Nursing homes have come under fire in recent years for the widespread use of antipsychotic drugs among elderly patients with dementia, as many centers use the drugs to quell outbursts and aggression, while ignoring the many potentially serious health risks to the patient. Now, there is cause for concern among…
It’s been well-documented that the state of nursing homes in the U.S. warrants improvement. However, a recent, multi-pronged analysis suggests the degree of care received by minorities is markedly below what their white counterparts receive. The research, published by the Center for Public Integrity, noted some stark differences between nursing…
Choosing a nursing home for a loved one can be a difficult and painful decision. For many, finding a facility with a good reputation and acceptable government inspection reports is critical. Regulators tried to make the process easier, starting in December 2008 with its Nursing Home Compare website, which graded…
The majority of nursing homes in Florida receive the bulk of their funding from state and federal coffers. One of the ways regulators can ensure these facilities abide by basic care standards is to reduce or revoke Medicaid and/or Medicare reimbursements to providers who fail those standards. This has historically…
Recently, a unique case came before the Supreme Court in Connecticut regarding whether a private nursing home, which served both patients in state care and parolees from prison, would be shielded by the protections of sovereign immunity. The case stemmed from a dispute between the owners of the private facility…
There have been many success stories when it comes to use of antipsychotic drugs for those wrestling with serious mental disorders, such as schizophrenia or manic depression. However, when those same medications are given to older patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other various forms of dementia, the outcome can…
Nursing homes across the country are watching closely the recent lawsuit filed by New Mexico Attorney General Gary King, who alleges inadequate staffing levels made it mathematically impossible to provide an appropriate level of care to elderly patients. It’s an interesting strategy in that while there are some specific allegations…
Far too frequently, nursing home health care providers intentionally force elderly residents with dementia to consume hefty amounts of powerful antipsychotic drugs – most of which contain a black box warning indicating a heightened risk of infection and death. According to a recent report by NPR, it’s estimated some 300,000…
A number of publications – USA Today, the News-Leader in Virginia and others – have lately been giving great attention to a serious but often hidden problem in many health care settings: Drug addiction. A USA Today review indicated on a national scale, more than 100,000 doctors, nurses, medical technicians…
Additional confirmed cases of Hepatitis C have been linked to a nursing home in North Dakota that is currently the subject of a federal lawsuit alleging negligent care that led to exposure. The new cases bring the total associated with this single nursing home to 47. This means the possible…