Orange County Nursing Home

December 19, 2008

Nursing Home Rating System Unveiled by Medicare

Nursing Home Compare, a five-star rating system used to rate nursing homes nationwide, has been updated and upgraded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The updated website (click here) is intended to make choosing a nursing home easier for searching, and will hopefully have the effect of “outing” those poor nursing facilities that continually under-perform.

This is good news for consumers and nursing home advocates, and elder abuse lawyers. It is also sorely needed. U.S. Census figures project that the number of Americans over 65 will double by 2030, and two-thirds of those will require some period of nursing home care.

October 6, 2008

Nursing Home Ombudsman Jobs Cut

by Walton Law Firm

The California Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is the state program responsible to investigate and resolve complaints made by individuals (or their representatives) residing in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes. Last week, when the California budget was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, he cut state funding for the ombudsman program.

The decision has not gone over well with elder care advocates. The governor’s cuts removes roughly 15% of the budget for the program, which translates into a loss of 1.25 of every 3.7 positions.

To contact your local ombudsman’s office call the appropriate telephone number in the geographical area the incident leading to the complaint occurred.

September 9, 2008

Southern California Nursing Home Citation Watch

by Walton Law Firm

This list contains the issuance of citations to Southern California nursing facilities by the California Department of Public Health over the last six months. All the citations listed are issued for reasons related to patient care. For verification of the citation, please contact the local department office or Walton Law Firm LLP.

<font size='2'Facility	Date	Citation
Los Angeles County Elder Abuse
Brighton Convalescent Center	05/23/08	Class B
Heritage Manor	03/7/08	Class B
Imperial Convalescent Hosp	03/26/08	Class B
Ramona Care Center	05/23/08	Class B
Studio City Rehabilitation Center	02/21/08	Class A
Villa Oaks Convalescent	06/23/08	Class B
Windsor Convalescent Long Beach.	05/22/08	Class B
Windsor Palms Artesia	05/23/08	Class A

Orange County
Evergreen Fullerton Healthcare	04/15/08	Class B
French Park Care Center	05/20/08	Class B
Kindred Healthcare of Orange	04/29/08	Class B
New Orange Hills	04/16/08	Class B
Parkview Healthcare	04/15/08	Class AA

Riverside County
Cypress Gardens	06/10/08	Class AA

San Diego County
Edgemoor Geriatric Hosp.	06/26/08	Class A
Cypress Gardens Rehabilitation	03/20/08	Class A
Lemon Grove Care & Rehab.	07/16/08	Class B
Villa Las Palmas	07/01/08	Class B
Vista Healthcare	04/11/08	Class B

Santa Barbara Nursing Home Neglect
La Cumbre Senior Living	07/24/08	Class B & A
Country Oaks Care Center	5/20/08	Class B

Class AA: The most serious violation, AA citations are issued when a resident death has occurred in such a way that it has been directly and officially attributed to the responsibility of the facility, and carry fines of $25,000 to $100,000.

Class A: Class A citations are issued when violations present imminent danger to patients or the substantial probability of death or serious harm, and carry fines from $2,000 to $20,000.

Class B: Class B citations carry fines from $100 to $1000 and are issued for violations which have a direct or immediate relationship to health, safety, or security, but do not qualify as A or AA citations.

August 22, 2008

Orange County Nursing Home Faces Second Elder Abuse Lawsuit

by Walton Law Firm

A Laguna Hills nursing home faces its second lawsuit for elder abuse in three years for the neglect of one of its residents. In both cases the resident died.

Theresa Sperry died in July 2007 after a short stay a Villa Valencia in Orange County skilled nursing facility. The lawsuit alleges that with two weeks of admission, Sperry developed pressure ulcers on both of her heels that were left untreated, and worsened to the point of spreading to her muscles and exposing bone. The complaint also alleges that Villa Valencia was not adequately staffed to care for its residents.

Pressure ulcers (also called decubitus ulcers or bed sores) are a big problem in nursing homes. The Orange County nursing home neglect lawyers at Walton Law Firm LLP have represented numerous nursing home residents who have developed very serious ulcers while under nursing home care. Most sores are a result of a combination of factors: poor nutrition, immobility, and neglectful treatment.

August 5, 2008

Preventing Elder Abuse in the Nursing Home

by Walton Law Firm

We are frequently asked how nursing home neglect or abuse can be prevented. There is no magic answer, but there are things one can do to lessen the odds that a loved one will be subject to physical neglect, financial abuse, or suffer the decline in health caused by poor care. The California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform have published a guide for preventing abuse in long-term care facilities. How does one increase the odds there will be no abuse or neglect?

1. Be very supportive of the transfer to a nursing home. Under most circumstances, the initial entrance to a nursing facility will engender feelings of loss or abandonment. Visit frequently to help with the adjustment.

