in soiled bed sheets
• Letting moisture stay close to a resident's skin for too long
• Failure to change wet diapers
• Inexperienced nursing staff
• Understaffing
• Failure to identify and treat bedsores

Bedsores can become extremely painful and debilitating. There is no reason why a patient should not get the appropriate nursing home care that would prevent pressure sores from developing.

Related Web Resources:
Nursing Home Directory, District of Columbia Department of Health

Bedsores, MayoClinic

Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog

More Blog Posts:
Psychiatric Report Says U.S. Needs to Prepare for Increase of Elderly Dementia, Maryland Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, June 8, 2011

Dementia Patient’s Wandering Leads to Death—Nursing Home Fined $20K for Negligence, Maryland Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, June 6, 2011

Florida Nursing Homes Investigated for Severe Abuse and Negligence, Maryland Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, June 3, 2011

Continue reading "Washington DC Nursing Home Neglect Can Cause Bedsores" »

A class action complaint has been filed in federal court against the District of Columbia. The lawsuit contends that over 500 (possibly even up to 2,900 disabled) residents have been unnecessarily institutionalized against their own wishes because the city has failed to provide adequate community housing care alternatives. The lawsuit, filed by disability rights advocates, contends that the city is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In 2007, the District was given a federal grant of over $26 million to move 1,100 disabled people and seniors from DC nursing homes. While 73 people have been transferred out of institutional settings, patients have not yet been transferred out of nursing homes. According to advocates, city agencies and nursing home staffs have failed to notify residents that they have other living options.

Nursing Home Negligence
Nursing homes are responsible for providing residents with the specific care that he/she requires. Nursing home residents have certain rights even when staying at an assisted living facility. It is important that a patient benefit from living in a nursing home. In the event that personal injury results because of Washington DC nursing home neglect or abuse or medical practice or inadequate nursing care, the assisted living facility can be held liable for nursing home negligence.

Our Washington DC nursing home abuse law firm represents patients and their families that have suffered injury, illness, or death as a result of negligent nursing care.

Some signs of nursing home abuse or neglect:
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Unexplained bruises or injuries
• Bedsores
• Unexplained mood swings, depression, or withdrawal
• Nursing home staffers’ inability to explain how an injury occurred
• Overmedication
• Unwarranted restraints
• Sudden weight loss or gain
• Wandering or elopement

Advocates set to sue D.C. on behalf of disabled confined to nursing homes, The Washington Post, December 22, 2010

Lawsuit Claims DC Failing Nursing Home Residents, WUSA/AP, December 23, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Nursing Homes, DC Department of Health

Nursing Homes, Medicare.gov

Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog

Today marks the end of National Nursing Home Week. The week honors nursing home workers, professionals, residents, volunteers, and family members for their contributions to their communities.

National Nursing Home Week was established by the American Health Care Association. Last month, Representative Michael Arcuri (D-NY) introduced Resolution 1291, which supports the designated week. This year’s theme has been “Enriching Every Day.” Our Washington DC nursing home neglect and abuse law firm wants to honor those who do everything to make assisted living facility residents' lives easier and more enjoyable.

Visiting Your Loved One at a Nursing Home
It is important to visit your family member once they’ve moved into the assisted living facility. Not only will you be giving him/her emotional support and maintaining your connection with each other, but also physically going to the assisted living facility will allow you to take part in your relative’s care.

The Ribbon.com offers a number of recommendations for activities you can engage in when visiting a nursing home:

• Talk to your loved one
• Watch his/her body language for signs of loneliness, depression, abuse or neglect
• Take any complaints seriously
• Help the patient with leg or arm exercises
• Go for a walk together on the grounds or up and down the hall
• Bring gifts, such as flowers, mementos, family photos, or favorite foods
• Listen to music together
• Help with letter writing
• Share a meal together
• Check in with staff members about your loved one’s care
• Look around to make sure that the nursing home is still the kind of place where you feel comfortable letting your loved one live

Your physical presence also makes staff members aware that you are watching out for your loved one and monitoring their care and well-being. If you suspect Washington DC nursing home abuse your neglect, you may want to consider immediately removing your loved one from the assisted living facility.

