30 April

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The effect understaffing has on nursing home residents

Understaffing is a significant issue in nursing homes across Illinois and the nation. There are many reasons for understaffing, ranging from costs to high staff turnover rates. And now, Illinois lawmakers are working to increase the consequences nursing homes face for understaffing. Higher penalties may motivate nursing homes to make a change since understaffing has some of the most notable effects on nursing home abuse rates. Here is a summary of the damages understaffing causes. Lack of staff means a lack of adequate care Families who entrust their elderly loved ones into the care of nursing homes expect their loved ones to receive...

22 March

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Nursing home violations to result in lower fines

Posted by newadventureweb

in Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

Nursing homes are supposed to be places where our vulnerable loved ones receive the care they need from people who treat them with dignity and compassion. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen at every facility. Too often, nursing homes patients are mistreated, overmedicated and ignored as a result of issues like staffing shortages and financial cuts. While these situations can lead to safety and health infractions by a nursing home, recent changes by the Trump administration has lowered the penalties for the infractions. This could further compromise the care patients receive (or don't receive). What are the changes? As explained in more detail in this...

19 December

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Might low unemployment make for less safe nursing homes?

Posted by newadventureweb

in Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

Here in the U.S., recent times have seen unemployment rates hit their lowest levels in nearly half a century. While this is generally good news for workers, it might not be as good of news for nursing home residents. This is what a recent study suggests. The study looked at employment data and nursing home data covering the 2001 to 2015 period. The study found that, generally, higher levels of unemployment were associated with higher levels of care quality at nursing homes. Why might nursing home care be better in times of high unemployment? The study points to one of the drivers...

30 November

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Illinois nursing home workers steal $600,000 from patient

Posted by newadventureweb

in Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

A 97-year-old patient in a Lincoln Park nursing home recently noticed over half a million dollars missing from her bank account. Five workers in the nursing home are now under investigation by the Chicago police department. The patient, who currently suffers from dementia, has resided in the nursing home for over eight years. Her public guardian believes the workers accused of stealing the residences finances, include the activities director, business manager, receptionist and even a hairdresser working in the nursing home. According to an article by NBC Chicago, employees made deposits that ranged up to $25 thousand and $50 thousand. Unfortunately, the...

17 October

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Tackling dehydration in dementia patients

Posted by newadventureweb

in Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

Patients with dementia are among those most vulnerable to neglect and abuse in nursing home facilities. Their cognitive declines often mean they do not remember or cannot verbalize any mistreatment they have experienced, and those who do make a report can be dismissed as being confused. They are also susceptible to serious health problems stemming from abuse or neglect, many of which are life-threatening -- and preventable. For instance, dehydration can be a serious concern for dementia patients. How do dementia patients get dehydrated? People with dementia often do not remember that they need to drink fluids throughout the day, and many may...

12 September

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Sepsis: a serious (and often avoidable) problem in nursing homes

Posted by newadventureweb

in Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

Nursing home facilities typically promise to provide a loving, attentive environment for the senior patients in their care. Unfortunately, too many fail to follow through with these promises. Instead, patients are subjected to neglect and abuse that threaten their safety and lives. One particularly troubling issue that nursing home patients can face is sepsis. What is sepsis? Sepsis is a dangerous condition that occurs when harmful bacteria enter a person's bloodstream, often through an untreated infection, leading to inflammation. This inflammation can have severe repercussions, from organ failure to septic shock. Older patients are particularly vulnerable to sepsis, especially those who have pneumonia, pressure...

20 July

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Chemical restraint abuses in nursing homes today

Posted by newadventureweb

in Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

A "chemical restraint" is the polite term for the use of powerful psychoactive drugs on unruly patients in nursing homes. It's also a form of medical abuse. Despite laws going back decades against the use of chemical restraints, activists in human rights organizations say that the practice is still common in nursing homes, particularly in cases with elderly patients who suffer from dementia. It's estimated that around 179,000 patients are given powerful psychotropic medication, like antipsychotics and sedatives, without a diagnosis that supports the use of such medication. In the case of anti-psychotics, the drugs actually pose serious dangers to patients who are...

08 June

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Illinois adds cameras to tools fighting elder abuse

Posted by newadventureweb

in Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

Elder abuse is a shockingly common crime. It's probably not that surprising that seniors can fall victim easily since many of them are physically or mentally infirm. That makes them easy targets for everything from physical and sexual abuse to financial exploitation. Unfortunately, even when police or other authorities are aware that elder abuse might be occurring, it can be difficult to make a case against the abusers that will hold up in court. The victims are often unable to give clear, coherent testimony about precisely what was done to them. Some may not even be aware that they've been victimized. Without...

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