In a time when nursing home abuse and neglect are rampant, an investigation by the Sacramento Bee has found that some of California's nursing homes have altered patients' health records and provided false information on medical charts. Nursing home abuse lawyers who have been suing these facilities for damages on behalf of injured clients and their families also tell the newspaper that they encounter some form of "suspect record-keeping" in almost every case they investigate.

A Dangerous Trend

According to the report, between 1990 and 1999, the California Public Health Department issued 180 citations for "willful material falsification" against nursing homes. Between 2000 and 2010, that number dropped to 29. A number of personal injury lawyers say the number has dropped because these cases are being less frequently pursued by authorities. Falsifying health records is a misdemeanor under California law. But it is rare to see nursing home administrators or employees face criminal charges for what is clearly an offense.

This trend of falsifying records is, to say the least, dangerous and alarming. Why do most nursing homes falsify records? To cover up incidents of nursing home neglect or abuse, the Bee reports. Some of the most common cover-ups in nursing homes include hiding incidents where patients die or sustain injuries; staff members filling out paperwork without verifying the accuracy of the information involved; inaccurate recordings of medications dispensed to patients. Nursing home industry representatives have responded to the report saying that falsification of health records is rare and is not a cause for concern.

Holding Wrongdoers Accountable

There is no question that understaffing issues in nursing homes have a significant role to play in neglect and abuse that occurs in the facilities. As personal injury lawyers, we believe it is our duty to expose the injustice that occurs in such care facilities. Without the civil justice system, there would be no way for victims of nursing home abuse to hold these wrongdoers accountable. When nursing homes don't pay attention to the accuracy of the information they have, there is the potential for fatal mistakes such as prescription or medication errors. There is absolutely no excuse for falsifying records to cover up wrongdoing. It is appalling that those who falsify records, especially in cases involving injuries or death, don't face serious criminal charges.

Victims of nursing home abuse or neglect would be well-advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled similar cases. The best nursing home abuse law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.

With greater numbers of California's seniors now heading to care facilities, incidents of nursing home abuse and neglect are on the rise, and quality of care has been continually dropping, according to a recent study. The Ventura County Star cites studies, which show California was ranked 49th when it came to the percentage of nursing home residents who are physically restrained. While the national average for physical restraints is 3.3 percent, California's nursing homes restrain 7.9 percent of their residents.

California Nursing Home Statistics

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) reports that California ranks 15th in the nation in long-term care for the disabled. At the same time, the report also states that California scores were at the bottom of the list in quality of life for individuals requiring specialized healthcare. It is also projected that the number of elderly Californians will increase by 100 percent between the years 2010 and 2030.

Common Problems in Nursing Homes

As California's nursing home population increases, there is an increased risk of the quality of care plummeting. It is common for nursing homes to increase their profits by adding residents without hiring more qualified workers. Nurses and aides who are over-worked, underpaid and unqualified are more prone to over medicate residents to make their jobs easier.

Such facilities that are understaffed, which employ under-qualified, cheap workers, create an environment where nursing home neglect and abuse take place. Care facilities that allow workers to wrongfully use restraints or drug difficult and combative residents can and should be held liable for their negligence. All elderly residents deserve quality care. Our seniors do not deserve to be put in a situation where they are at risk for physical injury, death or emotional distress.

Liability Issues

Nursing homes that deliberately understaff their facilities and put profits over the people they serve should be held accountable. Victims of nursing home neglect and abuse can seek compensation for their physical injuries and emotional suffering by filing a personal injury claim. In cases where neglect or abuse has caused death, the victim's family can file a wrongful death claim against the negligent nursing home. Victims or their families would be well-advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer who will go after these facilities and hold them accountable. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.

California Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

It is shocking how often nursing homes are found to have contributed to tragic forms of abuse and neglect which lead to a person's death. Do you feel that this nursing home should be held responsible for this victim's death? Yes No Unsure Current Results

Entrusting a loved one to the care of a nursing facility can be a traumatic, heart-wrenching decision for many. But more and more Americans are making those decisions everyday. Increasingly disturbing reports of nursing home abuse and neglect do not make these decisions any easier. However, there are several guidelines and tips available for those who are about to make the decision to place a family member in a care facility.

