In September 2011, a Los Angeles law firm won a 1.3 million dollar lawsuit on behalf of an assisted living facility resident who was abused by its employees. The company itself, Greenpark Villa, Inc. of Torrance, California was sued instead of any individuals, and the company is liable for payment of the settlement.
Ruby Walters was a resident at the Greenpark Villa facility and fell twice while staying at the facility, she originally came to stay there to recover from surgery for a fractured hip. Unfortunately, when Ms. Walters fell, she broke her other hip, but was unaware of the fracture and suffered severe pain and mobility issues as a result of the accident. Ms. Walters also suffers from dementia. Ms. Walters also suffered from a pressure sore which became infected and caused her an extreme amount of pain and discomfort.
The lawsuit charged that the facility, as a result of under staffing and inadequate funding and care, was directly responsible for the injuries that befell Ms. Walters. The facility was also held accountable for Ms. Walters suffering with her second hip fracture, and was accused of being neglectful in not making sure she was sent to the hospital after the incident. The court agreed with the charges and awarded Ms. Walters an actual settlement of $1,311,593.67.
Accidents and injuries are serious matters in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Obviously, these facilities are charged with the care of our loved ones, and we expect that no harm will come to them as residents. Though all employees are trained in proactive accident prevention, it is important to understand that nothing is foolproof. There is, however, no excuse for outright abuse of the elderly.
It is unfortunate whenever something goes wrong in a nursing home or assisted living facility, but the important thing to remember is that most of the individuals tasked with caring for our loved ones are dedicated and caring individuals.
It is important, also, to be very aware of our loved ones’ conditions. Visit them often and ask them how they are feeling. Encourage them to be honest. “Tattling” is often an issue with the elderly; they don’t want to get anyone in trouble. But they need to understand that their care is paramount. Any small incident can turn big very quickly.
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Assisted Living Facility Ordered to Pay 1.3 Million to Abuse Victim
Deter Would Be Con-Artists and Thieves
When we think about theft and the elderly, we usually do not think of assisted living facilities. That way of thinking can lead to losses of both cash and valued items. Assisted living does mean that your loved one is still very independent, but there are many people that will be in and out of their apartment or room on a daily basis. Not all of the people that visit are on the up and up.
Disabled Residents Ostracized?
Would you pay several hundred thousand dollars to live in a facility that banned you from the main dining room or from community get togethers?
ALF Resident Beaten To Death, No Charges Brought Against Assailant
An elderly Tennessee man was beaten to death by his roommate in Elmcroft of Twin Hills assisted living facility, located in Madison, TN. 83 year old Donald Reeder was beaten over the head by 89 year old Orville Hayes.
Arizona Assisted Living Residents Evicted
In January 2012 over a dozen residents of an assisted living facility in Mesa, Arizona received notices of eviction. Some of the residents have called the facility home for years. The Greenfields Assisted Living Community had been cited on many code violations concerning fire safety and evacuation of residents that are unable to self-evacuate.
North Carolina Mandates Infection Control In ALFs
Due to a high number of deaths due to infection in a Wayne County, North Carolina assisted living facility, the state has begun to adopt new and rigorous measures to ensure good infection control. The deaths occurred in 2009 and after an investigation, it was found that staff had been using sloppy infection control measures. For over four months staff had been spreading infection among residents by re-using finger stick devices for measuring blood glucose levels in diabetic residents.
Three Couples Re-New Their Wedding Vows at Assisted Living Facility
Three married couples in an Inland Valley, CA assisted living facility were asked to renew their marriage vows in a Valentine’s Day ceremony. The couples had each been married, 38 years, 58 years, and 68 years. Jack and Dorothy Glyfie, Paul and Brooke Kreinbrings, and Gordon and Edith Silver all renewed their wedding vows in a dining room decorated with hearts and balloons at every table.
Man Sets Fire To Assisted Living Facility
A 47 year old resident of the Valley View Assisted Living Center in Northfield, MN set a fire that caused the forty residents living in the facility to relocate. Although the relocation is temporary, the residents are all shaken. The fire happened on Sunday, February 5.
New Jersey Launches Program To Grade Assisted Living Facilities
Starting in 1993, New Jersey has mandated licensing for assisted living facilities. These facilities must meet a minimum standard set by the state in order to receive a license to operate and are also regulated. There are currently 215 licensed facilities in the state that provide assistance to elderly residents. These residents need assistance with their activities of daily living, but do not require 24 hour care like nursing home residents.
