Political Ad Claims Abuse at Nursing Homes

In the Republican race for governor, an ad paid for by unions was critical of candidate Bruce Rauner
because they claimed that a company he had a relationship to had instances of Nursing Home neglect resulting in Millions of dollars in Jury Verdicts.

The deaths of three women in two Florida nursing homes have been the subject of extensive litigation.

New Ad Claims Abuse at Rauner-Connected Nursing Homes | NBC Chicago

A nightmare nursing home - Editorial - Newsday

The Medford Multicare Center for Living fits the stereotype of the nursing home from hell. The place has an abominable 11-year record of nursing home abuse, neglect, cover-ups, health infractions, criminal convictions and multimillion-dollar paydays for the owners.

New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman wrote a new chapter in that scandalous history last week when his office arrested seven employees in connection with the October 2012 death of Aurelia Rios, a 72-year-old resident who wasn't connected to a ventilator overnight, as ordered by her doctor. Among those arrested was a respiratory therapist accused of ignoring alarms that sounded every 15 seconds for two hours to indicate the ventilator wasn't connected, and also ignoring pager messages when the patient stopped breathing. The other six -- nurses, aides and managers -- were charged with allegedly allowing the death or covering it up. Two additional employees were charged with patient neglect unrelated to Rios. A nightmare nursing home - Editorial - Newsday

Massachusetts Attorney Bernard Hamill Advocate for the Elderly in Long-Term... -- BOSTON, Feb. 20, 2014

BOSTON, Feb. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Bernard Hamill brought suit against Kindred Healthcare, Inc. alleging that his 85-year-old client had been assaulted at their facility. A Middlesex County jury entered a Massachusetts verdict for Hamill's client on Dec. 17th, 2013 for $2,000,014.00 against Kindred Healthcare, Inc.

The Plaintiff was found with a bruise and bleeding on her vaginal area. Hamill argued that the bruise was caused by abuse. Kindred argued that she had fallen. Because there were no eyewitnesses to any abuse, the defense contested Plaintiff's allegation strenuously, presenting expert medical testimony about falls and other medical conditions that could result in Plaintiff's injury.

Kindred's position was that since a police investigation resulted in no charges and a state investigation was inconclusive, there was no merit to Plaintiff''s claim. Plaintiff successfully argued that she had been assaulted and produced hospital records in support of their claim. The jury deliberated only 3 hours.

With interest the Verdict was $2,477,000.00 for emotional distress, loss of dignity and pain and suffering.

From the official court notice:

"Judgement on jury verdict for plaintiff(s), Jeanne Stanford POA:
It is ORDERED and ADJUDGED: That the plaintiff, Jeanne Stanford POA recover of the defendant(s), Kindred Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation-Marlborough, Kindred Nursing Centers East, L.L.C., Kindred Healthcare Operating, Inc. the sum of $2,014,000.00 with interest in the sum of $460,189.23 as provided by law, and its costs of action. (Paul D. Wilson, Justice). 12/18/2013"

No stranger to litigation against Kindred, Attorney Hamill previously obtained a judgment of $750,000 for two Kindred nursing home abuse victims who were handled roughly. This award was for purely emotional distress as there were no injuries. He advocates for elderly nursing home residents and has a successful track record including the highest awards for emotional distress caused by nursing home abuse.

This award represents the largest jury verdict ever awarded in Massachusetts for nursing home abuse.



Massachusetts Attorney Bernard Hamill Advocate for the Elderly in Long-Term... -- BOSTON, Feb. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/

Nursing Home Staffer Raped Patient according to NY Police

A Bronx nursing home nurse was arrested Tuesday, accused of raping a 64-year-old patient who cannot communicate, police and relatives say. 

Police said the 42-year-old supervising nurse at Manhattanville Health Care Center in the Bronx has been charged with nursing home rape. The alleged attack took place overnight into Tuesday as the woman was sleeping. 

Bronx Nursing Home Staffer Raped Patient: Police | NBC New York

Elder advocate criticizes new Florida nursing home bill

A Senate committee Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that is being panned by some elder advocates as a bill designed to help nursing homes and trial lawyers make money but do little to help residents.

The bill would shield some nursing home investors from lawsuits. The bill also would give families easier access to documents.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2014/02/elder-advocates-blast-and-lawyers-and-nursing-homes-for-self-serving-accord.html#storylink=cpy

Elder advocate blasts lawyers and nursing homes for self-serving accord | Naked Politics

Dementia care rules finalized for Massachusetts nursing homes

Workers in nursing home dementia care units will have to receive eight hours of initial training and four additional hours annually, under final rules state regulators adopted Wednesday.

The regulations, approved nearly two years after Massachusetts lawmakers passed legislation mandating minimum standards for these specialized units, also require that the facilities have at least one “therapeutic activities director” dedicated to the dementia unit to ensure meaningful and appropriate activities for residents.

The rules close a loophole that had allowed nursing homes to advertise dementia units without any specific training for their workers, specialized activities for residents, or safety measures in place, such as high fences, to prevent residents from wandering.

“These regulations have really been a labor of love for thousands of people affected by this difficult disease,” James Wessler, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Association of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, said in a statement.

