California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

February 21, 2012

Nursing Home Falls Usually Caused By Systematic Negligence

Learning that a loved one has been harmed in a custodial setting due to neglect or abuse is a horror that hopefully most San Diego families will never have to face. But as California’s elderly population ages, the number of seniors living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is sure to increase. When our San Diego nursing home abuse attorneys evaluate a case involving the custodial treatment of an elderly person, we investigate all issues that might suggest a pattern of neglect instead of what might initially appear to be a single negligent act. Doing so ensures that we obtain all the evidence necessary to make the best case possible. It also can help prevent similar occurrences at the same or other facilities, so that other families do not have to endure the pain of knowing that a loved one was harmed at a California nursing home. wheelchair%20back.jpg

Last week, a jury acknowledged the suffering that families endure when their loved ones are hurt at nursing homes. The jury awarded $8 million in damages to the estate of an elderly man who died shortly after his legs were broken when he was improperly transferred from a chair into his bed. The Courier-Journal reports that the man, who was in his mid-80s, was staying at a nonprofit nursing home.

After the man’s death, his estate hired a nursing home abuse lawyer to sue the negligent facility. The man’s injuries occurred because he was transferred without a lift and was moved by only one nursing assistant, in violation of the nursing home’s care plan, which required two assistants. Most qualified nursing homes maintain a “care plan” for each resident. Care plans should address falls, mobility, pain management, nutrition, bladder and bowels, among other things. Care plans should be updated on a regular basis to accommodate the changing needs of a patient and should be strictly followed. Failure to follow a care plan can lead to serious injury or death, and can be the basis of a San Diego elder neglect lawsuit.

February 13, 2012

Patient Dies After Wandering Away From Nursing Home In the Cold

by Nursing Home Law Group

A nursing home patient with a history of wandering died in the cold, reports the Belleville News Democrat. Last month, the 77-year-old man walked away from the home where he was staying and later died. He had also wandered off two other times in the weeks and months prior to his final disappearance. Our San Diego nursing home abuse attorneys know that wandering can lead to serious injury or even death for people with memory impairment such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

The state health department reported that despite the man’s previous wandering behavior, the senior—who suffered from dementia, kidney failure, and heart disease—was not wearing a patient monitoring device. The care plan established by the nursing facility also failed to address the man’s prior attempts to leave the home. The man’s body was found in a creek one block south of the nursing home. The temperature dropped to below freezing on the night he disappeared. He died of hypothermia, likely several hours after he wandered off.

Approximately an hour after the man was last seen, the police were contacted, and an extensive search was undertaken. The police immediately searched around the facility, conducted a second search at midnight, and then conducted a third search by helicopter in the early morning hours. Despite these efforts, the man’s body was not found until two days later.

February 6, 2012

California Nursing Home Abuse Investigation Uncovers Prescription Errors

by Nursing Home Law Group

A state investigation conducted by health officials has uncovered a widespread problem in California nursing homes, reports a recent article in The New York Times. Officials found that pharmacists responsible for reviewing the medication of California nursing home patients routinely allowed inappropriate and potentially deadly prescriptions of antipsychotic medications. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) found that in 18 out of 32 investigations between May 2010 and June 2011 pharmacists failed to note cases in which elderly patients were inappropriately given powerful antipsychotic drugs.

In one instance, an elderly woman with a history of seizures was prescribed Seroquel, a strong antipsychotic drug (often used to treat schizophrenia), even though research shows that seniors who take antipsychotic drugs are more likely to experience seizures. She was also prescribed Trazodone, an antidepressant that has been linked to an increase in seizures in elderly people, as well as a second antipsychotic drug called Risperdal. Such a combination is potentially lethal, according to state investigators, because they can cause life-threatening heart arrhythmias. Our San Diego nursing home abuse lawyer knows it is essential for caretakers and doctors to be aware of the ways in which certain medications can impact elderly patients. Otherwise, dangerous side effects may occur, or medications that likely should not be combined with other drugs may be prescribed by mistake.

Under California nursing home abuse law, consulting pharmacists who work for nursing homes must review patients’ charts monthly. They then make recommendations to treating physicians about whether medications should be ceased, reduced, or changed, if they pose potential hazards or are causing harmful side effects. The CDPH discovered that California pharmacists failed to identify the misuse of antipsychotic medications in 90% of cases. The CDPH also found a “probable correlation” between faulty druggist reviews and the amount paid to pharmacists: in 59% of the cases involving defective reviews, nursing facilities had been cited for accepting pharmacy services below cost. The average pay rate for pharmacists in California is approximately $56 per hour, but instances were uncovered where pharmacists were paid as little as approximately $23, $16, or $11 per hour.

