Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog

In another case of staff member nursing home sexual abuse, a 44 year-old nurse’s aide has been charged with first-degree rape. The Vermont nursing home issued a statement stating that another staff member discovered the nursing home abuse assault.

For the full article.

In a follow-up from a previous post, the 50 year-old resident who died because employees allowed her oxygen tank to run out left a note implicating the employees in the nursing home abuse. The nursing home is being charged with the resident’s death.

For the full article.

The woman of a brain-damaged daughter who was raped by a nurse’s aide at a Texas nursing home has brought a nursing home abuse lawsuit against the owners of four Texas nursing homes where the man worked. The lawsuit alleges that they failed to check his background or report his abusive treatment and sexual misconduct.

For the full article.

The home neglected to ensure that a resident received medications prescribed by his doctor. The medication received another patient’s prescription medications. The facility also failed to properly monitor the resident who eventually died.

The Illinois Department of Health produces quarterly reports on nursing home violators. To access the website click here.

The home was fined $56,000 for failure to investigate similarities in incidents involving side rails and low air loss mattresses. Residents suffered injuries after falling at the home. One resident died after becoming trapped between the side rail and the mattress.

The Illinois Department of Health produces quarterly reports on nursing home violators. To access the website click here.

1. Boilers: Crown Boiler Co. has voluntarily recalled about 400 Bermuda BSI and Cayman CWI Series Gas Boilers. The boilers can generate excessive levels of carbon monoxide in the flue gases, posing a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. For more information.
2. Remote-control helicopter toys: ThinkGeek Inc. has voluntarily recalled about 1600 remote-control dragonfly king HX-242 helicopters. The battery can overheat and catch fire, posing a burn hazard. For more information.
3. Vehicle navigation and entertainment system batteries.: The Clarion Corporation of America has voluntarily recalled about 2500 Batteries in Clarion N.I.C.E. P200 Navigation and Entertainment Systems. The lithium-ion batteries in these units can melt or overheat posing burn and fire hazards. For more information.
4. Christmas light sets: Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. has voluntarily recalled about 2.3 million sets of Hobby Lobby Christmas Light Sets. The lights have undersized wires which can separate from the plugs and/or the light sockets, posing an electric shock and fire hazard to consumers. For more information.

In a follow up to a recent post about Eli Lilly’s techniques of “playing down” the health risks associated with its Zyprexa drug, it appears that Eli Lilly also promoted unapproved use of the drug to physicians.

The pharmaceutical company’s files showed that Eli Lilly encouraged physicians to use Zyprexa for patients who did not have either of the conditions that it primarily treats (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder). In the marketing campaign, called Viva Zyprexa, Lilly told its sales representatives to suggest that doctors prescribe the drug to older patients with symptoms of dementia. This sort of elder abuse is particularly worrisome because adverse drug reactions are between the 4th and 6th leading causes of death for individuals 65 and older in the United States.

For the full article.

Last week, the FDA proposed tougher warning labels for acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen, cautioning the millions of users of potentially dangerous side effects. The over-the-counter drugs remain safe and effective when used as directed; however, misuse and overdoses can cause serious liver damage, even death.

The risks of serious side effects for these over-the-counter medications are higher in patients older than 59 years old and especially high for elderly patients. As mentioned in a previous article, adverse drug reactions alone are between the 4th and 6th leading causes of death for individuals 65 and older in the United States.

For the full article.

The Michigan state’s attorney recently alleged that a woman died at a nursing home because employees allowed her oxygen tank to run out, then tried to cover it up. Five former employees of the nursing home are being charged with nursing home abuse in the death of the 50 year-old woman.

For the full article.

A recent Italian study reported that elder patients may be under-treated for pain. Although it is commonly believed that older patients are more susceptible to adverse effects to painkillers than younger patients, it may not be the case. The researchers showed that while older patients experienced worse distress while the dose was being adjusted, the distress improved after a stable dose was reached. The study concluded with the belief that the fear of a higher risk of adverse effects in elderly patients is unwarranted and may lead to the under-treatment of pain.

For the full article.

The website released by the Department of Health and Human Services is designed to help consumers plan for long-term care. The National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information Website provides information about long-term care, services, and financing options. Since most older Americans have misconceptions about U.S. long-term care financing, this website is a welcome resource.

To access the website.

According to a recent AARP study, most older Americans misconceive that government programs pay for nursing-home care. The study also showed that most have no idea how much long-term care facilities cost. It is important that people realize how costly long-term care is so that they can set plans in place in advance to prevent being overwhelmed in the future.

For the full report.

An Ohio nursing home 59 year-old resident began having chest pains early Monday morning. Other residents attempted to find her help, but nobody could find the nurse or two aides that were supposed to be on duty. Luckily, the residents called 911.

The nurses left the unit unattended for several hours, acting in a wreckless manor. In this case of nursing home abuse and neglect, police have charged three workers with patient neglect.

For the full article.

The home negligently failed to properly supervise a resident who was smoking while receiving oxygen. This neglect resulted in the resident being hospitalized for second and third degree burns. The home was fined $20,000 as a result of the burn injury.

The Illinois Department of Health produces quarterly reports on nursing home violators. To access the website click here.

The 18th Annual NAPSA Conference will be held from September 5-7, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Georgia. They are currently accepting proposals for submissions on presentation topics. The possible presentation topics cover a variety of law, including nursing home abuse and neglect. The deadline for submission is February 16, 2007.

For more information.

Three Rockford-area nursing homes are accused of Illinois nursing home abuse and neglect. The allegations include violations that the employees of the nursing homes knowingly gave less care to each patient than the minimum that Illinois requires.

For the full article.

The home neglected to provide adequate supervision and prevent elopement. A resident who requires constant supervision was left unattended and was found injured on the street by police. The resident was taken to the hospital with a fractured wrist and forearm.

The Illinois Department of Health produces quarterly reports on nursing home violators. To access the website click here.

California state inspectors recently stated that the deaths of three elderly residents at a nursing home last month resulted from the nursing home negligence of its owners and employees. The California Department of Social Services has revoked the license of the owners to operate the home that caught fire in November.

Employees at the home allowed a resident with dementia to have access to a match and lighter the night of a fire, the state alleges. Employees also allowed the same resident to smoke in her room. Both of these allegations of nursing home neglect violate state regulations. Additionally, employees did not ensure that auditory devices for monitoring the facility were working. The state wants to ensure that all residents are accorded safe and comfortable accommodations, free from nursing home abuse and neglect.

For the full article.

A recent American Association for Justice (AAJ) article exposed the dangerous accident rates associated with railroad crossings. Here are some startling statistics: A person is 40 times more likely to die in a crash involving a train than in a collision with another motor vehicle. There were approximately 3,000 rail crossing accidents in 2003; of those 3,000, only 4 were fully investigated in 2003 by federal authorities.

AAJ urges you to contact the Federal Railroad Administration, which is responsible for enforcing safety regulation, as well as conducting research and development to improve railroad safety. The Agency accepts comments from the public to support its research and development.

For the full article.