April 18, 2010

Important Things Nursing Homes Probably Will Not Tell You

According to an article from SmartMoney.com, it is very difficult to choose the right nursing home when making the difficult decision to place a family member into long-term care. Many nursing homes will hide some important aspects that are crucial to this decision. The next ten statements are things that you need to investigate because a nursing home will never tell you. The first is that they are careless with the drugs they distribute. Next they will never let you know if they are understaffed. A nursing home will not make you aware of the fact that nursing home theft is on the rise. Cash, jewelry and clothes are oftentimes the most commonly stolen items. In addition to personal theft, institutional theft is also rising. The Department of Health and Human Services reported that the Medicaid Fraud Unit had recovered more than $1.3 billion in fraudulent money. Next, a nursing home will not let you know that they only will do what is in the individualized care plan.

A nursing home will never disclose their cases of nursing home negligence or whether they use physical restraints on their loved ones. Sometimes, nursing homes prep for their report cards and their grade my not reflect their standard of care. When they get fined, they have the possibility of not paying them. Most importantly, a nursing home will not let you know that they can discharge a resident at any moments notice. This has become one of the biggest complaints of nursing home residents and their families. To read more about the nursing home facts, please click the link.

March 29, 2010

Clinton, Illinois Nursing Home Cited by the Department of Public Health

Manor Court of Clinton, a Clinton, Illinois nursing home, has not only been cited for deficiencies but its administrator has been replaced. This comes after many complaints and an inspection by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Pantagraph.com is reporting that the IDPH discovered that the nursing home was not in compliance with several federal regulations. Manor Court will now receive a daily fine of $400 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services until it is back in compliance. The IDPH is instrumental in investigating cases of nursing home negligence throughout the state of Illinois.

The home was cited for failure to maintain hot water and failing to relieve residents’ pressure sores. The negligent nursing home was also unable to prevent a resident from falling and was found to have insufficient nursing staffing. These issues may have led to an inability to administer and monitor resident medications. A regional long-term care ombudsmen with the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging , Tami Wacker, said her office has investigated many complaints with the Manor Court administrator. They found that when their complaints were voiced, there was an obvious lack of cooperation from the nursing home administration.

The Nursing Home Compare website does not give favorable ratings to Manor Court. The overall rating is one out of five stars and they only give the home one star for nursing home staffing. The compare website is a helpful tool in choosing a nursing home. If you or a loved one has experienced nursing home negligence at Manor Court of Clinton, please consult an Illinois nursing home attorney. To read more about the Illinois nursing home inspections, please click the link.

March 25, 2010

Picking a Nursing Home For a Loved One in Illinois

A New York Times article has laid out many times for helping those dealing with the stressful task of choosing a nursing home. Chief executive of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging states that you can find a nursing home with a safe, engaging and pleasant environment if you “know what to look for and how to search.” The first step is to start with the data by looking at a nursing home’s health inspection data, staffing and quality measures. You may obtain this information by going to the Medicare website and using the “nursing home compare” tool. The next helpful step is to visit the nursing home numerous times. Ask to speak with the executive director, lead physician and head nurse. Take notice as to whether staff members are being friendly with the patients. When speaking with nursing home representatives make sure to ask the nursing homes if they engage in “person-centered care” as well as “consistent assignment” These homes will allow patients to generally manage their own schedules and choose when they wake up. Finally, make sure to inquire about the staff turnover. Countless studies have found that nursing home staffs with high turnover rates are more likely to commit nursing home negligence.

There are many helpful sources for choosing a nursing home in Illinois. The Chicago nursing home lawyers at Levin & Perconti recommend visiting the Illinois Department of Health’s Website to examine information on each nursing home in Illinois. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at the Illinois Department of Aging is another helpful resource for families choosing a nursing home for a loved one. They run a Senior Helpline that you may access by calling 1-800-252-8966.

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.

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.

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.

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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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.

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.

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.

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

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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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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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.

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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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.

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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