Alcohol and Assisted Living Residents
Recently researchers from the University of Pittsburgh interviewed over 800 aides that work in assisted living facilities concerning the actions of their clients. Results of the study were shocking, to say the least.
Preventing Pain Medication Delays
How often have you visited a nursing home or other facility and heard a resident complaining about pain? Many residents, that are in pain, are forced to wait until a physician makes their rounds to get a prescription for new pain medication, then must wait again for the medication to be delivered. This puts a strain on the resident, who is in pain, and on the staff of a facilities that are unable to provide relief from the pain to their charges.
Assistance Resources For Seniors
We have all read or watched horror stories of the low income elderly that were found in their homes hurt or even deceased. Their homes often lacked basic necessities like heat or electricity. The homes may be filthy or filled with animals…sometimes with decades of trash. Families said they did not know the situation or could not get their loved one to leave. Most often these problems are with low income seniors, though it can affect any financial level.
Aging In Place
Aging in place is the act of growing old where you choose to live. There is a huge movement among seniors that want to live at home and retain the same type of rights that would have in a facility setting. There are new regulations in place to help people that wish to stay at home, while they age.
Assisted Living History
Before the invention of assisted living facilities (AFL), people had a choice of aging at home with a family caregiver, a home health nurse/aide, or going into a nursing home. The idea of assisted living facilities is loosely based on group homes and apartments that were available for disabled and special needs individuals. Many of the residents, in these types of homes, needed limited help in their everyday activities (activities of daily living or ADLS). Most of the time this help is very limited and may only mean that an aide stops in to do a check on the resident or other minor things.
Alzheimer’s in Assisted Living
Can someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s live in an assisted living facility (ALF)? According to most facilities: yes.
Older Drivers
We have all been behind the slow car that is being driven by the elderly man or woman and felt aggravation. We wonder why they can’t speed up or just get off the road because we’re all in a rush to get where we are going.
Depression Leads to Stroke Risk
In a recent release from the American Medical Association, the link between depression and stroke was listed. The link shows that depression can raise the risk for stroke, though that risk is heightened by other factors as well.
Visiting Your Friend or Loved One
It’s time to visit someone you care for who has recently moved into an assisted living facility (ALF). The visit has been one you have both anticipated and dreaded. How will your friend look? Will the room be bare and hospital-like? Will your visit be interrupted by other residents?
Home Care or Assisted Living?
Assisted living is an expensive option for people that must rely on private pay in order to receive their daily assistance. Most people that are in assisted living facilities rely on paying out of pocket or on their private insurance. Only a few beds per facility are left open for people that receive Medicaid.
When Is Assisted Living A Bad Idea?
There comes a time when a family member, or even a close friend, is growing in age and growing in need of an extra hand from time to time. As the days pass, from time to time develops into a stronger need for help and, it’s at the point when the question of assisted living comes into the conversation.
Preventing Falls
Preventing falls is not as challenging as one might think. Sometimes what prevents the falls are things that are overlooked, or unnoticed by those who tend not to trip easily.
Resident Rights: Know Them!
Rights cannot be enforced if they are not known. Whenever anything is in question regarding the care of a resident in a care facility, ask questions and keep the lines of communication open. Otherwise, the resident’s rights may be compromised. Make inquiries with your loved one frequently about their care as a resident, how they are treated and if all of their needs are being met.
Caregiving and Sex
Intimacy and sex play key rolls in relationships, including those who are disabled or frequently visiting ALFs (adult living facilities). Do you feel too tired? Are you too overwhelmed with everything going on? Does fear creep in each time you think about sex and intimacy?
Flu Shots – Little Pain, Big Health Investment
There are signs outside many pharmacies and grocery stores touting flu shots are available here, there and everywhere. Generally, flu shots are administered from early October to November. Keep in mind the flu season runs from November to April. Because the elderly have a compromised immune system, the flu can be deadly for them. Flu shots come with little pain and a big health investment.
Gadgets To Make ADLs Easier
What makes an ADL (activities of daily living) easy varies from person to person, so while this information is useful, it is important to do independent research in order to find out exactly what will help and what might hinder. Keep in mind the needs of the individual, as well as what their personal levels of comfort are.
Signs of Alzheimer’s Family May Miss
2011 Medicare Open Enrollment Deadline – Changed!
Since late enrollment has been an issue in the past, measures have been taken in order to avoid and prevent this problem from reoccurring. The 2011 Medicare open enrollment deadline has changed to an earlier date this year. In the past, the deadline was December 31st.
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