Most nursing home residents chronically constipated

"Chronic constipation is highly prevalent in nursing homes and not well controlled, leading to a high likelihood that residents develop fecal impaction, according to findings from a first-of-its kind study.
Nearly 71% of the participants from 34 Spanish nursing homes had chronic constipation, the investigators determined. Fecal impaction was “prevalent” in nearly half of these residents, suggesting that while chronic constipation is almost always correctly diagnosed, it is not well controlled."
Vast majority of nursing home residents chronically constipated, and it's not well controlled, researchers say - McKnight's Long Term Care News:

Princeton nursing home blamed for woman’s death

Linda French, as personal representative of the estate of Phyllis Simpkins, filed a Nursing Home Negligence lawsuit Aug. 4 in Mercer Circuit Court against The Havens at Princeton LLC, doing business as The Havens at Princeton, Ridge Care Inc. and Tonya Gerber, administrator, citing wrongful death.

According to the complaint, on Aug. 2, 2012, Simpkins was admitted to the defendants’ assisted living facility in Princeton, where she suffered multiple falls resulting in subdural hematoma, which contributed to her death March 2, 2013. The defendants are accused of negligent training and hiring, negligence and wrongful death.Princeton nursing home blamed for woman’s injuries, death | West Virginia Record:

Eight Nursing Homes Fined For Proper Care

Eight nursing homes have been fined more than $1,000 each by the CT. Department of Public Health in connection with incidents in which residents sustained cuts or broken bones or suffered from lapses in care.

DPH fined The Springs at Watermark 3030 Park in Bridgeport $1,440 on July 8 in connection with a Feb. 27 incident in which a resident did not receive prompt IV hydration, records show.Eight Nursing Homes Fined Following Lapses In Care - Courant.com:

Nursing home fined over missed medication

A Tucson nursing home was hit with a $4,750 civil penalty, and its director was placed on probation, for repeatedly failing to provide prescribed medication to a resident who later had to be hospitalized. 
The Arizona Department of Health Services substantiated a charge of elder neglect after conducting a complaint investigation at Emeritus at Catalina Foothills, 3701 N. Swan Road, on Jan. 17. The inspection found that on 19 occasions, staff members failed to provide the medication ordered by the resident’s primary-care physician, the blood-thinner warfarin, to treat an irregular heartbeat and history of blood clots in the lung. The department issued a $250 fine for each missed dosage. Nursing home fined over missed medication:

Elderly man dies after North Naples nursing home incident

A 90-year-old man left in the heat for three hours outside a North Naples nursing home last week died recently.
Nurses at the Aristocrat Nursing home found Robert Bernard unresponsive in his wheelchair last Wednesday afternoon.
A 911 caller told a dispatcher that the man had a 105-degree temperature and there were three nurses working to cool him down.
A police report indicated Bernard was wheeled outside about 2 p.m. and the staff discovered the mistake about three hours later. Officials say Bernard was suffering from heat stroke, dehydration and sunburn.
Elderly man dies after North Naples nursing home incident - WFTX-TV Fort Myers/Naples, FL

nursing home employees arraigned

Three former employees at Genesis HealthCare’s Edmonson Center nursing home pleaded not guilty Monday to several charges stemming from allegations of nursing home abuse.
Jerry Snyder, Kelly Duvall and Kayla Kinser will return to Edmonson Circuit Court on Dec. 15 following their arraignments.
Snyder, 30, of Leitchfield, is charged with 14 counts each of first-degree criminal abuse, knowingly abusing or neglecting an adult and fourth-degree assault, plus two counts of second-degree wanton endangerment.Former Edmonson nursing home employees arraigned - Bowling Green Daily News: News

