If you’ve long thought of nursing homes as safe havens where older men and women can live out their golden years in peace and serenity, you would be largely justified in your beliefs. In some facilities, however, nursing home neglect is a very real problem. Because it is often hard to detect, it can sometimes continue for weeks, months and years. If you have an aging parent or relative in a nursing home, here are a few signs to watch out for. Hard evidence should always be met with swift legal action.

Bedsores

While bedsores are significant problems in nursing homes, they may only be evident when the patient is closely examined. Known also as pressure sores, bedsores usually come about when patients are forced to lie in one position for an extended period of time. Nursing home patients who are unable to switch to a different resting position may develop reddish welts on various areas of the body. This form of neglect often occurs in facilities that are understaffed.

Dehydration

Dehydration can be devastating to nursing home patients. When individuals are not given enough fluids during the course of the day, they can become sluggish, irritable and pale. If they were originally admitted to the facility for another ailment, then the dehydration will be especially hard to spot. If your loved one complains of constant thirst, you can ask staff members for more information. Even moderate cases of dehydration can lead to a decline in both physical and psychological health.

Bruises

Bruises are considered an active form of abuse. If they occur on the stomach, back or shoulders, however, they may not be readily visible. In some cases, patients may be hit, slapped or punched by nursing home staff members who simply have no business working in medicine. In extreme instances, bruises may signal sexual abuse. If you spot a discoloration that you think might be a bruise, seek legal help right away.

Weight Loss

Weight loss often arises from poor nutrition, which is nearly always considered a serious form of neglect. Patients often require specialized diets, especially if they are suffering from osteoporosis, diabetes or other maladies. If they are losing weight but are not showing any other signs of physical decline, then they are likely being given unbalanced meals. Although weight loss can be reversed, it often points to a problem with planning and management that may be very difficult to fix.

If you believe that a loved one may be suffering from nursing home neglect, you will want to procure a reputable New York attorney as soon as possible. For further assistance, give the experts at Brown Chiari a call at 716-681-7190 or visit our homepage for more information.

A Cheektowaga man injured three years ago when a police cruiser crashed into his vehicle has settled a lawsuit against the Town of Amherst for $1.2 million.

The Amherst Town Board on Monday consented to the $1.2 million for Michael Paoletta, after attorneys on both sides came to a settlement last week prior to a jury verdict.

“We thought that was a fair compensation for what he had gone through and taking into account his potential wage claim,” said Donald P. Chiari, who tried the case… Read more here on Buffalo News

“Every day is difficult. We had my son for 35 years. That’s a long time and a lot of memories, and every day we struggle. Every day,” said Richard Metcalf – Click here to see more

FDA’s MedWatch Safety Alerts: January 2013

Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants: Updated Safety Recommendations

FDA is providing updated safety information and recommendations to patients and health care professionals based on the agency’s current assessment of metal-on-metal hip implants, including:

the benefits and risks
the evaluation of published literature
the results of an FDA advisory panel meeting held in June 2012

Risk: Implant components slide against each other during walking or running, which releases tiny metal particles. These particles may damage bone or soft tissue surrounding the implant and joint. Soft tissue damage could lead to pain, implant loosening, device failure and the need for revision surgery.

Some of the metal ions released will enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body, where they may cause discomfort or illnesses.

Recommendations for People Considering a Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant

Be aware that every hip implant has benefits and risks.
Discuss your options for hip surgery with your orthopedic surgeon.
See a list of questions to ask your orthopedic surgeon.

Recommendations for People With Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants

If you are not having any symptoms and your orthopedic surgeon believes your implant is functioning properly, continue to follow-up routinely with the surgeon every one to two years.
If you develop new or worsening problems, such as pain, swelling, numbness, noise (popping, grinding, clicking or squeaking of your hip) or a change in your ability to walk, contact your orthopedic surgeon right away.
If you experience changes in your general health, including new or worsening symptoms outside your hip, let your doctor or other health care professional know you have a metal-on-metal hip implant.

For More Information

As more and more elderly Americans choose to spend their later years in assisted living facilities, FRONTLINE and ProPublica examine whether this loosely regulated, multi-billion dollar industry is putting seniors at risk? Our film, “Life and Death in Assisted Living” airs on PBS tonight at 10 pm… Read entire article here

Emeritus Senior Living, the country’s largest assisted living company, has crafted detailed plans to respond to PBS Frontline and ProPublica’s investigation of the company and the assisted living industry.

Saying the report could lead to... click here to read the entire article.

There have been 20 veterans who have tested positive for Hepatitis after the Buffalo VA Hospital used the same, blood-tainted insulin pens on several patients. Read more here….

Article from NBC News about how hospitals profit from surgical errors. Click here to read

Channel 2 -Rich Products has expanded the recall of Farm Rich products to now include all products made at their plant in Waycross, Georgia. Meanwhile the CDC said Friday they are now investigating 27 cases of E.Coli sickness; two of which they say are connecte…. To read more from this article, click here

Channel 4 – New York State health officials are investigating four cases of E.coli infection and News 4 has learned that the latest… To read more from this article, click here.

It is a story being talked about throughout the nation.

An employee at a senior living center in California — who identified herself as a “nurse”— refusing a 9-1-1- operator’s instructions to begin CPR on a resident … read more

From Associated Press. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Government investigators have found that Medicare paid billions in taxpayer dollars to nursing homes nationwide that were not meeting basic requirements to look after their…Read more

Consider this scenario: a patient with a bedsore is admitted into a nursing facility. During her stay, she develops three more bedsores. The facility fails to track and treat each wound properly, further complicating and prolonging her healing. Unfortunately, it is not hypothetical – OIG found this and many other examples of substandard care while conducting a recent review of skilled nursing facilities (SNF [pronounced “sniff”]).