March 7, 2010

Illinois Nursing Homes Must Carry Insurance

The Clarion Ledger has recently posted an article discussing the needs of nursing homes to carry insurance. The article points out that many nursing homes do not carry enough liability insurance to cover damages caps if a nursing home abuse lawsuit is filed. Many nursing homes face lawsuits after physical and sexual abuse or nursing home neglect. Nursing homes should be required to carry enough insurance to cover a vulnerable person that is injured, mistreated or abused while a resident at the home.

In Mississippi, a current House Bill 536 would require non-government nursing homes to carry $500,000 in liability coverage which is equivalent to the amount that the government nursing homes must carry under the Tort Claims Act. While this out-of-state legislation may seem like an obvious need to those who believe in elderly rights, many insurance companies and nursing home lobbyists are working diligently to try to kill the bill before it reaches the Senate. Since nursing homes have received the damage caps they believe are so important, it is imperative that they carry insurance. The elderly need and deserve the accountability afforded to them with the passage of HB 536. To read more about the nursing home legislation, please check out the link.

Illinois is one of the states that does not require nursing homes to carry liability insurance. We hope that new Illinois nursing home reform legislation will require homes to operate with insurance. The Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys at Levin & Perconti encourage people to ask if a nursing home carries insurance before entrusting a loved one to the facility. Researching a nursing home’s insurance information is an important step to ensuring your family members rights in the event of an injury caused by negligence.

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Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, National Nursing Homes, How to choose a home, Legislation, Legislation

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January 31, 2010

1 in 5 Nursing Homes Get Low Stars

The USA Today has released a report stating that one in five of the country’s 15,700 nursing homes were found on the lower end of the five-star scale. It seems that almost all of the nursing home receiving one or two stars are owned by-for-profit corporations. The stars reflect inspections performed in the nursing homes as well as complaint investigations. Most owners must take responsibility for the consequences of the poorly performing nursing homes. The lowest-rated facilities have averaged about 14 deficiencies per site. These deficiencies include nursing home abuse and safety violations. You may visit the nursing home compare website by clicking on the link. Many Chicago nursing homes only have one star. These include: Alden Princeton; Avenue Care Center; Belhaven Nursing & Rehab Center; Kenwood Healthcare Center; and Waterfront Terrace. The nursing home negligence attorneys at Levin & Perconti have filed numerous lawsuits against one-star nursing homes in Chicago. They have also noticed that many of these homes have not improved their ratings and continue to commit Chicago nursing home abuse.

To read the story concerning the low star nursing homes, please click the link.

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Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, National Nursing Homes, Government Reports, Chicago Nursing Homes, How to choose a home

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January 28, 2010

Some Nursing Homes have Bad Track Records

Among the 15,547 nursing homes in a set of U.S. News ranking, there are 131 that have been tagged as “Special-Focus Facilities.” They are red flagged as SFFs. These nursing homes have long histories of inconsistent or subpar health inspections. A nursing home is labeled as an SFF if first there are consecutive inspections with deficiencies; second that that deficiency affected many residents; finally that that problem remains unresolved on follow-up inspections. If a home is labeled as an SFF it can lose its Medicare and Medicaid credentials. If you are looking at a nursing home labeled as an SFF stay armed with questions.

Alden Wentworth and International are just two examples of nursing home conglomerates in Illinois that have had bad track records. To discover what makes a nursing home bad, please check out the link.

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Posted In: National Nursing Homes, How to choose a home, How to tell if your nursing home is bad

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January 12, 2010

What Makes a Great Nursing Home

In a typical year more than 3.2 million Americans will spend at least some time in a nursing home. The U.S. News ranks and displays data about almost every nursing home in the country. They rely on the Nursing Home Compare which is a program run by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It analyzes information on all the homes enrolled in the program and looks at three arrears: health inspections, nurse staffing and measure of care. At the Nursing Home Compare website you can search for a specific home or ones in a certain area. Health inspections include safety matters such as food preparation and infection control. Nurse staffing report the average number of residents per nurse. The area of quality measures includes areas such as pain, bedsores and mobility. Doing research is an important process of choosing a nursing home. This must be done in order to avoid nursing home negligence. To learn more about the nursing home ratings, please click the link.

