California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

Care Environments Can Be Modified To Prevent Apathy Among Residents With Dementia

September 30, 2015 | by Yeroushalmi Law

Older adults with dementia often experience apathy, but this symptom is commonly overlooked. Studies have shown that environment-based interventions have a positive influence on apathy. However, not much research has been done to explore influential environmental qualities. Researchers have pointed out that environmental factors have a significant influence on apathy. Environmental factors such as institutionalization, which can lead to diminished incentive, reward, or control, can influence the development of apathy. Environmental factors are especially significant given that they are often easier to change than many internal factors related with aging and dementia.

Interventions Can Be Used to Identify Older Adults at Risk of Depressive Symptoms

September 29, 2015 | by Yeroushalmi Law

A recent study found that approximately 25% of older adults experience depressive symptoms. Candidate genes that are known to influence depression and that have been commonly studied include those that effect serotonin, dopamine, or nueroplasticity. However, the majority of candidate gene studies have not considered the relationship of genetics, demographic, clinical, and behavioral markers and how they combine to trigger depressive symptoms among older adults. The aim of the study was to gain a deeper understanding of depressive symptoms among elderly people.

Psychotropic Drugs Inappropriately Prescribed to Older Adult Patients

September 28, 2015 | by Yeroushalmi Law

Many older adults who suffer from cognitive disability also display challenging or problem behaviors. These types of behaviors threaten the physical safety of the individuals or others or cause community facilities to become inaccessible. There has been much concern for many years regarding the use of psychotropic drugs—specifically, antipsychotics—that are used inappropriately in patients with cognitive disability and that are often prescribed solely for challenging behavior rather than for diagnosed cognitive illness, despite lack of substantial evidence.

A Nurse is Awarded $3 Million for Speaking Out Against a Nursing Home’s Attempt to Cut Costs by Providing Inadequate Care

September 25, 2015 | by Yeroushalmi Law

Linda Boly, 59, a registered nurse who had been unjustly terminated by Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center for complaining to management that cost-cutting measures were putting patients at risk, was awarded $3 million last Friday by a Portland jury. Linda reported feeling vindicated by the verdict and hopied that this sends a “big message” to Legacy Health System that hastily pushing patients through process jeopardizes them.

Nursing Homes Must Be Diligent When Managing Their Residents’ Medications

September 23, 2015 | by Yeroushalmi Law

The prescription of potentially inappropriate medications to older adults is known to be highly prevalent in the United States, estimating from 12% for community-living seniors to 40% for those dwelling in nursing homes (NHs). When prescribed drugs are clearly indicated, founded on scientific evidence, and are well tolerated, medication use is considered beneficial. Medications that are inappropriately prescribed often lead to negative health consequences. Furthermore, age-related physiological changes may influence the change of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics responses to medications, further decreasing the tolerability of many medications in older adults.

Yelp Partners with ProPublica to Make it Easier for Consumers to Look Up Health Care Businesses

September 22, 2015 | by Yeroushalmi Law

Yelp has long been a popular site used to find businesses. Now, Yelp can help people make informed decisions even more about hospitals, long-term care facilities, and dialysis centers. Yelp has recently partnered with ProPublica, an award-winning nonprofit new organization, to integrate health care statistics and consumer opinion survey data displayed on the Yelp business pages of over 25,000 medical care facilities. Yelp users can now see hospital wait times, nursing home fines or post-dialysis readmission rates conveniently on the business’ Yelp pages.
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Assisted Living May Potentially Put Vulnerable Older Adults at Risk of Preventable Hospitalizations

September 21, 2015 | by Yeroushalmi Law

Older adults are increasingly turning to assisted living facilities for their care needs. Not only is assisted living more affordable than long-term care (i.e. nursing home care), it also provides a more homelike and autonomous setting, as well as secure housing, personal support, and limited health care. However, unlike traditional nursing homes, assisted living facilities have lower staffing levels and provide less professional services, which put vulnerable older adults at higher risk. Delayed identification of developing health problems and decreased ability to provide more intensive care could result in hazardous consequences for assisted living residents and, ultimately, greater need for acute care. US physicians who were asked to compare assisted living with long-term care reported diminished confidence in the abilities of assisted living staff, described less treatment options in this setting, and stated that they were more likely to move an assisted living resident with a medical issue to an emergency department.

Long-Term Care Providers Must Implement Fall Prevention Strategies For Frail Residents at Risk of Hip Fracture

September 18, 2015 | by Yeroushalmi Law

It is well known that frail older adults are highly vulnerable to fractures. In long-term care settings, the rate of fracture for older adults is more than double that of older adults living in community settings. Moreover, one third of older adults experience a hip fracture while living in long-term care. Not only are hip fractures one of the most critical consequences of osteoporosis, they are also one of the primary causes of hospital admissions. Residents who are returned to long-term care after hospitalization are in need of more specialized care.

Long-Term Care Facilities Should Incorporate Effective Interventions that Improve Cognitive Functions and Depressive Symptoms of Dementia Patients

September 16, 2015 | by Yeroushalmi Law

Impairments in cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms are prevalent among older adults with dementia. Older adults with dementia commonly experience a variety of cognitive and behavioral problems, which may in turn diminish physical activities and mental well-being, reduce social or occupational functions, and decrease health-related quality of life. Furthermore, research has shown that depressive symptoms are strongly related to aggravated cognitive functions in older adults with dementia. Thus, long-term care facilities who provide care to the elderly with dementia should strive to implement effective strategies to improve their cognitive functions and depressive symptoms.

Assisted Living Facilities Must Provide Quality Care for Residents with Dementia

September 15, 2015 | by Yeroushalmi Law

Living in assisted living facilities has become increasingly popular among older adults with dementia. However, lower staffing levels and availability of care services in assisted living facilities put residents at increased risk for negative outcomes. A recent study examined the rate of hospitalization over one year for assisted living facility residents with dementia compared with those in long-term care facilities. The study found that residents with dementia in assisted living facilities had a hospitalization rate about 4-fold higher than those in long-term care with dementia.