January 31, 2012

American Academy of Neurology Says Doctors Should Routinely Screen Patients for Abuse

by Nursing Home Law Group

senior%20in%20the%20dark.jpg The American Academy of Neurology’s most recent position statement on abuse and violence recommends that neurologists screen patients for abusive treatment as part of their regular routine. As our North County elder abuse lawyers know, seniors are at serious risk of being mistreated or abused. Unfortunately, abusers often turn out to be the people we expect to be able to trust the most, including nurses, group home staff, and other caretakers.

California elder abuse law prohibits commonly known types of abuse—such as physical or sexual abuse—as well as the negligent failure of caretakers to exercise reasonable caution in the care or custody of an elderly person. That includes providing proper care for a senior’s medical and mental health needs and protecting elders from health and safety hazards. The American Academy of Neurology’s position statement defines elder abuse as abuse or neglect of a person 65 years or older, or of an individual who is physically or mentally disabled.

According to the American Academy of Neurology, the American Medical Association encouraged physicians in 2008 to ask patients about family violence histories on a regular basis because such information is crucial to effective diagnosis and care. Failure to do so can lead to further physical or emotional harm and treatment failure. The authors of the position statement, Elliott A. Shulman, M.D., and Anna DePold Hohler, M.D., state that identification of a patient’s abuse history, if any, is important because it can influence the assessment and treatment of presenting health concerns.

January 25, 2012

California Elder Financial Abuse Continues Into the New Year

by Nursing Home Law Group

Elderly victims of financial abuse, like those suffering from other forms of abuse, are usually reluctant to report their abusers. In the case of financial abuse, many California elders may not even be aware they are being victimized. Our North County elder abuse lawyer knows that financial abuse makes up a significant portion of all elder abuse cases reported each year. Despite increasing awareness of elder financial abuse, many instances of this conduct are still occurring as California’s elderly population grows.

Two recent news articles again have shed light on the problem of California elder financial abuse. The Napa Valley Register reports that a Calistoga woman pled guilty to California elder abuse and tax evasion. The 51-year-old bookkeeper had been hired to manage an elderly woman’s financial affairs relating to the operation of the victim’s bed and breakfast in St. Helena. Instead, the bookkeeper embezzled more than $250,000 from the Yolo County woman over the course of 7 years, transferring the victim’s assets to other accounts to pay her own bills. The crimes apparently were discovered after the 80-year-old victim became ill and her family realized her assets had been depleted. Insurance%20Fraud.jpg

The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office decided to prosecute the Calistoga woman after learning that she had used the victim’s money to pay personal bills and purchase rental property in Santa Rosa and vacation property in Oregon. Although the woman will not be sentenced until March, she has already agreed to forfeit more than $300,000 in cash and property to pay restitution to the victim.

January 17, 2012

Government Report Finds Errors At Hospitals Frequently Go Unreported

by Nursing Home Law Group

Only 1 out of 7 errors at hospitals are recognized and reported, according to a new report released by the federal government. A New York Times article reports that federal investigators scrutinized errors, accidents, and other events that harm Medicare patients while they are hospitalized. Our San Diego elder abuse lawyer knows that entrusting a family member to a hospital’s care sometimes can be scary, especially if invasive procedures such as surgery are necessary. Unfortunately, there are a number of problems that can occur when a loved one is hospitalized. For example, painful bedsores can occur when a patient lies in the same position for long periods of time without being rotated by a nurse. Patients who need extra attention are at a serious risk of falling and injuring themselves if left unsupervised. Serious infections can also set in, and a delay in treatment could mean the difference between life and death for an elderly loved one.

hosptial%20hallway.jpg Our San Diego elder abuse attorney knows that incident reporting systems ensure that hospitals hold their doctors and other staff members responsible for adverse events. According to the New York Times, an adverse event is any significant harm a patient experiences as a result of medical care. In order to qualify for payment under Medicare, hospitals must keep track of medical errors and adverse patient events. They must then analyze the causes of those errors and make efforts to improve their care.

However, the government report notes that even when hospitals investigate preventable injuries and infections reported by staff, they rarely alter their practices to stop the repetition of such adverse events. Daniel Levinson, inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, stated the investigation uncovered that some of the most serious problems, including those that caused a patient’s death, were never reported. Independent doctors reviewed patient records in order to uncover unreported events. According to Mr. Levinson, more than 130,000 Medicare beneficiaries experienced one or more adverse events in hospitals in a single month.