Few changes were made in the dementia care standards since they were unveiled last August by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. They were finalized Wednesday by the Public Health Council, an appointed body of academics and health advocates that sets public policy

Dementia care rules finalized for Massachusetts nursing homes - Health & wellness - The Boston Globe



by Bernard Hamill



See more articles:



Nursing Home Abuse



Rape in Nursing
Homes

Nursing Home Abuse Verdict against Kindred - Final Jury Verdict Massachusetts

Nursing Home Abuse Verdict against Kindred - Final Jury Verdict Massachusetts

Med tech admits killing nursing home resident

David Satterfield, 34, recently confessed to police that in 2007, he killed Marcelline Katherine Sommer Vale, an 86-year-old widow, Louisville police said in a press conference Tuesday.
Vale had been helpless, lying in a nursing home bed in a fog of Alzheimer’s, and Satterfield had been hired as a medical technician to care for her."
The nursing home was short-staffed for the July 4 holiday, and Satterfield was called in for the overnight shift. He worked from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. July 5. The morning shift found the three women around 6:30 a.m. with critically low blood sugar readings, according to the investigation
Parkway Medical Center declined to comment.

Louisville police: Med tech admits killing elderly woman with insulin injection in 2007 | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com

Elderly patients with dementia were abused for 'sport'

"WEAK" and "inadequate" management led to the "gratuitous sport" of mistreatment of elderly dementia sufferers at a nursing home, a judge has said.
Residents at Hillcroft nursing home in Slyne-with-Hest, Lancaster, England, were mocked, bullied and tormented because they would have no memory of the abuse.

One man had his foot stamped on and another was nearly tipped out of his wheelchair. The vulnerable victims were also pelted with bean bags and balls were thrown at their heads "for entertainment".
Elderly patients with dementia were abused for 'sport' -- judge - Independent.ie

Kindred - Final Jury Verdict Massachusetts

Middlesex Superior Court, MA. Jury Verdict Dec 17th, 2013: It is ORDERED and ADJUDGED: That The plaintiff(s), Jeanne Stanford POA recover of he defendant(s), Kindred Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation-Marlborough,Kindred Nursing Centers East, L.L.C., Kindred Healthcare Operating, Inc. the sum of $2,014,000.00 with interest thereon from 01/23/2012 to 12/18/2013 in the sum of $460,189.23 as provided by law, and its costs of action. Paul D. Wilson, Justice). Copies mailed 12/18/2013 Plaintiffs Attorney: Bernard J. Hamill

Nursing-home violence a growing concern

 "Nursing homes are ill-equipped to care for the large number of aggressive residents they house and to keep other occupants safe, industry experts and political critics charge.
New research by the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors (OANHSS) shows that 11 per cent of the 78,000 residents of Ontario long-term-care homes are aggressive.
That number is expected to grow as homes continue to take on more and more complex residents, said OANHSS chief executive officer Donna Rubin."
Nursing-home violence a growing concern, with 11% of residents classed as ‘aggressive’ | Toronto Star:

Abuse/neglect is the biggest fear going into a care home

"The fear of being abused is the main reason people do not want to end up in a care home, a damning study reveals today.
Four in 10 said they would refuse to go into care. A third of them said it was mainly because they were concerned about selling their home to cover costs.
But half admitted the biggest reason was they worried about abuse or neglect.
Claudia Wood, of think-tank Demos, which commissioned the research, said: “The results have confirmed our fears that care homes are seen as something to be avoided and a last resort.
"Abuse and poor care are real issues in the care system, but we can’t assume all care homes are like those identified in shocking TV investigations.”"
Abuse or neglect is the biggest reason people fear going into a care home according to a new report by the Demos think-tank - Mirror Online:

Bethel nursing home fined by state

A Bethel nursing home is among four in the state that have been fined in connection with lapses in patient care.
In a citation released this week, the state Department of Public Health announced that on Oct. 9 it fined Bethel Healthcare Center of Bethel $1,500 in connection with a resident who was burned.
DPH records show that on July 2, a heating pad was left behind the knee of a resident for several hours, instead of a half-hour, when one licensed practical nurse did not remove it or tell the next shift it was there   Bethel nursing home fined by state - NewsTimes


by Bernard Hamill

A family demands to know why their father died of malnutrition

A prominent Indigenous family is preparing to sue a Sydney nursing home for gross medical negligence, alleging appalling neglect caused the premature death of their loved one.

The Federal Government's Aged Care Complaints Scheme has already found that the Parramatta Nursing Home failed on two counts to adequately care for 67-year-old Don Williams. But Mr Williams' family is calling for aged care providers to be held accountable.
Lateline - 17/10/2013: A family demands to know why their father died of malnutrition

Nursing home in Marion County loses Medicare and Medicaid funding : News : CarolinaLive.com

 "Marion Nursing Center, Inc. is no longer receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding after it was found not to be in compliance with requirements for the programs, according to the Federal Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Now, patients either have to pay out of pocket or move.
The nursing home lost its funding Sunday.
Officials say they will continue making payments for those patients at the nursing center for up to 30 days until they can be placed in other facilities.
Federal healthcare officials say they can't go into specifics right now as to why the funding was pulled, but will say they terminate funding to nursing homes due to patient care issues and if that care isn't provided in a safe environment."
Nursing home in Marion County loses Medicare and Medicaid funding : News : CarolinaLive.com:

by Bernard Hamill
See more articles:
Nursing Home Abuse