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Posted In: How to choose a home

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December 6, 2009

Be Careful When Choosing a Nursing Home

Choosing a nursing home should be a carefully thought out process, yet it is usually done in a rush after a loved one is about to be discharged from a hospital. However, medical reporter Lee Bowman has some advice on how to choose a nursing home. First, start with the U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services’ Nursing Home Compare, a database that ranks 15,700 nursing home facilities on a star system. Around 12 to 13 percent of nursing homes have the top rating, slightly more than 20 percent the lowest. Experts recommend finding a nursing home close to the patient’s home for the simple reason that it’s easier for family and friends to visit. He suggests meeting the home administrator and inspecting the home’s public areas for upkeep and cleanliness. One way to ensure that nursing home abuse will be diminished is to look for longevity among the key caregivers. To read more strategies about nursing home care, please click the link.

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December 2, 2009

Illinois Nursing Home Ratings Website Offers Free Membership

The holiday season is a time for giving, and, Gunther's Grades would like to offer three months of free membership to all new members during the month of December. For information on how to take advantage of this holiday special, go to www.gunthersgrades.com.

Gunther's Grades is a web meeting place where caregivers, families and friends can access, rate and share information regarding long-term care and facilities in Illinois.

Visit Gunther's Grades to view ratings of Illinois nursing homes submitted by other families and caregivers.

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Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, Residents and Family Members, How to choose a home, Selecting a home

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October 25, 2009

State Senators Hear of Nursing Home Bias

After rising concerns about the treatment of Illinois nursing home residents, the Illinois Senate’s public health committee met today to discuss racial disparities in quality and care. The hearing stemmed from an investigation by the Chicago Reporter magazine that identified inequities between nursing homes where the majority of residents are black and homes where a majority of residents are white. The nursing home article featured testimony from a Levin & Perconti client. Illinois has the highest number of poorly rated nursing homes nationwide. Chicago has even more disparities, where the lowest rating was given to nearly 60 percent of the 30 black nursing homes. On the other side of the spectrum, 11 percent of the city’s 45 white homes received the lowest rating. Also, black nursing homes averaged more violations than white homes. The Chicago Reporter article also found that residents at black facilities received less care from highly trained staff than their white counterparts. A law professor testified that the Midwest has the highest degree of racial segregation among its nursing homes. Chicago is ranked sixth out of the 10 metropolitan areas with the most racially segregated nursing home populations. To read more about the hearing, please click the link.

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Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, Chicago Nursing Homes, How to choose a home

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October 15, 2009

New Website Helps Rate Illinois Nursing Homes

A new website allows family and friends of nursing home residents to access, rate and share information regarding Illinois nursing homes. It allows you to ask questions and view relevant information regarding nursing homes. This website will help you determine where to place your loved ones while avoiding nursing home negligence. To view the nursing home website, please click the link.

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October 4, 2009

How to Decide Whether a Nursing Home is the Right Fit

The LA Times has come up with a helpful list for determining which nursing home is the right one to place your loved one. They believe that by asking the facility certain questions you will be able to determine if it is a safe place. First ask whether the care meets the need of your family member such as personalizing rooms with photographs and other items. Next ask whether the facility has adequate fire and safety systems which are up to date. It is important that a facility has a wanderer alert to ensure that disoriented residents do not leave. There should be few policies on physical and chemical restraints. It is important to research whether the nursing home has a history of pressure ulcers. The Medicare website is helpful in determining which nursing home is right for you. To read more about nursing home advice, please click the link.

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Posted In: Residents and Family Members, How to choose a home, Knowing your rights

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September 2, 2009

Alden Owns over 40 Illinois Nursing Homes

The Alden Network is an Illinois entity operating over 40 nursing homes within Illinois. Due to the overwhelming amount of nursing homes, you may not recognize a specific home as an Alden Network home. Since the nursing home abuse attorneys at Levin & Perconti have filed a number of lawsuits against Alden homes, we have provided a list of Alden Network homes below. If you have a complaint against any of these homes, you should contact the Illinois Department of Public Health at 1-800-252-4343 and consult a nursing home abuse lawyer.