January 11, 2012

New Requirements For California’s Adult Day Care May Mean Only Half of Prior Participants Will Qualify

by Nursing Home Law Group

Uncertainty about the future of California’s Adult Day Health Care system continues even though the program was saved from elimination at the end of last year. Since the 1970s, California has been a pioneer in the field of adult day health care, creating a system designed to provide health and social services to the elderly and disabled. The Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) system was established to respond to instances of California nursing home abuse. However, recent state budgeting challenges led lawmakers to cut all Medicaid funding for the centers in order to save approximately $85 million. elder%20abuse%20mags.jpg

California elder abuse advocates quickly sued the state to halt the massive funding cuts. Communities across the state also voiced outcry over the cuts, including concern that elimination of the program would lead to more elder abuse and neglect. A settlement was reached at the last minute, according to an article in Kaiser Health News. The settlement will require the state to continue to fund a scaled-down version of the program for those who need it most. Under the terms of the settlement, California must still pay for the services through its Medicaid program but only for those who have severe illnesses, disabilities, or dementia. Strict new eligibility requirements will determine who may receive care.

The San Diego nursing home abuse lawyers at the Walton Firm know that many Californians may be concerned about the new ADHC program. The new eligibility rules will bring some changes. For example, to determine who will qualify for the scaled-down program, 200 state nurses have begun visiting centers around the state to review patient records. The state has guaranteed services to more than 9,000 Californians already. The remaining 26,000 prior participants will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. State health officials have estimated that only about half of the 35,000 participants will qualify under the new rules, which were established to control Medicaid costs. But the number of former participants that could still qualify may actually be much higher, meaning that the state may not save very much money after all.

January 4, 2012

Newport Beach Nursing Home Fined $100,000 For Fall Death

by Nursing Home Law Group

NH%20negligence.jpg The San Diego nursing home abuse lawyers at the Walton Firm know that falls due to a lack of adequate supervision can be a life-threatening problem for California seniors. Serious falls in custodial settings can result in death or drastically alter the quality of a loved one’s life.

A Newport Beach nursing home was recently fined in connection with the death of a senior after the resident was left unsupervised and suffered a serious fall. According to the Daily Pilot, the state investigated the woman’s death and found that the facility failed to properly supervise the ailing resident. The woman suffered from dementia and osteoporosis. She was also recovering from hip replacement surgery.

The woman was left unattended after she asked for privacy while using the restroom. While alone, she fell and was later discovered by an employee. She was face down, had no pulse, and was not breathing. Although the elderly woman was revived by medics, she was left with a fractured spine and remained brain dead. Her family later decided to remove her from life support.

December 30, 2011

Death Certificates in Nursing Home Deaths Often Contain Incorrect Information

by Nursing Home Law Group

Our San Diego nursing home abuse attorneys know that for every senior death in California, a number of them are suspicious deaths which should be investigated, but rarely are. Since these deaths typically are not analyzed appropriately, the death certificates in such cases frequently contain incorrect information. Theses mistakes can act to cover up instances of serious California elder abuse or mistreatment.

For more than a year, reports ProPublica, an investigation has been ongoing into senior deaths across the nation. The results of the investigation are appalling. ProPublica reveals that when it comes to senior deaths, “the system errs by omission.”

For example, Joseph Shepter, a retired U.S. government scientist, resided in a nursing home in Mountain Mesa, California, for the final years of his life. Nothing about Mr. Shepter’s death seemed unusual. A stroke and dementia had left him significantly impaired. When he passed away in 2007 at age 76, the nursing home’s chief medical officer listed his death as natural, which meant there would be no further investigation.

December 20, 2011

Family Sues Nursing Home Over Mother’s Tracheostomy Tube Death

by Nursing Home Law Group

Unfortunately, every day brings new stories about horrific instances of elder abuse and mistreatment. While any form of elder abuse is unacceptable, our San Diego nursing home abuse attorneys know that many instances of abuse or neglect may go undetected because they may not seem to be obviously caused by mistreatment. For example, our lawyers recently explained the important connection between nurse staffing ratios, quality of care at long-term nursing facilities, and elder abuse. It is tragic when one’s loved ones are harmed when the people entrusted with their care fail to adhere to the standard of care.

Under California elder abuse law, caregivers must provide the degree of care that a reasonable person in a similar position would exercise. This includes providing medical care appropriate for a senior’s physical and mental health needs. It also includes protecting elders from health and safety hazards. Skilled nursing home facilities typically have written care plans or nursing care protocols they must follow in order to ensure they are complying with the standard of care. The failure to follow a care plan can lead to serious injury or death, and can be the basis of a San Diego elder neglect lawsuit. wheelchair%202.jpg

Sadly, not all nursing home workers follow the protocols established to ensure the safety of their patients. According to Wood TV, a family is suing a nursing home facility over the death of their mother. The elderly woman died when her tracheostomy tube got caught around a bed rail and became dislodged. A tracheostomy tube provides an air passage to help a person when the usual route for breathing is obstructed or impaired in some way. Because of her size, the woman was supposed to have the help of two nursing home assistants to ensure that her tracheostomy tube did not dislodge. However, when the accident occurred only one assistant was helping the woman.