May 31, 2010

Nursing Home Lawyers Discuss Study That Shows New Definitions for Malnutrition

A panel of nutrition experts has released new definitions for malnutrition that will be universally applicable. McKnights Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living is reporting that these new definitions will help clinicians and healthcare workers identify and treat malnutrition. Researchers had decided to develop new definitions because there was a lack of generally agreed upon terms for the numerous forms and causes of malnutrition. There are now three categories of adult nutrition: starvation-related, chronic disease-related or acute disease/injury-related. These categories can now include all the major causes of malnutrition. These are important clarifications considering a 2000 study found that between 25% and 85% of nursing home residents are considered malnourished. The new definitions were accumulated by ESPEN and ASPEN. They will be published in the journals Clinical Nutrition and JPEN. To read about the new definitions, please check out the link.

Malnutrition or dehydration can cause many problems in elderly residents. These health conditions include tooth decay, broken bones, anemia and low blood pressure. Severe cases can even lead to death. These ailments can oftentimes be easily prevented if the residents are properly fed and nourished. Many times residents who are suffering from depression will become malnourished. Some experts also believe that residents become malnourished due to a lack of adequately trained personnel. Poor staffing is often the root of most nursing home abuse problems. It is the duty of all nursing homes to ensure that not only they have a sufficient number of staff members, but that these staff members are properly trained to deal with the complexities of the elderly. If you believe that you or a loved one resides in a Chicago-area or Illinois nursing home with inadequate staffing, please confront the nursing home about this problem. If this poor level of staffing has lead to nursing home abuse, consult a nursing home lawyer.

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Posted In: Government Reports, Medical Conditions, Nursing Home Study

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March 31, 2010

Illinois Advocates for Nursing Home Industry Debate Changes

Currently nursing home operators and advocates for seniors are debating the amount of change needed to fix the much troubled Illinois nursing home industry. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the nursing home industry is balking at the Nursing Home Safety Task Force and their recommendations for legislative action. The nursing home operators are objecting to the idea of raising minimum staffing levels. They also are not keen on the idea to increase fines and penalties for unsafe and poorly run facility and raising fees to help pay for these new safety implementations.

Also, some senior advocates are in opposition to the task force recommendation that separate wings or facilities become licensed so as to not mix them with vulnerable nursing home residents. They believe that the separate units do not solve the problem that is currently plaguing the mentally ill. The problems associated with the mentally ill and felons in nursing homes are what prompted the safety task force in the first place. Since then state officials, elder advocates and industry representatives are now meeting in smaller “working groups” to determine the best cause of action to solve these problems.

The task force’s report has an ambitious plan to move thousands of mentally disabled people from nursing homes into smaller residential programs. These programs will provide intensive therapy and supervision for those who require it. This appears to be one of many problems plaguing Illinois nursing homes. The AARP’s associative state director believes that many Illinois nursing homes fail to reach the minimum standards of quality of care and safety. To read more about the nursing home proposals, please click the link.

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Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, Compromised Care: Tribune Investigation, Legislation, Nursing Home Study

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August 14, 2009

Elder Self-Neglect and Abuse linked to Increased Risk of Dying

Elderly self-neglect is associated with a nearly six-fold increase in the risk of dying within a year. Elder self-neglect and abuse are serious, common and under recognized. There are an estimated 2 million cases of elder self-neglect and abuse in the United States. When elderly persons threatens their own health and safety by refusing to adequately feed, shelter or clothe themselves they are committing elder self-neglect. The Chicago Health and Aging Project created a report saying that of the 1,544 participants in a 9,000 study were guilty of elder self-neglect and 113 participants were reported for elder abuse. Participants with reported or confirmed self-neglect had a one-year mortality rate of 246.36 deaths per 100 person-years and mortality for participants after one year was 9.46 per 100 person-years. This is compared to a mortality rate of 5.01 deaths per 100 persons-years for participants who did not report self neglect. Self neglect is also a marker for increased mortality regardless of cognitive or physical function. The authors of the study suggest that high-functioning elders might be more capable of recognizing elder abuse and seeking help to end such abuse. To read more about the elder study, please click the link.

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Posted In: Failure to Report Abuse, Nursing Home Study

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August 12, 2009

Non-for Profit Nursing Homes have Better Quality of Care

Researches published a nursing home study in the British Medical Journal in which they examined 82 studies carried out in the US and Canada from 1965 to 2003 comparing quality between for-profit and not-for-profit nursing homes. Studies showed significantly better quality in not-for-profit homes with only three showing the quality of care was better in for-profit homes. Quality was judged on overall and quality of staffing, incidents of pressure ulcers, use of restraints and inspection surveys. The analysis found that nursing home residents in the United States would receive 500,000 more hours of nursing care per day if all not-for-profit institutions provided all nursing care. All of the indicators can be traced back to good or poor staffing. In order to alleviate nursing home negligence, the industry needs to create a culture where these are not jobs but mission driven careers. To read more about the nursing home study, please click the link.

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Posted In: Nursing Home Study

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August 9, 2009

Study Finds Not-For Profit Nursing Homes are Often Superior

In the United States, two-thirds of nursing homes are investor-owned, for-profit businesses. However, making a profit does not seem to decrease nursing home abuse and the overall quality of care. A paper published by the British Medical Journal examined 82 studies carried out in United States and Canadian nursing homes. Forty studies showed significantly better quality in not-for-profit homes and three sowed the quality was better in for-profit homes. The remaining studies had mixed results, suggesting wide variability among institutions. The authors noted that nursing homes substantially in their management styles, motivations and organizational behavior. However, the big picture points to the idea that nursing home residents in the United States would receive 50,000 more hours of nursing care per day if all not-for profit institutions provided all nursing home care. Additionally, more research most be done to examine nursing homes and realize the best methods for combating nursing home abuse and elderly neglect. To read more about the nursing home study, please click the link.

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Posted In: Nursing Home Study

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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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