Staffing Shortages jeopardize patient care in nursing homes

The national study on long-term care, released June 19 by AARP, the Commonwealth Fund and the SCAN Foundation, show problems with the quality of care provided to residents of New Jersey’s nursing homes.
According to the report, New Jersey ranks second-worst in the country for the percentage of high-risk nursing home residents diagnosed with pressure ulcers, or bed sores. This ailment, which is the result of prolonged lying or sitting, can often be prevented by regular turning of the patient and proper positioning. In nursing homes, this work is typically done by certified nursing assistants — or CNAs — who are responsible for most direct, bedside care.
It’s no coincidence that New Jersey’s nursing homes are failing to prevent bed sores at a time when CNA staffing levels are significantly below national standards. NJ received an “F”; in this area from Families for Better Care, a nonprofit citizen advocacy group and industry watchdog. The organization found that “New Jersey nursing home residents may be hard pressed to locate a caregiver when needing help as the state ranks near the bottom in direct care staffing hours.”Staffing crisis jeopardizes patient care in NJ nursing homes: Opinion | NJ.com:

Family says hospital ignored Father causing death

"The family of an 84-year-old man who died after contracting a badly infected bedsore may sue a public hospital that they accuse of gross negligence.
Staff at the Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan neglected a small wound on Yuen Chung-kun's back, his children say.
They say it developed into a tennis ball-sized ulcer with a bacterial infection that caused his death."

Dead man's family says hospital ignored him | South China Morning Post:

Iowa nursing home fined for resident’s fatal fall

An Iowa nursing home where a former school teacher suffered a fatal head injury after falling from a mechanical lift is now facing a $31,525 fine.
In June, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals cited North Lake Manor of Storm Lake for failing to protect residents from harm and failing to provide adequate care. Workers at the home told inspectors they were overworked and had no time to give residents their baths or tend to some of their medical needs.Storm Lake nursing home fined $31,500 for resident’s fatal fall:

Grandfather abused by a nursing home worker

Our older adults in our community are targets for elder abuse. More than 33,000 elderly Mainers are abused each year, according to Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention. That isn't limited to financial exploitation, physical or sexual abuse.
The Marro family believe their grandfather was sexually abused in 2006 at a nursing home. Their grandfather's dementia was setting in and clogging his thoughts. As his health declined, they felt a Brunswick nursing home located in their neighborhood would be a safe place for him to live. That is where the sexual abuse occurred they believe. See\ Grandfather abused by a nursing home worker:

Nursing home aide convicted of raping 92-year-old woman

A former Cincinnati nursing home aide convicted of raping a bed-ridden 92-year-old resident has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.
A prosecutor's spokesman says a Hamilton County judge sentenced 22-year-old Samuel Onyenweaku on Monday. The West Chester man was convicted earlier of rape, felonious assault and patient abuse.
Authorities said he raped an elderly woman in her bed at the Amber Park assisted living facility in November. They say the victim was a widow and former school teacher who was bed-ridden and unable to communicate.     Nursing home aide convicted of raping 92-year-old Ohio woman gets 11-year prison sentence - Daily Journal:

Massachusetts Nursing Home Neglect Victim awarded damages as Jury finds nursing home at fault

Attorney Bernard J. Hamill is pleased to announce that our client has achieved justice from a Civil Jury in a Nursing Home Negligence case on July, 2014 in Middlesex Superior Court, Massachusetts.

The estate of Genevieve Calandro who died after a fall and weeks of neglect at a Danvers nursing home has won a $14.5 million verdict in a wrongful death and negligence case. A Middlesex Superior Court jury awarded the estate of Genevieve Calandro $1.4 million in compensatory damages and more than $12.5 million in punitive damages, plus interest.

In 2009, Genevieve's son Garry consulted with me after believing that his mother had needlessly died from a lack of basic care in the nursing home he had entrusted for his mothers care. Garry was dedicated son and determined to achieve justice for his mother.

The Law Office of Bernard J. Hamill in Quincy is the Attorney of record in this action who felt strongly from the outset that Mrs. Calandro's death was unnecessary and caused by clear negligent care by the Nursing Home. Reading Attorney David J. Hoey represented the plaintiffs at trial. The nursing home, Radius HealthCare Center, at 56 Liberty St., changed ownership and management last October.

Calandro was 90 years old and suffering from dementia when she was admitted to the nursing home in December 2007, according to our lawsuit filed on her behalf. She was neglected over a period of weeks, if not months, leading up to the first week of July 2008, “with multiple brewing infections, uncontrolled glucose levels and a worsening, infected” bed sore.

After she fell out of her wheelchair in the dining room, she was taken to Beverly Hospital and found to have a number of complications due to her condition. She died of congestive heart failure on Aug. 16, 2008.
which often develops after other conditions, such as severe infections (pressure sores), have damaged or weakened the heart.

The complaint said financial decisions and corporate greed contributed to the neglect of residents, including Calandro, who could not care for herself. It charged that Radius failed to properly train and hire competent staff, and that the corporation overseeing Radius did not comply with state and federal regulations to protect patients. The defendants have vowed not to pay but to appeal the Jury's findings.