Alden Network Homes in Illinois

Alden Alma Nelson Manor- Rockford, Illinois
Alden Courts of Waterford – Aurora, Illinois
Alden Des Plaines – Des Plaines, Illinois
Alden Estates of Barrington – Barrington, Illinois
Alden Estates of Evanston – Evanston, Illinois
Alden Estates of Naperville – Naperville, Illinois
Alden Estates of Skokie- Skokie, Illinois
Alden Gardens Courts of Des Plaines – Des Plaines, Illinois
Alden Gardens of Waterford CCRC – Aurora, Illinois
Alden Lakeland Rehab & HCC – Chicago, Illinois
Alden Lincoln Rehab & HC Ctr – Chicago, Illinois
Alden Long Grove Rehab & HCC – Long Grove, Illinois
Alden North Shore Rehab & HCC – Skokie, Illinois
Alden Northmoor Rehab & HCC – Chicago, Illinois
Alden of Old Town East – Bloomingdale, Illinois
Alden of Old Town West – Bloomingdale, Illinois
Alden of Waterford – Aurora, Illinois
Alden Orland Park Rehab & HCC – Orland Park, Illinois
Alden Park Strathmoor – Rockford, Illinois
Alden Popular Creek Rehab & HCC, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Alden Princeton Rehab & HCC – Chicago, Illinois
Alden Springs – Bloomingdale, Illinois
Alden Terrace of McHenry Rehab – McHenry, Illinois
Alden Town Manor Rehab & HCC – Cicero, Illinois
Alden Trails – Bloomingdale, Illinois
Alden Valley Ridge Rehab & HCC – Bloomingdale, Illinois
Alden Village Health Facility- Bloomingdale, Illinois
Alden Village North – Chicago, Illinois
Alden Wentworth Rehab & HCC, Chicago, Illinois
Barrington Horizon
Bloomingdale Horizon
Drexel Horizon
Fox River Horizon I and II
Heather Health Care Center – Harvey, Illinois
Oak Forest Horizon
The Lakes at Waterford
The Superior at Waterford

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Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, Residents and Family Members, Alden Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect, Chicago Nursing Homes, How to choose a home, How to tell if your nursing home is bad

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July 6, 2009

Three Illinois Nursing Homes Receive High Marks

U.S. News and World Report recently unveiled the Best Nursing Homes Honor Roll, a list of nursing homes throughout the country that received five-star ratings in health inspections, staffing, and quality measures resident care. The list is part of the magazine’s larger efforts to rate nursing homes across the United States. Three Illinois nursing homes made the Honor Roll, including one in Belleville, a facility in Barrington and a nursing home in Chicago. The list is a useful tool for families who are faced with choosing a nursing home for a loved one. It is important to research nursing homes to make a well-educated decision about a loved one’s’ care. This research can reveal whether a home has been cited for nursing home abuse and will also provide insight into things like staffing levels and resident activities. Click on nursing home honor roll to see the full list.

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Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, How to choose a home

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June 25, 2009

Tips to Protect Loved Ones from Nursing Home Abuse

Elder abuse has become an all too real reality in nursing homes across the country. However, there are some very practical things you can do to make sure your family is safe while in a nursing home. The best way to combat nursing home abuse is to visit often. It is a fact that clients who have regular visitation from family and friends are less likely to be abused. Also it is important to be vigilant and learn to recognize symptoms of elder abuse. Establishing relationships with staff will help lessen the possibility of elder abuse. All of these ways will help your loved one stay safe in their nursing home. To read more about the elder abuse, please click the link.

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Posted In: Nursing Home Staff, How to choose a home

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June 7, 2009

Federal Government Initiates a Web Based Program to Rate Nursing Homes

The federal government now has an online tool consumers can use in evaluating the quality of nursing-home care. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will start running a pilot program to see if cash incentives to nursing homes can improve the care they provide, especially in areas like nurse staffing and preventable hospitalizations. Recently, the federal government started a star program that rates nursing homes and flagged 135 of the most troubled nursing homes. Many nursing home residents are forced to pay for their own care, because they earn too much for Medicaid, and are only given Medicare. They are then surprised by Medicare’s limited coverage for nursing-home, which is up to 100 days after a hospitalization of three days or more. To qualify for this, a patient must have a doctor’s order to go to a nursing home for the same illness or injury that she was treated for at the hospital. The new online website will list the nursing homes with summarized data from state and federal inspections and information the nursing homes reported to regulators. The website will contain information about nursing homes in Chicago, Illinois. To read more about the nursing home program, please click the link.

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Posted In: Residents and Family Members, How to choose a home, National Nursing Home News

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March 25, 2009

20 Common Nursing Home Problems and How to Resolve Them

Eric Carlson, an attorney with the national Senior Citizens Law Center has given advice on how to choose a nursing home. He first suggests that consumers be aggressive about questioning a prospective home about nursing home staff and staff training. If you are looking for a home with dementia care, he suggests looking for one that uses resident-centered care that offers a homelike environment and that works to meet a resident’s preference. He believes that the biggest factor when it comes to quality of care is nursing home staff. Try to find a place where the nurse aides have been around for years. This is especially important for those with dementia because they need consistency to enable to recognize the person and build trust. He warns against choosing a home that uses inappropriate use of behavior-modifying medication. Additionally physical restraints can be problematic. Finally, when choosing the difference between nursing homes and assisted-living communities, beware that state regulations are often vague as to what types of needs an assisted-living facility is required to accommodate. To read more tips on choosing a nursing home, please click the link.

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February 9, 2009

Tips on How to Choose a Nursing Home

The following tips can be used in choosing a good nursing home that has no record of elder neglect. First, review the home’s most recent annual inspection report, which must be posted at the facility. You may ask the nursing homes about previous inspection reports and complaint investigations. Also, compare nursing homes by checking out the star ratings and finding out the number of registered nurses per resident. Ensure that the nursing home has not been fined in Illinois by checking out the Illinois Department of Public Health website. If you have already found suspect elder abuse or neglect, consult the home’s director of nursing. Also, make sure that you review the resident’s care plan and doctor’s order. Read more tips on nursing homes.

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Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, How to choose a home

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December 18, 2008

Nursing Home Rating System Open to Public

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has created a new ranking system for nursing homes. The system which appoints between one and five stars to nursing homes will allow the public to review a nursing home before placing a loved one in the facility. The rating system looks at staff levels which are crucial for proper nursing home supervision and to prevent elder accidents such as broken hips and nursing home falls. The system also looks at inspection reports based on past nursing home complaints, usually related to elder abuse and elder neglect. This new rating system also looks at quality control measures to ensure that nursing homes are run appropriately. To read more about the new nursing home ranking system click here.

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Posted In: How to choose a home, Selecting a home, Useful publications

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November 21, 2008

Changing Cultural Vital for Nursing Homes

As a generation of elderly people resists the fate of nursing homes they’ve grown to dread, supporters of a cultural revolution say they are reforming an industry long tainted by images of neglected patients languished on soiled sheets. After nursing homes failed nationwide, some state’s are beginning a “pay-for-performance” plan which sends higher Medicaid payments to homes that make changes from reducing bed sores to giving residents food on demand. Reformers say the heart is just treating people the way you want to be treated. Nursing homes should promote cultural change or comparable reforms are vital for baby boomers who do not want to enter the mass warehousing that occurs in current nursing homes. Nursing homes should break from institutional schedules and rules where residents must eat at common times or take showers at a rigid hour. Additionally, a nursing home should train their staff in resident-centered care and reassign employees to more-consistent jobs. They should also attempt to alter the physical monotony of nursing homes by adding gardens, mediation rooms or restaurant-style dining areas. These changes will greatly improve the years that the elderly spend at nursing homes. To read the full story, click here.

