A recent article in The Wall Street Journal decried the increase of nursing home abuse lawsuits resulting in six-figure settlements or verdicts, prompting some in the industry to pack up and close shop. The Journal is a decidedly pro-business publication, and took the tack that this series of events was…
Two nurses who brought qui tam claims on behalf of the government allege their nursing home employer knowingly submitted thousands of false claims to the Medicare and Medicaid programs have had judgments in their favor reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Although a jury awarded…
While a civil lawsuit is one remedy for families who have been victimized by nursing home abuse, some cases are so egregious that abusers can be held criminally liable. According to a recent report of nursing home abuse, a 99-year-old man was abused by hired home health aides. Children of…
Aggression is an unfortunate but well-known side effect for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. A recent California Supreme Court case of Gregory v. Cott held home health care workers, like those in nursing homes, cannot sue dementia patients for injuries inflicted upon workers when aggression is…
An elderly woman receiving care at a nursing home facility fell while being assisted out of bed by staffers. It was 11 hours before the administration called for her transport to a hospital emergency room, where it was determined she had fractured her hip and femur. Following emergency surgery conducted…
Though Florida has the highest population of senior citizens in the nation, it has ranked lowest for access to care and financial assistance, according to the AARP Public Policy Institute Report. The report should signal a warning to families and individuals who are performing long-term care duties for their loved…
Nursing home care facilities are often for-profit operations that can leave patients at risk of severe injuries, abuse or neglect. According to reports, a franchise of long-term care facilities owned by a politician’s former companies is under scrutiny and facing lawsuits for the wrongful death and abuse of residents. Bruce…
Too frequently, nursing home workers fail to take seriously the fact that the limited mobility of wheelchair patients places them at a heightened risk for falls. For individuals who already suffer a range of health issues, a fall – even from a relatively short distance – can result in serious…
When the 87-year-old West Virginia woman was admitted to a nursing home in late 2009, she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other health issues. Nevertheless, she was able to recognize and communicate with family members, she could walk with the use of a walker and she was well-nourished…
Mandatory nursing home arbitration agreements are more frequently becoming the norm within facilities across Florida and the nation. In seeking to shield the facility from liability to the greatest degree possible, administrators will require all new patients and/or their representative to sign an arbitration agreement as part of admission. In…