2. Make the most of visits. Visit frequently, and at different times. Also visit during meal time. This will give you a more complete picture of care and the performance of staff.

June 26, 2008

Southern California Nursing Home Citation Watch

by Walton Law Firm

This list contains the issuance of citations to Southern California nursing facilities by the California Department of Public Health over the last six months. All the citations listed are issued for reasons related to patient care. For verification of the citation, please contact the local department office or Walton Law Firm LLP.

<font size='2'Facility	Date	Citation
Los Angeles County
Alden Terrace Convalescent Hosp.	04/09/08	Class B
Chandler Convalescent	02/13/08	Class A
Chatsworth Park Care Center	03/13/08	Class B
Country Villa Park Marino	01/28/08	Class B(3)
Country Villa Pavilion Nursing	03/19/08	Class B
Ember Health Care	01/31/08	Class AA
Gardena Convalescent Hosp.	02/05/08	Class B
Heritage Manor	03/07/08	Class B
Imperial Convalescent	03/27/08	Class B
Lancaster Health Care Center	02/13/08	Class A
Oceanview Convalescent	02/20/08	Class B
Royal Oaks Care Center	12/11/07	Class B
Sophia Lyn Convalescent	04/14/08	Class B
St. John of God Retirement	02/27/08	Class B
Studio City Rehabilitation	04/02/08	Class A
Sunnyview Care Center	04/29/08	Class B
Tarzana Health and Rehab.	02/13/08	Class A
Whittier Hills Health Care Center	01/07/08	Class B
Windsor Palms Care Center of Artesia	04/15/08	Class B

Orange County
Country Villa Plaza Convalescent	03/12/08	Class B
Fountain Care Center	03/13/08	Class B
Newport Subacute Healthcare	02/06/08	Class A
Palm Terrace Healthcare & Rehab Center	02/01/08	Class AA
Park Regency Care Center	04/11/08	Class B

San Bernardino County Elder Abuse
Cherry Valley Healthcare	02/14/08	Class B
Country Villa Rancho Mirage	02/05/08	Class A(2)
Cypress Gardens Rehabilitation	03/20/08	Class A
The Springs At The Carlotta	03/21/08	Class AA

San Diego County
Children’s Convalescent Hospital	02/21/08	Class B
Edgemoor Geriatric Hospital	05/09/08	Class B
Point Loma Convalescent Hosp.	03/10/08	Class B

Ventura County
Brighton Gardens of Camirillo.	4/16/08.	Class B

Class AA: The most serious violation, AA citations are issued when a resident death has occurred in such a way that it has been directly and officially attributed to the responsibility of the facility, and carry fines of $25,000 to $100,000.

Class A: Class A citations are issued when violations present imminent danger to patients or the substantial probability of death or serious harm, and carry fines from $2,000 to $20,000.

Class B: Class B citations carry fines from $100 to $1000 and are issued for violations which have a direct or immediate relationship to health, safety, or security, but do not qualify as A or AA citations.

June 21, 2008

Orange County Jury Awards $2 Million in Nursing Home Neglect Case

by Walton Law Firm

A jury in Santa Ana awarded the family of Mary Adams $2 million after the 104-year-old was neglected in a Laguna Hills nursing home. The jury awarded $1 million for the Villa Valencia Health Care’s negligence, and another $1 million in punitive damages.

Juror Rory Paster, a 41-year-old engineering analyst who lives in Huntington Beach, said the jury wanted to “send a message that the company should do a better job of treating patients.”

According to reports, Adams admitted herself into the nursing home after suffering a fractured leg. Shortly after admission, Adams developed pressure sores on her heels, which were ignored, and not adequately treated. As a result, she contracted sepsis, and died about two months after her admission.

June 18, 2008

Orange County Nursing Home Fined In Resident Death

by Walton Law Firm

A nursing home in Anaheim has received a $50,000 fine in the choking death of a resident. The resident, a brain injured man in his forties who had swallowing difficulty, choked on a piece of burrito.

According to reports, a caregiver was preparing the man’s meal at Parkview Healthcare Center when he reached for the burrito and put it in his mouth. When he began choking, the Heimlich maneuver was attempted but failed. Caregivers were then instructed to begin CPR, but before doing so, looked in the resident’s file to determine to see of there was a DNR (do not resuscitate) order. There was.

A doubtful nursing then called the man’s sister, telling her “your bother is turning black, do you want him revived?” When the sister responded “yes.” The DNR order was wrong. CPR was started. The man was pronounced dead approximately 30 minutes later. The fine was issued due to the nursing facility’s failure to provide “prompt emergency medical care” as requested by the resident.