GAO Report

Most recently the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report comparing privately owned nursing homes to non-profit facilities. This report found that on an average privately owned or for-profit nursing homes had more total deficiencies than non-profit homes. Private facilities also were more likely to have been cited for a serious deficiency than non-profit homes, the report states. Total nurse staffing ratios were also lower in for-profit homes although they had a higher number of registered nurses.

Tips to Select a Nursing Home

This does not mean, of course, that all for-profit nursing homes are poorly run. There is a lot of homework you need to do before you select a nursing home for your loved one. A good first step is to start a nursing home search in your area with Nursing Home Compare, a Medicare web site that rates nursing homes. Once you narrow your search to a few facilities, go out and actually visit the places you picked. See what the staff is like and how they interact with patients. Taste the food they serve. Visit the facility at least a couple of times unannounced and at different times during day and night.

Another thing to look for is staffing levels. What is the nurse to patient ratio at these facilities? Because staffing is costly, for-profits tend to understaff their facilities or hire cheaper, unqualified labor in order to help the bottom line. But lack of staffing or understaffing often leads to nursing home neglect. Also, appearances can be important. How does the nursing home smell and look? Do the residents seem happy? Are they well-groomed? Do they seem overly medicated? Although geography and convenience can be important, it is crucial to keep the focus on quality.

Understanding Your Rights

This can definitely prove to be a lot of work, but it will be well worth the effort. Being proactive is the best way to avoid getting into a bad situation. However, even with careful preparation in choosing a facility, abuse and neglect can unfortunately occur anywhere and at any time. If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, please contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who will better explain your legal rights and options. Negligent nursing homes or care facilities that put profits over people must be held accountable.

Three former workers at an adult care facility have leveled nursing home abuse allegations in a civil lawsuit they have filed against their previous employer. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, the lawsuits against Ideal Home Care allege that there is not only repeated patient abuse occurring at the nursing home, but that it is also understaffed. A majority of the nursing home's residents are apparently mentally and physically disabled people including stroke victims.

Serious allegations of abuse

One of the former employees, Anthony Beasley, alleges in his suit that he was fired from his job at the nursing home after alerting management about sexual abuse incidents. He also noted other problems such as staff who could not read or speak English and were administering medication to patients incorrectly. The lawsuit alleges that complaints about sexual and other abuse were altered or removed from the nursing home's logs. Two other former employees, Greta Carter and Marion Lane, also made similar allegations. All three are seeking damages for wrongful termination, illegal retaliation, racial discrimination, and infliction of emotional distress.

An attorney for the nursing home said the workers are simply disgruntled and were let go because they were watching television on the job, stealing food and "did other things they were not supposed to be doing." He called the allegations "made-up stories." The California Department of Public Health, which investigates complaints against nursing homes, has so far received seven complaints against this particular nursing home over the last four years. The complaints were investigated, but no action was taken.

Call for a thorough investigation

It is unclear at this point if these claims are substantiated. Regardless, I would like to see the state health department conduct a thorough investigation. Nursing home neglect and abuse are issues that must not be taken lightly. If there are complaints, a proper investigation must be conducted to make sure that the residents are safe and that the nursing home is properly staffed.

Understaffing is serious concern in nursing homes nationwide. Government studies have found that nursing home abuse and neglect are more common in for-profit facilities because they tend to hire less-qualified staff, who are cheaper. There is also more staff turnover in these facilities because many of them are paid only minimum wage or slightly higher salaries. This does not create an environment that is conducive to quality care.

Protecting Victims' Rights

If your loved one has been abused or neglected in a nursing home, or if you suspect abuse or neglect, please contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that your rights are protected. Negligent nursing homes, which put profits over the safety and well-being of the people they serve, must be held accountable.

Nursing home abuse comes in many forms and all of them can have devastating consequences. Medicating a patient into submission is a dangerous form of abuse that a number of nursing homes are increasingly resorting to in order to make their lives easier or as a mechanism to cope with understaffing or dealing with a difficult or combative patient. Instead of dealing with patients who may have a difficult condition like dementia or other types of mental illnesses, nursing homes are using "chemical restraint," overdosing their residents into submission with powerful antipsychotics.

