Category: Nursing Home Abuse
The decision to put a family member in a nursing home is a painstaking one for many families. They worry about their incapacitated or elderly loved ones feeling abandoned by them. They also worry about the quality of care they're going to receive at these facilities' hands, especially given the high resident-to-staff ratios. Many families will spend significant time researching then visiting these facilities before ultimately deciding to commit to a particular nursing or assisted living facility. They do that to minimize the chances of their loved one[...]
How Can Nursing Homes Better Protect Residents From Falls?
When residents of a nursing home suffer a fall, it can have a catastrophic effect on their health. Sometimes, falls are fatal. Even when they aren’t, they can result in traumatic brain injuries, hip fractures, and other painful and debilitating outcomes. Of the roughly 1.6 million people who live in nursing facilities around the U.S., about half suffer at least one fall annually. Nursing homes must do a better job to protect residents from falls. (more…)
Do Most Elderly Abuse Victims Get the Support They Need?
It’s estimated that as many as five million older adults are abused in the U.S. each year. These numbers may seem impossibly high, and lead many to ask: where does most elder abuse occur? Elder abuse has been known to happen in a person’s own home, in the home of a friend or family member, in a hospital, or in any other residential or healthcare setting. There is evidence that nursing home abuse is one of the most prevalent types of elder abuse. But do most elderly abuse[...]
How Will Nursing Homes Change After COVID-19?
The COVID 19 pandemic has showed many of us that parts of or society weren’t functioning as smoothly as we thought they were. It’s also showed us that what we previously thought was the best option actually wasn’t at all, and that alternative options were available. One of those options were nursing homes. Before the pandemic, many families thought these were the best places for their older loved ones to spend the rest of their lives and receive great care. However, COVID has shown us that that’s not[...]
Could Private Ownership of Nursing Homes Improve Conditions and Care?
Many nursing homes have been bought into the private sector since 2009. The big question that this presents is whether or not private ownership of nursing homes has a positive effect on the residents and their health. Since resident health should be at the forefront of a facility’s priorities, it’s an important question to ask when we see the ownership trending toward private equity. If your loved one has been abused or neglected in their nursing home, whether it was privately or publicly owned, they deserve justice for[...]
What Factors Increase Mortality Rates in Nursing Home Residents?
When you trust a nursing home to take care of your elderly and vulnerable loved one, you expect them to have the appropriate knowledge to ensure that they are as healthy as possible. Unfortunately, not every long-term care facility will ensure that your loved one gets the best care possible and will put cutting costs above the standard of care they provide. When that happens, it can lead to abuse, negligence, and even death for the residents. (more…)
Federal Program Helped Some of PA’s Most Troubled Nursing Homes During Pandemic
Federal programming was awarded in September to nursing homes that were affected by the pandemic, as they were the facilities that were responsible for keeping the elderly population safe, otherwise known as the most vulnerable population during COVID-19. The funding was meant to support and reward the facilities that followed the guidelines and kept their residents safe. (more…)
How to Report a Nursing Home to the State of Pennsylvania
When you and your loved one decide it’s time for them to move into a nursing home to get the care they need, you’ll undoubtedly want to find the best facility for them. With so many facilities to choose from, the decision isn’t always easy. When you do pick one, however, you expect the nursing home to provide their residents with outstanding and attentive care. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, more than 80,000 state residents live in more than 700 nursing homes throughout the state. When[...]
Study Finds Over 40% of COVID-19 Deaths Linked to U.S. Nursing Homes
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to make headlines worldwide, the total number of cases and related deaths continues to rise in the United States. According to the New York Times, 43% of all coronavirus deaths in the U.S. are linked to nursing homes. (more…)
Pennsylvania Nursing Homes Ordered to Administer Universal COVID-19 Testing
Nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable populations when it comes to the spread of viruses and other illnesses. This is one of the reasons as to why so many facilities were hit hard when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. The majority of facilities were not prepared for the outbreak, which has led to a high number of cases and fatalities across the state and nation. In an attempt to reduce further spread of the coronavirus, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has ordered in-state nursing homes to administer[...]