Bernard J. Hamill recently set a record Massachusetts Nursing Home Jury verdict of $2,014,000.00 in December of 2013 representing a victim of an claimed sexual assault against Kindred Healthcare.

by Bernard Hamill
July 27, 2014

Click here to see the Jury Court Finding

see article Court finds Danvers nursing home at fault » SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

Suspended former nurse admitted not knowing what asprin was used for

Suspended former Orchards nurse admitted not knowing what asprin was used for | Western Gazette: "A FORMER worker at a care home in Crewkerne did not know what aspirin was used for, a competence hearing was told.

Fanus Coleasa Dragomir was called to appear before the Conduct and Competence Committee of the Nursing and Midwifery Council at the Old Bailey on July 7.

In a statement he admitted failing to demonstrate the standards of knowledge, skill, and judgement required to practise without supervision as a First Line Manager – Registered Nurse, at The Orchards nursing home on 20 occasions between September and December 2012."



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Trial in nursing home sex assault case starts

A trial for a man accused of sexually assaulting two women in a nursing home is set to start today.


The cases involve two elderly residents at a Co. Skilled Nursing during the accused employment at the facility. The defendant has pleaded not guilty. Trial in Broomfield nursing home sex assault case starts today - Boulder Daily Camera:

Nursing home said to offer whistle-blower $102,500 settlement

 "A whistle-blower nurse who was fired after complaining of poor care at two Iowa nursing homes has been offered a $102,500 settlement from one of the facilities."

In early 2006, Janice Rardin of Boone was fired from her position as director of nursing at the Evangelical Free Church Home in Boone. State records indicate she was fired after she filed two complaints with state regulators stating that a resident had been abused. Both complaints were aimed at the administrator of the home, Ron Honson"Register Exclusive: Nursing home offers whistle-blower $102,500 settlement | The Des Moines Register | desmoinesregister.com:

Search to find nursing home killer ongoing

"Police investigating multiple deaths at a Newcastle nursing home say they've interviewed hundreds of witnesses, while pouring through hours of CCTV footage.

Police allege 80-year-old Ryan Kelly and 83-year-old Gwen Fowler were given lethal shots of insulin at the Summitcare nursing home at Wallsend in October last year."Search to find nursing home killer ongoing - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation):

Widow sues nursing home over husband’s death

A Texas widow is suing a nursing and rehabilitation center after her husband died of sepsis

Beverly Ann Stewart filed a Nursing Home lawsuit March 13 in the Jefferson County District against Summer Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, alleging negligence.

The lawsuit states Charles Larry Stewart was a patient of Summer Place on Major Drive in Beaumont from Oct. 31, 2012, to Nov. 20, 2012
Widow sues nursing home over husband’s death | Southeast Texas Record

Ashton Grange nurse was allegedly drunk at work

A care home nurse was allegedly so drunk at work that she confused a teddy bear with a baby, a hearing was told today.

Violet Ruto attended the Ashton Grange Nursing Home in Horsham, West Sussex while intoxicated on repeated occasions and was so unsteady on her feet she had to be removed from the building, it was said.

She was also found sleeping in one of the rooms during her shift on New Year’s Eve, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2588193/Care-home-nurse-drunk-work-thought-teddy-bear-baby-hardly-stand-up.html#ixzz2x1b5kMJi
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Ashton Grange nurse 'was so drunk at work she thought a teddy was a baby' | Mail Online

Cheshire nursing home fined twice by state Department of Health

Highlands Health Care Nursing Home was fined twice recently by the Department of Public Health in two separate citations in February.

According to a citation issued on Feb. 4, the 120-bed facility at 745 Highland Ave. was fined $1,160 in connection with a Sept. 1, 2013, incident where a resident had fallen in the bathroom and suffered a cut that required 10 staples to close.

The resident, who was prone to falls, had been left unattended in the bathroom according to the report.

A second citation on Feb. 25 resulted in a $1,090 fine for the facility after a resident developed a deep tissue injury to the heel in December.  Cheshire nursing home fined twice by state Department of Health Republican American

Nursing home employee charged with assaulting resident

A 65-year-old nursing home employee faces assault and neglect charges after she allegedly got into a fight with a resident who complained the staff wasn't properly caring for the residents.
On Friday, Bristol Township police charged the aide with neglect of a care-dependent person and simple assault.According to court records, the resident at the Silver Lake Nursing and Rehabilitative Center received scratches, bruises and a bloody nose and lip.
Nursing home employee charged with assaulting resident - Bucks County Courier Times: Bristol Township | Borough | Schools

Rochester Nursing Home nurses accused of neglecting patient

A Rochester man sat in a courtroom recently and watched as ten Nursing Home employees were accused of neglecting his father.

The ten nurses all worked at Blossom North Nursing Home and are charged with varying degrees of neglect. Some are charged with falsifying the patient’s medical records to cover up the neglect. The victim in this case was a double-amputee. Blossom North nurses accused of neglecting patient appear in court | WHEC.com