According to a recent article in The Consumerist, some facilities give powerful drugs to patients who do not medically require those drugs. According to the report, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that using antipsychotics on older patients with dementia nearly doubles their risk of death. Care facilities are legally required to obtain informed consent from a family member of the patient before administering psychoactive drugs. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes obey the law and unsuspecting families may not be aware of the dangers their loved ones face in these facilities.

Questions to Ask

Here are some questions the family of a patient in a nursing home would be well advised to ask in order to ensure that their loved one is not the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse. Exactly what symptoms has the patient exhibited that merits a new medication? Is it possible that any of the symptoms were caused by environmental factors such as dehydration or fatigue? Has the resident recently been examined by a medical professional? Will the new drug have adverse reactions given the medications the patient is currently taking?

The Rights of Family Members

No amount of inquiry and supervision can prevent all forms of abuse and neglect that can occur at a California nursing home. Anyone who suspects that their loved one is in danger should discuss their concerns with the facility supervisor, file a report, contact the authorities and speak with a skilled nursing home abuse attorney. An experienced California personal injury lawyer who has successfully represented victims of nursing home abuse and neglect will be able to better advise victims and their families about their legal rights and options.

California Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

It is shocking how often nursing homes are found to have contributed to tragic forms of abuse and neglect which lead to a person's death. Do you feel that this nursing home should be held responsible for this victim's death? Yes No Unsure Current Results

The California Attorney General's Office has alleged nursing home abuse in an indictment against a Los Angeles care facility and its former administrator in connection with the death of a suicidal patient. According to the an Associated Press news report, Attorney General Kamala Harris said that Verdugo Valley Skilled Nursing and Wellness Center and its administrator Phyllis Paver are facing abuse and neglect charges in the death of 34-year-old Charles Morrill.

Officials say Morrill was accepted into the facility although it did not have the necessary equipment or trained staff to handle patients with mental illnesses. Morrill apparently had a long history of psychiatric illness and attempted suicide three times when he was in the nursing home. He succeeded the third time. If convicted on these charges, the facility could lose its license as well as its federal funding. It is unclear if Paver will face any penalties.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family members of Charles Morrill for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Issues with Understaffing

Based on the information available, it is not clear whether Morrill was abused by nursing home staff. But it appears that nursing home neglect may have contributed to this tragic suicide. There are many questions here. Was the nursing home understaffed? What was the patient to staff ratio at the facility? Did the nursing home have a history of violations or patient injuries and/or fatalities? How many psychiatric patients still remain housed in this nursing home? How many, if any, of the staff members have formal training to handle patients with mental illnesses? Was Morrill supervised during his time at the nursing home?

Liability Issues

If there are other psychiatric patients still housed in this facility, I fear for their well-being. They should not have taken in Morrill in the first place. Understaffed nursing homes continue to accept patients just to receive federal funding. In the case of this particular nursing home, I sincerely hope the facts come out as the case progresses, and I hope that Morrill's family members get some closure.

Those who have lost loved ones as a result of nursing home abuse and neglect can also file a wrongful death lawsuit – a civil case – against the nursing home. Such a lawsuit seeks monetary damages. This is also another way to penalize the nursing home, its owners and administrators for their negligent actions. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will advise family members in such cases about their legal rights and options.

Lost a family member in a Los Angeles County nursing home negligence case? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Los Angeles nursing home abuse case. Call 866-990-8787. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.

California Nursing Home Abuse

Do you feel that this nursing home should be held responsible for this victim's death? Yes No Unsure Current Results

At a time when nursing home abuse and neglect are rampant in the country, a recent U.S. government report has found that for-profit nursing home companies are more likely than its non-profit counterparts to overbill Medicare for various services provided to residents. The federal study urges Medicare to investigate instances in which nursing homes keep patients longer, charge them more for care and classify clients for more extensive and costly services than needed. Are these questionable billing practices? It would certainly seem so.

