California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

Nursing Home Care Practitioners Must be Trained to Identify and Care for Patients at Risk of Pressure Ulcers

April 22, 2016 | by Law Offices of Ben Yeroushalmi

Pressure ulcers remain a huge problem in United States nursing home facilities despite the existence of prevention guidelines. Nursing home residents who stay for long durations of time and are vulnerable to less mobility are at particularly high risk of developing pressure ulcers. Substantial literature indicates that pressure ulcer prevention strategies exist. However, there is still inadequate knowledge on how to achieve consistently successful implementation of pressure ulcer prevention strategies. According to the Institute of Medicine, the best way to prevent pressure ulcers in nursing homes is to improve “staff training and empowerment, access to resources, and implementation of quality improvement processes.”

Patients Need to be Given Proper Nutrients On a Daily Basis for Every Meal

April 19, 2016 | by Law Offices of Ben Yeroushalmi

Fruit lovers rejoice! New studies have found that eating fresh fruits every day can decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases. We all know that eating fruit is healthy, but not everyone knows how beneficial eating fruit is for the heart. Strong evidence shows that fruit has the power to decrease the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular-related death.

Care Providers Must Actively Engage Diabetes Patients in the Decision-Making Process Regarding Treatment

April 15, 2016 | by Law Offices of Ben Yeroushalmi

Diabetes Mellitus is derived from the Greek word diabanein, which literally means “passing through” or “siphon”. This term refers to one of the main symptoms of Diabetes—excessive urination. Diabetes is also known as hyperglycemia, which is the state of too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. Hyperglycemia occurs when the body is unable to regulate the level of glucose in the blood, resulting in too much glucose. This excess of glucose in the blood is processed by the liver where it is converted into a form (glycogen) to be stored for future use. Blood glucose level is regulated by insulin, a hormone made in the islet cells in the pancreas. Insulin acts as a key, enabling the body’s cells to absorb and use glucose. When insulin levels are insufficient, glucose from the blood is unable to enter the body’s cells, thereby preventing it from being used as fuel to support its continued function.

Physical Exercise is the Most Effective Form of Treatment for Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease

April 15, 2016 | by Law Offices of Ben Yeroushalmi

According to the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics consensus conference paper, a patient is entitled to early detection of cognitive impairment. The paper also encourages the implementation of medical and lifestyle interventions as an effective way to delay or improve cognitive decline. Screening promotes prevention or treatment. Physical activity is especially important in combating the progression of cognitive impairment.

Nursing Home Staff Must Be Proactive In Identifying When A Resident Is In Pain

April 11, 2016 | by Law Offices of Ben Yeroushalmi

Pain is prevalent among nursing home residents and can take a major toll on mood, sleep, and overall function. Despite the severity of the consequences, pain is not often managed adequately for this vulnerable group. There are many limitations to pain assessment and treatment in nursing homes. Long-term care staff of these facilities often have difficulty evaluating and treating pain in elderly patients.

Reduced Dietary Intake Can Prevent Obesity and Increase Longevity

April 8, 2016 | by Law Offices of Ben Yeroushalmi

Aging has been defined as the multifaceted process of the collection of biological damages in the molecules, cells, and organs of the body. These damages are thought to cause decrease in function and increase in susceptibility to disease and death. Despite how complex aging is, recent studies have shown that changes in diet and genes can significantly lengthen healthy life span in laboratory organisms.

More Elderly Women than Men Experience Falls and Hip Fractures

April 1, 2016 | by Law Offices of Ben Yeroushalmi

Hip fractures are highly prevalent among the elderly population in the United States. An estimated 1.6 million older adults (those over 50 years of age) experience a hip fracture every year. This type of injury causes severe debilitation and significantly hinders an individual’s ability to carry out activities of daily living (i.e. bathing, dressing). According to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, hip fractures occur at least twice as often in elderly women than in elderly men, which have traditionally been attributed to women having lower bone density. However, new studies show that difference in bone density, and therefore osteoporosis, is not enough to explain the higher incidence of fractures in women than their male counterparts. Researchers sought to investigate other underlying factors that contribute to fracture, such as vulnerability of falling, especially due to the fact that 90% of hip fractures result from falls.

Nursing Home Staff Must Provide Patients with Proper Nutrients and Opportunities to Engage in Regular Physical Exercise

March 31, 2016 | by Law Offices of Ben Yeroushalmi

The age-related loss in muscle mass, known as sarcopenia, can lead to significant debilitation in older adults. Biological factors that contribute to this loss in muscle mass as a person grows older include hormones, protein levels, motor units, muscle fiber types, and satellite cells.

A Diet High in Protein and Regular Physical Activity Can Combat Sarcopenia in Old Age

March 30, 2016 | by Law Offices of Ben Yeroushalmi

Although there is no universally accepted method of classification, sarcopenia generally refers to the loss of muscle with age. One approach to measure sarcopenia uses the skeletal muscle index. Ways of measuring muscle mass include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and bio-electrical impedance (BIA). Sarcopenia isn’t the only issue that comes with age, however. Fat volume tends to increase with age and can contribute to sarcopenic obesity.

Long-Term Care Facilities Should Help Residents Have Better Quality of Sleep

March 25, 2016 | by Law Offices of Ben Yeroushalmi

Problems with sleeping are prevalent among older adult patients in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and are a major cause of diminished quality of life. More than half of long-term care residents rely on prescription for at least one antihypnotic. Facility staff must help their residents improve or maintain good sleep hygiene, identify the issues causing lack of sleep, and prescribe the appropriate sleep medication to patients if needed.