The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that about one out of three people who are 65 years and older fall each year. Moreover, one-half to three-fourths of nursing home residents suffer from falls every year. These falls, while preventable, are dangerous and may have lasting, serious repercussions…
An increasing number of nursing homes have implemented forced arbitration agreements within their admissions process. This has resulted in elderly residents and their family members signing away their constitutional rights and protections in order to obtain care within these facilities. However, consumers should be aware that nursing home arbitration agreements…
Those suffering from dementia are generally members of the elderly population, and as life expectancy continues to increase, the need to address dementia and its complications also increases. Dementia is comprised of a variety of symptoms, some of which include memory loss, impaired judgment, and difficulties with language and motor…
Many elderly residents who are hospitalized or living in nursing homes frequently develop pressure ulcers, the development of which risk further complications and even death. Consequently, caretakers for the elderly, particularly those in hospitals and nursing homes, must take precautions to prevent pressure ulcer development within this population. Studies have…
A recent investigation by the Center for Investigative Reporting revealed that the California Department of Public Health dismissed about 1,000 pending cases in 2009 which alleged caretaker abuse and theft, without taking any action. This hurried dismissal of cases occurred to alleviate the Department’s extreme backlog of cases. These closed…
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report in 2011 finding that antipsychotic drugs given to elderly residents of nursing homes were not administered in compliance with standards set forth by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Such medications, when used…
Research on the prevalence of physical abuse in nursing homes has been difficult to conduct because there are significant flaws in the method of collecting the data. Both nursing home staff and resident families often harbor a sense of guilt which causes under-reporting in surveys conducted to address this issue.…
Johnson & Johnson initiated a product recall of their antipsychotic drug, Risperdal Consta, on Wednesday due to mold contamination of their product. Risperdal Consta is an antipsychotic medication that has been approved for use in patients with bipolar 1 disorder and schizophrenia. It should be noted that this recall only…
A recent New York Times article brought to attention the growing oversight and neglect of dental hygiene in elderly residents in nursing homes. While the Elder Abuse Act states the failure to assist in personal hygiene constitutes an example of neglect, family members are finding their loved ones in nursing…
A June 2013 study published in the Journal of American Medical Directors Association found that apathy is the behavioral symptom most strongly correlated with weight loss in nursing home residents. This comes as a surprise because it was commonly believed that depression was most closely related to weight loss in…