Dubious Billing Practices

The findings of this report by the Health and Human Services Department's Office of the Inspector General are based on audits of nursing home billings between the years 2006 and 2008 and raises concerns about the potentially inappropriate use of higher paying billing codes. Medicare officials say they plan to target an undisclosed list of for-profit nursing homes with dubious billing practices especially special nursing facilities that have programs for patients recovering from injuries or those that care for the disabled.

Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

This is yet another disturbing finding that raises concerns about the ethics of nursing homes, especially the for-profit facilities. According to federal statistics, about two-thirds of nursing homes in the United States are owned and operated by for-profit corporations. Non-profits own 27 percent of the nation's nursing homes while government entities own and operate about 6 percent. There is, of course, nothing wrong with being "for-profit," but government studies have consistently found that for-profit nursing homes tend to be cited more often for nursing home neglect and serious violations – those that leave a nursing home resident in serious and immediate jeopardy.

Putting Profits Ahead of People

Nursing homes in California and the rest of the country receive numerous incentives and funding to provide better care for their residents. As a nursing home, each facility has the duty to provide quality care to residents, considering they are getting more than adequately compensated for it. But, often, it does not happen.

As California personal injury lawyers who represent victims of nursing home neglect and abuse, we see deplorable situations which should not be occurring in the first place. It is not just residents who undergo physical pain and suffering and emotional trauma. The families that placed their trust in these facilities go through emotional turmoil as well. Nursing homes that put profit ahead of the residents they serve must be held accountable. Anyone who has been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect would be well-advised to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to get more information about pursuing their rights and holding the wrongdoers accountable.

Seriously injured in a California nursing home accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a California nursing home abuse case. Call 866-594-7392. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE California personal injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.

California is coming up with a new plan to reduce incidents of nursing home neglect and improve the quality of nursing homes in general. According to a news report in the California Health Line, the state is developing a plan to link $40 million in Medi-Cal rate increases to standard of care in nursing homes. What this means is bonus payments will be awarded to nursing homes that score high in several categories including nurse-to-patient ratios, minimizing physical restraints and preventing bedsores. Nursing homes that fail to meet standards, but show dramatic improvement, will also be eligible to receive these bonuses.

Concerns Surrounding Bonus Plan

This new incentive plan for nursing homes is raising concerns among patient and consumer advocates who say that the state is setting the bar too low. They are also concerned that the state is working punitive measures into this plan for nursing homes that fall way short of the standards. The biggest worry, however, is that nursing homes may reap these financial rewards without actually doing anything to improve the level of care in their facilities.

State officials say that will be take care of when legislators reauthorize AB 1629, which spells out the requirements for nursing homes to maintain minimum staffing or face penalties. The bonus plan for nursing homes is expected to be unveiled sometime this month.

Incentives Must Come with Accountability

Nursing home abuse is very much a reality in our society. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), California leads the nation when it comes to deficient nursing homes. Understaffing to boost profits is rampant in a number of facilities. AB 1629 was meant to increase funding to nursing homes to they could maintain the state-mandated nurse-to-patient ratio. But state officials later discovered that the nursing home operators took the money, but did very little or nothing to improve staffing in their facilities.

I agree with patient advocates that any bonus or incentive program for nursing homes must come with accountability. It is also not clear to me what the program's yardstick for improvement is. How do officials determine which nursing homes receive the bonuses? What are some of the specific criteria? How is "dramatic improvement" measured in terms of quality of care? These are questions that still remain to be answered before this program is unveiled. The last thing we need is another incentive program to pad nursing home profits while patients continue to receive substandard care.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, please contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled similar cases, to get more information about pursuing your legal rights. Nursing homes that fail to provide quality care or exploit their vulnerable residents must be held accountable.

Seriously injured in a California nursing home abuse case? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a California nursing home negligence case. Call 866-594-7392. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE California personal injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.

Do you think incentive programs such as this will help boost quality of care in our nursing homes? Do you have any specific concerns about this proposed bonus program?

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

Nursing home neglect is reported to have contributed to the death of an 86-year-old patient in a Sacramento area facility. According to a news account in The Sacramento Bee, the woman was taken to the nursing home in March 2008 after she fell and fractured a vertebra in her back. Five weeks later, she was admitted to a hospital emergency room in septic shock and died. California Department of Public Health officials said the nursing home staff at Walnut Whitney Care Center failed to properly monitor her for a urinary tract infection and dehydration.

The nursing home has been slapped with a Class AA citation, the most severe penalty for nursing home neglect under state law. A spokesman for the nursing home says they have launched an internal investigation and intend to appeal the state's decision. They have also started training programs for their staff members to improve communication between caregivers and patients, the news report states.

My heart goes out to the family members of this elderly victim for their devastating loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Poor Care in Nursing Homes

A number of nursing home fatalities and serious injuries throughout the nation are unfortunately the result of neglect and/or abuse. According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report in 2003, at least one in five of all nursing homes in the United States are plagued by serious deficiencies that place nursing homes residents in immediate danger or cause them actual harm. According to this report, quality of care in these nursing homes drops dramatically when residents receive less than three hours of the nurse's and nurse's aide's time per day. Sadly that's the case in about 54 percent of nursing homes.

Understaffing and Corporate Greed

Understaffing is a serious problem in a number of nursing homes. The corporations that run nursing homes keep staff levels and salaries low in order to maximize their profits. The result of such corporate greed is substandard care for residents. The nursing homes not only have inadequate staff, but are also staffed with people who are not qualified to do the job.

In such cases where negligence or abuse results in the death of a patient, family members of the deceased victim would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer to get more information about pursuing their legal rights. It is important to hold these companies accountable for their actions, because it is the only way to deter others from doing the same. It should not be acceptable for a nursing home to charge thousands of dollars each month and then fail to provide the promised level of care. It is up to residents and their families, unfortunately, to bring action against such unscrupulous companies, and to get the justice and compensation they deserve.

Lost a family member in a California nursing home accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn't happen to another family?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Sacramento nursing home negligence case. Call 866-594-7392. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE California wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.

What are some of the tips you would offer to those looking to place loved ones in nursing homes?

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

A Sacramento area facility has been slapped with a $90,000 government fine for nursing home neglect in connection with the death of an elderly resident three years ago. According to a news report in The Sacramento Bee, the nursing home received a Class AA citation, which is reserved for the most serious and egregious violations. State officials say the Gramercy Court nursing home's employees were negligent and inattentive when a 97-year-old woman fell to the floor from her bed. The attending nurse apparently had her back turned to the patient. The elderly woman broke her spine as a result of the fall and died four days later from complications.

Fall Could Have Been Prevented

Investigators say that something as simple as a bed rail could have helped prevent the fall and the patient's subsequent death. This is not Gramercy Court's first AA citation. In 2008, the nursing home faced a similar penalty when a 73-year-old patient died because the staff failed to keep her sufficiently hydrated while she was suffering from an infection.

My heart goes out to the family of this elderly patient for their heartbreaking loss. They will be in my thoughts and prayers.

The Problem of Understaffing in Nursing Homes

According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report in 2003, at least one in five of all nursing homes in the United States are plagued by serious deficiencies that place nursing homes residents in immediate danger or cause them actual harm, death or serious injury. According to this report, quality of care in these nursing homes drops dramatically when residents receive less than three hours of the nurse’s and nurse’s aide’s time per day. Sadly that’s the case in about 54 percent of nursing homes.

Nursing home neglect and abuse incidents are directly related to understaffing at these facilities. The companies that own these nursing homes put profits over the vulnerable residents they are supposed to care for – and that should never, ever be acceptable. If you have a loved one in a nursing home, who you suspect is being neglected or abused, please report the situation to the nursing home administrators.

Protecting Victims' Rights

If you do not get the desired response, file a complaint with state authorities. However, if you are seeing serious signs of neglect or abuse, please contact law enforcement officials and seek the counsel of an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who can offer advice about your legal rights and options.

Lost a family member in a California nursing home accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Sacramento nursing home negligence case. Call 1-866-594-7392. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE California wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.

Do you have a loved one in a nursing home? What are some of the tips you would offer for those who are looking for the right nursing home?

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.