Do you have an elderly parent or loved one who has survived cardiac arrest in a nursing home or assisted-living facility? A recent post in the New York Times blog “The New Old Age” suggested that recent medical studies show encouraging results for patient survival after experiencing a heart attack…
Do you have an elderly parent or loved one in a Southern California nursing home? A recent study of nursing facilities within our state found that in 20 out of 22 facilities tested, the drug-resistant and often deadly skin infection “MRSA was present. San Diego’s local ABC 10 News referred…
Are you concerned that a loved one may be experiencing nursing home abuse or neglect? Recently, New Yorker Diana Valentin suspected that her grandmother’s care in a Bronx nursing home might have been substandard after noticing physical injuries to her grandmother’s arms. Valentin’s grandmother raised her, and she wanted to…
A Northern Kentucky nursing home just reached an agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office to pay a substantial settlement for false Medicare and Medicaid claims filed over the past decade. While this case concerns a nursing facility in Kentucky, it may have a significant impact on nationwide lawsuits under the…
For quite some time, elder-care advocates have encouraged federal legislation that would require certain long-term care measures for older adults. However, a recent article in the New York Times referred to this legislation—the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act—as a victim of the recent fiscal cliff deal in…
If you have a loved one in a nursing home who has been diagnosed with dementia, you may want to read closely. A recent article in The Tennessean reported that antipsychotic drugs are being overused in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, particularly for patients who have been diagnosed with dementia.…
A recent U.S. News & World Report article noted a post-holiday increase in elder care inquiries. During the holiday season, visits with families and loved ones can leave us with “the realization that an aging relative is losing the ability to live independently.” A family expert with the AARP noted…
For the past several years, there has been significant discussion about the consequences of changing American demographics. More specifically, the American population is aging at a very steady rate. As the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement age, the percentage of the population over 65 steadily rises. In fact, according to…
The Marin Independent Journal reported in a recent article that Marin county health officials are administering free flu shots to nursing home employees. The article indicates that this action is in response to the results of a recent health survey indicating that vaccination rates for the residents of nursing facilities…
Assembly Bill 40 is a California law that took effect January 1, 2013. The bill is intended to expand reporting requirements related to elder abuse. The Napa Valley Register reported in an article that the Napa County Health and Human Services department investigated 370 abuse and neglect cases in 2012.…