Chatham care home Agape House closed after neglect death

 A nursing home has been forced to close after serious concerns were raised about care following the death of one resident who suffered neglect.
Inspectors found Agape House in Chatham, which looks after elderly people including patients with dementia, was failing to meet standards.
A safeguarding investigation by Medway Council found a person who died in October 2013, had suffered neglect at the privately-run homeChatham care home Agape House closed after neglect death:

nursing home workers indicted

Three people were indicted Wednesday after an investigation into reported abuse at a Brownsville nursing home.
An Edmonson County grand jury formally charged Jerry Matthew Snyder, 30, of Leitchfield, with 14 counts of first-degree criminal abuse (adult), 14 counts of fourth-degree assault, 14 counts of knowingly abusing/neglecting an adult and two counts of second-degree wanton endangerment.Ex-nursing home workers indicted - Bowling Green Daily News: News:

nursing home company to pay part of $3.8M settlement for Medicare overbilling

 A Des Moines-based company that manages nursing homes across the country has agreed to pay part of a $3.8 million settlement for what federal officials say was overbilling of Medicare.
Life Care Services, of Des Moines, and a California nursing home company called ParkVista have agreed to pay the settlement, but have not admitted wrongdoing, The Des Moines Register reported (http://dmreg.co/1wczh23 ) Saturday.Des Moines-based nursing home company to pay part of $3.8M settlement for Medicare overbilling:

As Connecticut population ages, elder abuse rises

As Connecticut’s population ages, Abuse of the elderly is on the rise and nationwide, millions of seniors are at risk every year..
Connecticut’s population is the seventh oldest in the nation, with 14 percent of state residents over 65, and 27 percent turning 65 during the next 15 years. And as Connecticut goes gray, an increase in the rate of abuse and neglect of elderly and disabled state residents is following, social services and health care professionals say.As Connecticut population ages, elder abuse rises:

Texas nursing homes ranked worst in nation

Texas has been ranked the worst state in the nation for it's nursing home care. And Amarillo is reportedly one of the worst cities in Texas. The city has twice the amount of severe deficiencies, 40 percent compared to the states average of 20 percent, which is reported through the U.S. Government's site for Medicare.
The state of Texas, being the worst in the nation for nursing home care, is assessed in 8 categories... it failed 6 of them.
Brian Lee, the Executive Director of Families For Better Care, said Amarillo needs help.Texas nursing homes ranked worst in nation - KFDA - NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo News, Weather, Sports:

Man gets sepsis at illegal nursing home, dies

"A 23-year-old man, who was admitted to hospital for a fracture, developed septicemia / sepsis and died at an illegal nursing home, which allegedly doesn't have qualified staff. The mother of the 23-year-old has lodged a complaint with the BMC and Shivaji Nagar police. She was shocked to find that the nursing home is unauthorized and already facing action from the BMC. "Man gets sepsis at illegal nursing home, dies - Mumbai Mirror:



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Family of man killed by nursing home sues facility

 A nurse who fatally shot a patient at the Abington Manor nursing home exhibited erratic behavior in the days before the homicide, but the facility failed to take action to address the situation, the son of the victim says in a lawsuit.
Aimee Larkin, a licensed practical nurse, previously brought a handgun into the nursing home and was acting “strange” shortly before she shot and killed resident Howard Kinney on Nov. 4, 2013. Management at the facility failed to identify that she was emotionally unfit and posed an increased risk to patients, according to the lawsuit filed Friday in Lackawanna County Court.Family of man killed by nursing home worker sues facility - News - The Times-Tribune:

El Dorado Nursing Home Cited for Abuse, Neglect

The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has taken the action against Courtyard Rehabilitation and Health Center, LLC.
Here is a partial list of findings after an inspection in January:
Based on observation, record review, and interview, the nursing home failed to ensure adequate supervision was provided to prevent injury to a resident during staff assisted transfers.
This failed practice resulted in an Immediate Jeopardy which caused or could have caused serious harm, injury or death for resident who fell from the mechanical lift while being transferred, sustaining a laceration to the back of the head.    El Dorado Nursing Home Cited for Abuse, Neglect - Local News, Weather, Sports, and Community for Central Arkansas:

Staffing is the key to nursing home quality of life

The following article points out the correlation between good care and adequate nurse staffing in Nursing Homes:
Quality of life (QOL) incorporates various aspects of residents’ lives, including their relationships with staff, social engagement, and food enjoyment. QOL is less frequently studied than quality of care, which is an equally important long-term care quality measurement. To understand facility predictors of QOL, this study examined a broad range of facility factors and found that facilities that invested in more activity staff and registered nurse (RN) hours had higher QOL scores over time than facilities with fewer activity staff and/or RN hours. "Health News - Staffing is key to predicting nursing home quality of life: