Pennsylvania Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

Most of us would agree that bed rails are a necessary precaution to keep hospital and nursing home residents who may be sick or restless from falling out of their beds. But a post on The New Old Age blog on the New York Times online points out the risks involved with the use of bed rails.

“Rails decrease your risk of falling by 10 to 15 percent, but they increase the risk of injury by about 20 percent because they change the geometry of the fall,” explained Steven Miles, a geriatrician and bioethicist at the University of Minnesota who was quoted in the article. Patients can try to climb over the rails, falling farther than if they rolled off the lower level of the bed.

A greater risk with bed rails is entrapment. The article gives the example of an elderly man who died of asphyxiation in an assisted living facility in Wisconsin after his head became entrapped between the mattress and the rail.

This week we read an article on the Post-Gazette.com about “culture change” which is described in the article as a national movement that calls for a reversal of the traditional nursing home model as well as a re-education of care workers and a breakdown of institutional housing. The idea is to bring care to where people live or in new elderly housing developments designed to foster independence. Grants from the Pennsylvania Department on Aging and the Department of Labor and Industry have enabled re-education programs to take place across the state, helping elder-care support employers learn new ways to help the elderly shape their own care. To read the full article, click on the link below:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10143/1060205-114.stm

It seems like common sense, but a recent study of Boston-area seniors has shown that those who occasionally neglected their medications were 50% more likely to fall than those who take their medications as directed.

The study was conducted by the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife in Boston. Researchers surveyed 246 men and 408 women with an average age of 78. In this group, 376 reported a total of 1,052 falls. Questions included “Do you ever forget to take your medications?” and “Are you careless at times about taking your medications?” The study found that nearly half – 48 % – did not fully adhere to their medication schedule.

According to an article on LancasterOnline.com, Village Vista Manor in Manor Township, Lancaster County, has been closed by state and federal authorities because of problems with the quality of care. Its last resident left on April 21.

In early April, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid broke off its relationship with Village Vista. As a result, the nursing home could no longer care of Medicare or Medicaid patients.

State inspectors found multiple problems at the facility over the past year. According to state records, some problems included residents who complained the bathing water was too cold and that hot water had to be warmed in the microwave; reports of bruises that were not investigated; failure to provide ongoing activities for residents; a report that the home had operated without a dietitian for several years; and failure to investigate and prevent falls from beds and wheelchairs.

The American Health Care Association has named this week National Nursing Home Week. The theme is “Enriching Every Day.” This will be celebrated in nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities nationwide. This year’s theme honors those in the health care field who add value to the lives of those in nursing homes and who help older Americans to overcome the infirmities of age and disability.

According to the American Health Care Association’s website, a supportive and caring nursing home environment provides enrichment for residents and families to continue growing, learning, and teaching in various ways. The week also provides an opportunity to honor all those who contribute to our nation’s nursing homes, including residents, family members, employees, and volunteers.

When acts of caring, kindness, and respect are the norm in long-term care environments, residents experience better physical care and healing, as well as enrichment of the mind, heart, and spirit.

An article posted yesterday on McKnights.com says that a large percent of visits to emergency rooms by nursing home residents are preventable, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Based on data collected for the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey, the CDC estimates that about 40% of ER visits by nursing home residents are preventable.

Researchers found that some conditions, like urinary tract infections, could be dealt with in the nursing home. They found the number one reason for ER visits by nursing home patients was because of falls. According to the report, these types of visits could be avoided by efforts to prevent falls in nursing homes.

In an effort to be as responsive to our clients’ needs as possible, the law office of O’Connor Law has added a live chat feature to our website (www.oconnorlaw.com). Now if you have a question at any time of the day, you’ll be able to reach us through a simple click of the mouse. Let the experienced attorney team at O’Connor Law get you the justice you deserve.