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October 22, 2008

10 Things to Know When Choosing An Assisted Living Facility

Dr. Cheryl Woodson, a season geriatrician, has come up with 10 ways to navigate the care giving maze. First she tells us that assisted living is a myth and to avoid them because they are not permitted by law to provide medical care. The doctor also suggests that a nursing home properly assess the elderly patient’s physical and cognitive health before they admit them into an assisted living facility. She warns that assisted living facilities admit residents who already need help with simple tasks like eating and dressing, and then charge extra for those tasks. Dr. Woodson noted that by hiring a geriatric care manager, siblings can alleviate their overwhelming feelings. She advices calling and arranging to meet the doctors that will be working with your elderly patient before admitting a loved one into a home. Additionally, families should always closely monitor the monthly pharmacy bill. Nursing homes may try to add medication that an elderly patient does not use to scam family members out of money. Dr. Woodson’s last piece of advice is to make sure your assisted living facility knows all of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s so that this problem can be dealt with immediately. To read the full story, click here.

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October 13, 2008

Families Need to Research When Choosing A Nursing Home

Since reports issued claimed that 90 percent of nursing homes were sited for at least one deficiency this past year, it is important for family members to choose the right nursing home. Surprisingly, for-profit nursing homes are getting more citations that government run homes. Across the US nursing homes house more than 1.5 million people and two-thirds of the residents are Medicaid or Medicare participants. The annual cost for the care is more than $75 billion. In order for nursing homes to receive funding from the government through Medicaid and Medicare, they must meet federal standards and are inspected at least once every 15 months. The care in nursing homes has fallen short for several years, drawing scrutiny from the public and the government. The report says the most common violations of nursing homes surveyed were improper storage and distribution of food, lack of services needed for patients’ well being and accident hazards. With these alarming statistics it is important that individuals read the report released by the Department of Health and Human Services. If not a person puts the individual they love at risk of being mistreated or not cared for in the proper manner. To read the full story, click here.

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June 24, 2008

Medication Overuse on Dementia Patients

Romana Lamascola’s mother, Theresa Lamascola, suffered from dementia. When she became anxious and confused at the age of 88, she was placed an anti-psychotic drug Risperdal; when she began having trouble walking, she saw a doctor who diagnosed her with hypothyroidism, which can contribute to dementia, and she was placed in a nursing home. However, Ms. Lamascola’s health did not get better in the nursing home, rather it got worse, she began screaming, twitching, and drooling on herself. It was not the dementia, however, that caused these symptoms, it was the drugs prescribed to control agitation, combativeness, and outbursts associated with dementia patients. When Ms. Lamascola was taken off Risperdal, she began improving.

It is estimated that one-third of all nursing home patients have received antipsychotic medications. While antipsychotics are continually receiving bad publicity, use of them has actually increased. For example, in 2006 a study showed that using antipsychotic drugs on Alzheimer’s patients gave no significant improvement in treating aggression and delusions when compared to placebos for most patients. Yet, between 2000 and 2007 sales of newer antipsychotics rose from $4 billion to $13.1 billion.

Nursing homes have alternatives, such as using psychosocial components in treatment that allow residents to be mentally and physically stimulated, like exercise and playing with animals. Overusing drugs like Risperdol may be nursing home neglect. In finding a nursing home for a loved one that will be more likely to use alternative means of care rather than overusing antipsychotics, look for homes with low employee turnover, a high ratio of staff to patients, and programs that use psychosocial components. For a more in-depth discussion of the overuse of antipsychotic drugs click here.

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Posted In: National Nursing Homes, How to choose a home

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The purpose of this blog is to deliver news and information that is relevant to our areas of practice. The news and information reported on this blog represent the legal actions of attorneys throughout the United States. Our firm does not claim to represent plaintiffs in all of the lawsuits, settlements, and jury verdicts reported, only those noted as Levin & Perconti cases.

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