AHCA Praises House Support for National Nursing Home Week, AHCA, April 23, 2010

Visiting in the Adult or Nursing Home, The Ribbon

Related Web Resources:

Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog

Nursing Home Directory, District of Columbia Department of Health

Continue reading "Washington DC Lawmakers Support National Nursing Home Week" »

According to the latest figures, over 35 million people in the world are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. This estimate is about 10% more than what scientists projected several years ago.

One reason for the underestimation was that the increase in Alzheimer’s in developing countries had not been fully evaluated. Now, however, there are enough people in poorer nations living long enough for dementia to kick in. By 2050, the World Alzheimer Report says that some 115.4 million people will be suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Age, diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol can increase the chances that a person may develop Alzheimer’s. In North America, the Alzheimer’s Association of the US says that over 5 million people are suffering from the disease. One in every eight people in the 65 and above age group and almost one in every two people in the over 85 age range has Alzheimer’s.

Dementia Patients in Washington DC Nursing Homes
With more people suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, nursing homes that agree to care for patients with this type of disease must make sure that they have the resources, experience, training, and staff to do a proper job.

Patients suffering from dementia may:

• Experience memory loss.
• May be prone to wandering.
• Have a hard time recognizing people.
• Be prone to inappropriate behaviors.
• Become violent.
• Forget people and places.
• Develop communication difficulties.
• Suffer from mood swings.
• Neglect their own care.

Dementia patients need specialized, more hands-on supervisory care than other nursing home residents. Nursing home patients with dementia may need protection from themselves and—depending on their condition and symptoms—other residents may need protection from them. Patients suffering from dementia are also at risk of becoming the victims of Washington DC nursing home abuse or neglect because they aren’t always aware of their surroundings or of what is happening to them.

If you suspect that your loved one is being abused or neglected, do not hesitate to contact our Washington DC nursing home negligence law firm immediately to request your free case evaluation. Nursing home neglect or abuse can cause serious injury to your loved one.

Report: 35 Million-Plus Worldwide Have Dementia, CBS2.com, September 21, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Alzheimer's Disease International

Alzheimer's Association

According to ABC 7/NewsChannel, an emergency room doctor who wishes to remain anonymous claims that he regularly sees patients from the Grand Park Care Center who are on the verge of death due to nursing home neglect. The nursing home residence is located in Washington DC’s NE.

The ER doctor says that a number of the DC nursing home's residents have come to him with acute kidney problems, severe pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration. The doctor says these conditions are signs that the patients are being neglected.

Following his nursing home neglect allegations, the ABC 7/NewsChannel looked at the D.C. Department of Health’s inspection reports from February and May 2008 and found that a number of deficiencies were noted at the Grand Park Care Center, including the failure to tell a physician that a resident was suffering from dehydration. There were also residents who were reportedly suffering from anemia and weight changes.

According to DC Long Term Care Ombudsman Jerry Kasunic, his team has filed over 100 complaints against Grant Park and says the DC nursing home is one of the “worst” he has encountered. He says dehydration and unattended wound care have led to malnutrition.

Grant Park Executive Director Sandra Durham says the nursing home staff remains committed to improving the quality of service that it provides residents. The home has also reportedly retained the services of a new compliance officer and nursing home director.

Malnutrition and Dehydration
Nursing home residents suffering from malnutrition and dehydration can be prone to serious side effects and illnesses, including a weakened immune system, memory loss, pneumonia, bedsores, muscle mass loss, infection, organ function impairment, anemia, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and death. Malnutrition and dehydration often occur at care facilities because of nursing home neglect.

Doctor Gives D.C. Nursing Home Failing Grade, WJLA.com, November 26, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Grand Park Care Center, Hospital-Data.com

Washington DC Department of Health

Continue reading "Unidentified ER Doctor Accuses Washington DC Nursing Home of Severe Neglect" »